It’s finally here, officially launched a few hours ago nationwide; the all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander. While it was technically launched last March, that was just for pre-orders. This time around, anybody can walk into any Mitsubishi dealership to experience it.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to preview the car earlier today, apart from getting up close and personal I was also able to take a short drive on a test track that was designed to showcase the all-new Xpanders capabilities.
1. Exterior Update
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The 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander still retains its familiar modern look, present are the never-ending angular edges that defined the Xpanders look before. It has been updated to ensure it doesn’t get left behind by the competition. The front fascia has a totally different look. T-shaped headlights along with a redesigned bumper were fitted onto the Xpander. A new solid grill design also dominates the front end, giving it a bigger and sportier look. The rear likewise got a makeover with similar T-shaped taillight units. Its rear bumper is almost the same as the former model’s, but now it has vertical reflector strips instead.
Overall, the Xpander is still a looker, albeit even more futuristic looking than it was before.
2. Interior Update
Inside the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander also gets a few tweaks. The dashboard is now more angular, while the materials used on the different panels and surfaces have also been upscaled, giving the Xpander a more premium feel. I particularly like the soft leather on the steering wheel. The infotainment screen also now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and on higher variants, it comes with an Automatic Climate Control System. Lastly, the second-row passengers get additional cupholders as well.
3. Safety Features
With regard to safety, Mitsubishi didn’t scrimp on the 2022 Xpander. This of course being a 7-seater family car, it’s important that the Xpander can keep your family safe as much as possible should the situation arise. It now has an electronic parking brake with an autohold function, hill start assist, anti-lock brakes, active stability control, cruise control, and of course airbags.
4. Comfort and Ease Of Use
While at the test track, I couldn’t help but notice how user-friendly the 2022 Xpander is. Despite the technological updates, and other new driving features, the layout to access said features was an ode to true ergonomics. Next up is the ride comfort, despite the fact that we were driving on the cobbled surface of the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, the Xpander soaked them up well, with barely a thump or bump registering in the cabin.
My favorite feature though has to be the light steering, in the previous Xpander it was light, for the 2022 Xpander though it’s a whole new level of lightness. It must be said though that I could still feel the road surface, which of course makes the driving feel more “natural”
5. Capabilities
The test track was littered with different obstacles that were designed to make the driver experience the 2022 Xpanders strengths. First off was how maneuverable the Xpander is because of its light steering (as mentioned earlier). Next up was a water wading section, where I was tasked with driving up, down into a basin filled with water, then back out again. Needless to say, It was a nerve-wracking experience which the Xpander took to like a duck to water (pun intended), It never felt as if it was out of place despite it being an MPV, it does boast a class-leading ground clearance of 225mm.
After the water wading was the suspension test, I was asked to drive over humps at speed. The Xpander was surprisingly stable, even if the wheels were going over bumps, the steering wheel remained straight and easy to steer. Even when I was asked to drive over 2 big humps to showcase the strength of the chassis, the steering was not upset and there was no groan from the chassis at all.
My favorite driving feature though has to be the combination of the Traction Control, Stability Control, and Anti-lock Braking System. I had to accelerate from a stand-still, and violently stomp on the brake pedal at a certain point, astonishingly the Xpander came to a dead stop just a few meters after the braking markers. Mind you, it had already been raining hard making drenching the road surface.
So if you’re interested in the all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander, you can check the model out for yourself at your nearest Mitsubishi dealership.
Prices
- GLX M/T = PHP 1,050,000
- GLX A/T = PHP 1,110,000
- GLS A/T = PHP 1,180,000
- Cross A/T = PHP 1,280,000
Xpander 2022 Specs
