Mitsubishi Boosts Production Output at Indonesia Plant to Due Xpander Cross Demand

Mitsubishi has high hopes for its Xpander MPV that it is expanding the production volume at its Bekasi, Indonesia manufacturing facility for a second time.

In 2018, the Japanese carmaker already boosted the annual production capacity from 100,000 to 120,000 to ensure shorter waiting times. This number has since grown to 220,000 units per year as it foresees strong demand for the SUV derivative, the Xpander Cross. Out of this number, around 100,000 will be exported to other ASEAN countries, including the Philippines.

Across two markets where it’s currently sold, Mitubishi has managed to sell 250,000 Xpander units cumulatively.

In the Philippines, the Xpander sold a total of 13,494 units during its first year. This has then grown cumulatively to 36,168 units making it the best-selling MPV in its category. Furthermore, it contributes 30 percent of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines’s current sales.

The new Xpander Cross will provide new values for wider range of global customers centering ASEAN where style, ruggedness and practicality are in high demand says Mitsubishi.

“The Xpander is a very important nameplate to MMPC as it fits many of the vehicle requirements of Filipinos. It provides the reliable performance, spacious and comfortable interior, host of safety features and a very bold design. Now with the entry of the Xpander Cross, its added features, we see renewed potential to the already successful Xpander nameplate.” Said by MMPC President and CEO Mr. Mutsuhiro Oshikiri.

The Xpander Cross is now available at all authorized Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide with a suggested retail price of P 1.255-million.

2020 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross: This Is It (w/ 20 Photos, Video, Specs)

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines promised, and they delivered. A few months after its global debut in Indonesia, the 7-seater Xpander Cross has finally landed in the Philippines and with it re-ignites the war for supremacy among three-row sub-compact SUVs.

Compared to its non-Cross sibling, the Xpander Cross receives beefier-looking bumpers, fender flares, side body garnish, roof rails, a shark’s fin antenna, and a new tailgate garnish. The Dynamic Shield front grille itself has been revised with a larger Mitsubishi logo front and center. The headlights and front fog lights are now illuminated by LEDs, while the wheels themselves are an inch up to 17s show with 205/55 R 17 tires.

Inside, the Xpander Cross gets a two-tone black and brown treatment complementing the standard leather seats. Other standard features are a 2-DIN touchscreen infotainment system with 6 speakers, cruise control, and dual air conditioning.

Under the hood, the Xpander Cross is mechanically similar to the Xpander. It uses a 1.5-liter MIVEC 4-cylinder engine making 105 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. The sole transmission on offer is a 4-speed automatic. While, it doesn’t get any changes under the hood, it does have a widened track (about 50 mm wider), and improved interior sound insulation. Also, it adds a considerable amount of ride height—20 mm, or at 225 mm—higher than most compact crossovers.

Safety-wise, the Xpander Cross has dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and stability control with hill start assist. It also has ISOFIX and Tether Anchors for child seats, and an Emergency Stop Signal.

It retails for P 1.255-million and is available in four colors: White Pearl, Sterling Silver Metallic, Graphite Gray Metallic, and Sunrise Orange Metallic. It also replaces the GLS Sport as the top-trim Xpander variant.

Full specs (including the 2020 Xpander range) is at the bottom.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross Has More Ground Clearance Than Most Compact Crossovers

Mitsubishi’s Xpander-based SUV is out, and the name is: Xpander Cross. Okay, so it’s a bit derivative, but hey, this isn’t the first time Mitsubishi has added the word, “Cross” to an existing nameplate. Oh, and you know what, they don’t care. They’re going to sell a fuckton of these.

Already the best-selling MPV in Indonesia (where the global launch of the Xpander Cross was made) and in the Philippines (at least in its segment), the Xpander Cross adds SUV styling elements to the Xpander, which is, if you don’t realize, such a big thing for Asian families.

Among the additions include beefier-looking bumpers, fender flares, side body garnish, roof rails, and a new tailgate garnish. The Dynamic Shield front grille itself has been revised, now getting jagged saw-like detailing like Rambo’s combat knife. It’s also worth mentioning that the lighting has been upgraded to LEDs and the wheels are now 17 inches in diameter shod with 205/55 R 17 tires.

Inside, not much has changed over its MPV sibling, but the Xpander Cross does have an added touch of luxury thanks to a two-tone black and brown interior scheme (leather seating is an available option) and improved sound insulation.

Mechanically, the Xpander Cross shares its MPV sibling’s drivetrain and for that, it gets the same 1.5-liter MIVEC engine making 105 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. The transmission is, at least for the Indonesia market, a choice between a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Now, while it doesn’t get any changes under the hood, the Xpander Cross does have a widen track (about 50 mm wider). Also, it adds a considerable amount of ride height. At 225 mm (higher by 20 mm), it actually equals the likes of the Subaru Forester.

Safety-wise, the Xpander Cross has dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and stability control with hill start assist.

Now, this is where things get interesting: in terms of pricing, the Xpander Cross tops out at P 1.035 million (converted from Indonesian Rupiah). By comparison, the top-of-the-line Xpander MPV is priced there at P 999,0000—that’s roughly just a 4 percent difference. Since Mitsubishi Philippines has confirmed that the Xpander Cross will be launched locally, if we were to apply the same math, that means Mitsubishi’s new 7-seater subcompact SUV will be priced around P 1.2 million or roughly within the same price range as the Honda BR-V.