The common English saying “crossing your Ts and dotting your Is” refers to being meticulous. With the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, the Japanese automaker took lessons from the previously launched competition (such as the Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Avanza, the now-defunct Honda Mobilio, and the SsangYong Rodius) and applied them to its starter multipurpose vehicle (MPV) when it was first introduced in 2020.

Two years and a pandemic have passed, and one of the Nippon diamond star’s top sellers has undergone minor changes. However, the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross's presence on Philippine roads doesn’t guarantee that all its Ts were crossed, nor were all its Is dotted.

Why you shouldn't buy the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross

One example of the missed T is at the front end. For some reviewers, a sharply angled front fascia combined with a steeply angled windshield plays a little havoc on depth perspective. Combine that with the lack of front bumper parking sensors; one must take extra care when parallel parking or shoehorning the MPV in a garage. Given the issues above, a toddler or a four-legged loved one suddenly crossing in front of the unit will likely get hit.

Mentioned above in passing was the lack of front parking sensors. Given the price of admittance is Php 1.28 million, you’d think that the aforementioned safety aid would come standard with the top-end Mitsubishi Xpander Cross. Sadly, it’s not, and this poster would like to convey a statement of good luck and best wishes when stuffing the MPV in city-sized parking slots (or even in someone’s garage).

Even with a 104 ps/141 Nm, 1.5-liter straight four, the vehicle’s engine response is a love/hate matter. Some reviews praised the forward motion as peppy, providing decent to good scooting around urbanity and the occasional out-of-town trip. Other reviews and owner takes were disappointed. These sad statements on the Xpander Cross’ mill felt that the grunt and pep were lacking, particularly when climbing steep inclines.

Why buying the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross makes sense

Making amends somewhat for the forward motion head-scratcher was the suspension damping. Reviews often used “Carlike” to describe road comfort. In my opinion, the takeaway could be that the coil springs, shock absorbers, and thick seats do an excellent job of preventing backsides, hips, and spines from being pummeled. Given that most Mitsubishi Xpander Cross examples spend their time on Philippine city tarmac and most of the country’s urban paths aren’t quite up to international construction standards, that road damping is a positive.

Since the MPV spends most of its time in urbanity, traffic jams are a given. Thus, whiling away the hours stuck in traffic with something to do is essential to take away road rage and put the driver in a more relaxed mood. This is a benefit of the utility runner’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay-capable in-car infotainment (ICI). This is because ICI shod with the platforms above gives a broader range of music to listen to during traffic jams and provides a wider scope of roads, places of interest, speed traps, and vehicle queues to avoid. Plus, the audio entertainment and satellite navigation setups are updated quickly via your smartphone, so plugging into the MPV’s ICI via one’s phone should be great for improvement.

As with any multi-purpose vehicle, the ability to lug more than a passenger car’s boot is always a plus. The Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is no different. One can fit three to four large travel bags with both rear rows upright, but they will slightly block the rear hatch glass. Fold flat both rows, and you can shoehorn even a mountain bike (albeit lying on its side) or three golf bags. Another matter of note regarding this MPV’s loading trait is the rear rows’ Isofix latches for child seats. Last, there are many places to store small items in the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, whether in the front or back seats.

The Verdict: Should you consider a 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross?

The Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is the seeming number one choice when it comes to the entry-level MPV segment. The number of units on the road reinforces that position.

What is a mystery is that the brand has an established market. Considering its shortcomings, it is a wonder motorists pick the Japanese diamond star’s starter people carrier over other choices. One may surmise that this is due to the Filipino mentality that products from long-time established marques (i.e., Toyota, Mitsubishi) are quality items. Conversely, any other manufacturer's offering doesn’t come close to what the industry old-timers peddle.

Perhaps it is high time the Filipino should test drive every available product in a segment (including the entry-level MPV arena) and keep an open mind to automakers before committing to a purchase. 

Have you test-driven a Mitsubishi Xpander Cross? Let us know what you think.