One of Mitsubishi’s long-awaited and sought-after models, the new Mitsubishi Xpander, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

40,000 units sold over four years, the MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) serves as a rival to the Perodua Alza and Toyota Veloz.

Locally-assembled (CKD - Pahang), available via Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) are two variants (Xpander - MYR 99,980, Xpander Plus - MYR 109,980).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a standard manufacturer’s warranty (five years, unlimited-mileage).

Four exterior colours (Graphite Grey, Red Metallic, Diamond Black Mica, Quartz White Pearl). Dual-tone interior (Brown, Black).

Weighing in at 1,275 KG, the new Xpander stands at 4,475 MM long, 1,750 MM wide, 1,730 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,775 MM.

Bold and sleek, it exudes an elongated and high-riding exterior with symmetrically-straight and sharply-cut contours.

The front-end sees a sculpted-bonnet, angular quarter panels, and Mitsubishi’s ‘Dynamic Shield Design’ fascia (Black - mesh grille, Chrome - thick bars).

Accentuations are variant-specific body trimmings (Black/Silver - bumper, side sills - Xpander/Xpander Plus), beltline/door handles (Chrome), and door visors (Black – Xpander Plus).

Angled and boxy, it radiates a sportily-layered outlook, continuing the symmetrically-straight and sharply-cut contours.

The rear-end sees a straight-cut roofline, a roof-moulded spoiler (body-colour), a rakish window, angular quarter panels, and a sculpted-tailgate.

Accentuations are variant-specific body trimmings (Black/Silver - bumper, side sills - Xpander/Xpander Plus), an aerodynamic spoiler (Black - Xpander Plus), beltline/door handles (Chrome), and door visors (Black – Xpander Plus).

A split design (top - DRL, bottom - main), the headlamps are housed in striking slit-like (top) and inverted T-shape (bottom) designs. Installed are full LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off/high-beam, sequential turn signals, levelling (manual), and welcome/leaving lights. Included is a set of fog lamps.

Front-matching, the wraparound tail lamps are housed in an inverted T-shape design with T-shaped light graphics. Installed are LED combination units.

Features are sequential turn signals, and welcome/leaving lights. Included is a high-mounted stop light (spoiler-integrated).

The side mirrors (two-tone - Black-body-colour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with sequential turn signals (LED).

Fitted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. The drive is aided by an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Dynamically-designed, it rides on a set of 17-Inch dual-tone (Silver-Black) alloy rims, wrapped in 205/55 R17 (front, rear) Bridgestone Ecopia 150 tyres.

The new Xpander gets a symmetrically-aligned and tiered dashboard, linked to a low-rising-angled centre console. 

Soft-/hard-touch panelled, it sees a dual-tone colour scheme (Brown-Black), featuring leatherette upholstery (dash, centre console, door trims).

Accentuations are contrast trimmings (Silver - dash, centre console, door trims, steering wheel), and centre-staged is a central display unit (infotainment).

Inclusively, the layout is well-designed with accessibilities purposefully-arranged (driver-centric, user-friendly).

Interior of the seven-seater (layout - 2-3-2) sees variant-specific upholsteries (fabric - Xpander, leatherette - Xpander Plus), in a single-tone colour scheme (Black).

The first-/second-/third-row get manual-operated (driver-height adjust/one-touch-tumble, 60:40 split-fold/recline, 50:50 split-fold) seats.

Included are armrests (first-row - centre console, second-row - centre seat fold-out), scuff plates (Silver - Xpander Plus), and a fabric headliner (Grey).

The MPV has generous cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the first-, second- and third-row occupants. Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in leatherette (Black) with contrast trimmings (Silver).

Features are multi-switches (media, vehicle settings, Passive Cruise Control), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Accessing its manual-operated (button) tailgate, opens up to 495-Litres (third-row folded) and 837-Litres (second-, third-row folded) of load capacities.

The new Xpander features the following set of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Active Stability Control (ASC), Traction Control (TC), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal System (ESS), All-Round Monitor (ARM - 360-degree camera - Xpander Plus), and reverse camera (guidelines - Xpander).

Passive safety includes two airbags (driver, passenger), seat belts (reminders, pretensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two - outer-second-row, top tether) parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (two - rear), Passive Cruise Control (PCC), Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, side impact door beams, alarm system (immobiliser), and Digital Video Recorder (DVR - front, rear dash cam - Xpander Plus).

Entertainment is channelled via a six-speaker setup.

Nestled in the new Xpander is a 1.5-Litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder 16-valve MIVEC DOHC petrol engine (4A91), making 104 HP at 6,000 RPM and 141 NM at 4,000 RPM.

Mated to the mill is a four-speed automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the front, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Fuel tank capacity is at 45-Litres.

The new Xpander comes with these conveniences.

E.g., keyless entry (engine start/stop button), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), illumination system (interior lighting, welcome lights), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, EPS), armrests (first-row - centre console, second-row - centre seat fold-out), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear-vents, blower control), sound-insulation-film windshield (front), wireless charger, storage areas (interior), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, parking sensors (two - rear), and parking cameras (reverse with guidelines, 360-degree).

Installed is a single-zone automatic air-conditioning system with rear-vents (dedicated blower control).

Suspension-wise, installed setups are MacPherson strut coil springs with stabiliser bar and built-in strut bar (front), and torsion beam (rear).

Overall, the ride quality is firm, and the interior is comfortably-spacious.

Good sound insulation, accounting for all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, alienated from most of the road noises.

Part of the acoustic measures incorporated is the application of a sound-insulation-film windshield (front).