New Mitsubishi Xpander Cross Minivan Would Rather Be An SUV

Mitsubishi’s Xpander compact MPV that’s being sold in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries, has received a new variant packing added versatility.

It’s called the Xpander Cross and it’s a jacked-up version of the existing model, spiced up with SUV-inspired design elements. Mitsubishi says this is an all-new crossover MPV, but the truth is the Xpander Cross is far from that, as it features the same bodywork as the regular Xpander.

Novelties include the 20-mm (0.8-in) higher ground clearance (225 mm / 8.8 in in total), the plastic body cladding, the modified bumpers with skid plates, the standard roof bars in silver, and the piano black tailgate garnish underneath the rear window.

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Debuting as the range-topping model of the Mitsubishi Xpander lineup and a rival for the Toyota Rush, the Xpander Cross is also 50 mm (2 in) wider than the standard vehicle due to the broader wheel arches, housing larger profile tires on 17-inch alloys. The jacked-up minivan also debuts two new colors: Graphite Gray metallic and Sunrise Orange metallic – the latter exclusive for Xpander Cross. Both can be combined with a black/brown interior trim with a silver mesh decoration panel.

Speaking of the interior, it remains as spacious and versatile as the regular Xpander’s, offering a total of seven seats on three rows and best-in-class interior space, according to the automaker. The seat backs in the second row (60:40 split) and third row (50:50 split) can be folded down for a variety of combinations.

Power comes from a 105 PS (103 HP) 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine (same as before), mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic driving the front wheels.

As with the regular Xpander, the Cross version will be built at Mitsubishi’s facility in Cikarang, Indonesia. It will go on sale in Indonesia on November 13, 2019, with exports to other ASEAN markets following later on. Although its availability is limited to select southeast Asian countries, the Xpander has become Mitsubishi Motors’ fourth-largest sales model in the 2018 fiscal year, with around 104,000 units reaching new customers.