Ever since the Honda Mobilio and BR-V twins, the MPV market has had MPVs traipsing around as SUVs for buyers of all different kinds, and the Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross are no different.

Both seat seven and use 1.5-liter engines mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Both obviously sit on the same platform and use the same panels, underpinnings, and trims.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander and the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross both enjoy new facelifts, but the question remains: What’s the Cross variant for?

Do we need an SUV of everything?

The Xpander Cross variant is Mitsubishi’s answer to the ever-increasing demand for the SUV life in the Philippines, but why even need it? In simple terms, the idea is that an SUV appeals to a sizable chunk of the car market and that it sells better than an MPV.

Higher off the ground

First, the Xpander Cross has a higher ground clearance than its MPV sibling, offering 225 millimeters.  This should come in handy when the roads of Manila start flooding, at least over lower passenger cars. That higher ground clearance lends itself more to the SUV lifestyle people look for. Or when you head off to the farm in the province. 

SUV on the outside, MPV on the inside

Second, the Xpander Cross has space like an SUV, too. While that may be attributed more to the fact it’s based on an MPV, and MPVs generally offer enhanced versatility, it’s good that it can still carry seven passengers and most of their luggage. With the tendency of SUV owners to go on road trips with the whole family, that expandable space can come in handy. 

Road presence

Lastly, it’s all about image. The Xpander Cross comes across as a more rugged version of the Xpander, and all SUVs benefit from this perception of durability and go-anywhere ability. Moreover, every young person wants to be seen in the latest trend, and the SUV is the most recent.

Rather than design a brand new vehicle from scratch, Mitsubishi spun off one from an existing car and called it an SUV – a stroke of genius or merely a stroke is yours to decide.

Creating cars to appeal to trends is like buying the latest iPhone – it’s more aesthetic than functional. And pretty soon, it will be replaced by the next best thing, as all trends do. The Xpander Cross is no different: it’s meant to take advantage of the SUV craze by offering a Crossover SUV experience that people can get behind without actually developing something that can perform or excel in the adventurous lifestyle SUVs originate from.

On the bright side, if the next market trend is cabriolets, perhaps we’ll see a return of the four-door cabriolet, but as an MPV. Wouldn’t that be something, huh?