[CAR REVIEW] Mitsubishi Xpander 2022: An Authentic Evolution

The 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander showcases its versatility as a 7-seater car through a challenging 300km journey traversing various terrains, from urban roads and highways to mountain passes.

The journey begins in Long Bien district, Hanoi, and takes the car through the bustling streets before entering the Hanoi-Bac Giang expressway. After covering more than 100km on the expressway, the car exits near Bac Giang multi-purpose sports hall and continues along National Highway 31.

At the town of Chu in Luc Ngan district, the Xpander encounters the busy and crowded streets filled with traders buying agricultural products during the peak lychee season. This tests the car’s flexibility as it maneuvers through the congested traffic.

Next, the car faces a challenging 30km-long mountain pass with steep inclines over 10° before reaching the tranquil Dong Cao plateau. The plateau welcomes the travelers with cool mountain winds, majestic rocks, verdant grass, and hints of pine trees, creating a highland ambiance.

Throughout the entire 300km journey, the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander demonstrates its capability to tackle diverse terrains, including urban roads, highways, national and provincial highways, and even mountain passes.

Aesthetically Enhanced Design

The new 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander features a refreshed front face design while still retaining the iconic Dynamic Shield design language. The sleek and modern lines give the Xpander a more contemporary appearance.

Equipped with the “T-Shape” lighting system, the Xpander sports three separate lenses on each side. This not only enhances the aesthetics but also improves visibility, ensuring safety during night-time driving on highways.

The new Xpander comes with upgraded 17-inch rims, giving it a more youthful and impressive design. Additionally, an increased ground clearance and refreshed front and rear bumpers make the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander appear taller and more reminiscent of an SUV rather than its previous MPV style.

Inside the cabin, the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander exudes luxury with leather coverings and intricate metal trimmings on the dashboard and door trims, providing a premium feel to the passengers.

Enhanced Convenience

The center console of the Xpander receives significant updates, replacing the previous rotary air conditioning control knobs with a neat digital panel. Moreover, the car features the Max Cool quick cooling mode, which proves highly useful in hot and humid tropical climates like Vietnam.

The clunky handbrake has been replaced with an electronic button and Auto Hold hold braking mode, enhancing the car’s modernity, aesthetics, and usability.

The passenger infotainment system now boasts a larger 9-inch screen, replacing the previous 7-inch display. Furthermore, the Xpander 2022 is equipped with intelligent connections such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and modern Type-C charging ports, keeping up with the developments in the smartphone world.

Passengers in the front seats can enjoy the convenience of a center armrest, reducing fatigue during long journeys. The armrest also includes separate compartments for water and tissues, carefully designed and integrated for practicality.

Aside from comfortably accommodating seven adults, the Mitsubishi Xpander 2022 offers convenient storage compartments fitted with charging ports and air-conditioning vents, ensuring a more comfortable journey for all passengers.

Impressive and Practical Performance

With a starting price of 648 million VND (~$28,000) for the AT Premium version, the Mitsubishi Xpander does not promise a sporty and powerful driving experience. However, with a track record of selling 60,000 units and being on the market for three years, the Xpander has proven its strengths.

The Xpander is equipped with the MIVEC 1.5L engine delivering 104 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque, providing sufficient power to carry a full load of 7 adults across various terrains, including steep inclines over 10°. Although not an exceptionally powerful car, the Xpander 2022 confidently holds its ground.

Even with a full load, the Xpander retains its ability to overtake swiftly on highways and national roads. While the engine sound may be audible inside the cabin, the car accelerates without feeling underpowered.

According to the manufacturer, the car consumes an average of 5 to 7.7 liters of gasoline per 100km, depending on traffic conditions. This fuel efficiency proves advantageous, particularly in an era of rising fuel prices for Xpander owners, especially those using the car for service business purposes.

Mitsubishi has established its trustworthiness in the Vietnamese market, earning a strong reputation for product quality, reliability, and durability. This, combined with the Xpander 2022’s improvements, resonates with consumers, ensuring their confidence in the brand.

Enhancing ground clearance to approach contemporary SUVs, the Mitsubishi Xpander 2022 boasts a remarkable safe wading capability of up to 400mm. This feature equips drivers in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to navigate flooded roads during the rainy season.

In addition, the Xpander 2022 can tackle rough roads and difficult terrains that demand the flexibility of a high-riding car with large approach and departure angles.

Parallel to the ground clearance improvements, the Mitsubishi Xpander 2022 has upgraded its suspension system with larger springs and taller shock absorbers, increasing load-bearing capacity and enhancing stability to minimize lateral swaying. The Xpander 2022 effortlessly conquers the continuous curves of mountain passes.

The Xpander 2022 offers excellent visibility, thanks to its large-size rearview mirrors positioned on the doors, reducing blind spots. Equipped with proximity sensors and a reversing camera, the driver can confidently navigate narrow urban spaces or crowded areas such as school gates or market entrances.

Conclusion

The 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander addresses the market’s needs by focusing on practical enhancements, including a modern and luxurious design, additional convenience features, and improved performance compared to its predecessor. With these updates, the Xpander 2022 will undoubtedly continue to reign as the king of the 7-seater MPV segment in Vietnam.

Anh Phan (Tuoitrethudo)