Aug 12, 2022 at 4:23am ET
Because everything has to be an SUV these days in one way or another, the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is a high-riding minivan with a somewhat tough look. It was launched less than three years ago and is already getting a facelift. Lest we forget that Mitsu has a long history when it comes to rugged people-movers as the Delica has been around for decades, complete with all-wheel drive whereas this sends power only to the front axle.
The facelift introduced today brings several changes, but the van on stilts looks as polarizing as before. Unveiled at the 2022 Indonesia International Auto Show and already on sale, the Xpander Cross has a redesigned front fascia with new headlights that continue to have a split arrangement but with a T-shaped layout. The turn signals have been moved in the upper cluster to make them more visible while the hood is now thicker than before.
2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross facelift
Wearing a fresh Green Bronze Metallic paint, the facelifted half minivan, half crossover has had its front and rear overhangs stretched by a total of 95 millimeters (3.7 inches). New (and still quite small) 17-inch alloy wheels have a two-tone look with gray accents to match the front and rear skid plates as well as the door garnishes. The "T" motif we saw at the front is noticeable at the rear in the updated taillights lending the Xpander Cross a more modern appearance.
With a minimum ground clearance of 220 millimeters (8.6 inches), the family hauler should be able to easily handle bumpy roads, but bear in mind this is no off-roader. With the mid-cycle refresh, it does get Mitsubishi's proprietary Active Yaw Control (YAC), but it's obviously not an active rear differential like you get on an Evo. Instead, it applies the braking force on the front wheels to improve cornering, based on the steering angle, brake pressure, longitudinal G-forces, yaw rate, and wheel speed.
What Is Mitsubishi Up To These Days?
Changes have been made inside as well where the 2023 Xpander Cross gets an electric parking brake, a digital instrument cluster, and a larger touchscreen now measuring eight inches. The old-school knobs of the climate control have made way for a screen while a wireless charging pad has been added as well. Shown here is the version with the CVT, but the model is also offered with a five-speed manual gearbox. Fitted with a clutch pedal, the model has a slightly higher ground clearance of 225 mm (8.8 in).
Power is provided by a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 103 hp (77 kW) and 141 Nm (104 lb-ft) of torque, so it's definitely not the fastest van out there. However, it's a solid choice for a family looking to buy a versatile and affordable vehicle with three-row seating, just as long as they don't mind the front design...
Source: Mitsubishi
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The pumped-up Mitsubishi Xpander Cross has received a facelift which includes an intricately styled front end and plenty of rugged trim throughout. The polarising looks of the refreshed minivan crossover are unlikely to hit our shores though after a launch of the original never materialised at its inception.
The three-year old Xpander Cross has gone under the knife on both its exterior and interior with its debut happening at the 2022 Indonesia International Auto Show. The front-end includes a redesigned fascia which continues the split-headlight theme feeding into the T-shaped grille. Functionally, the indicators have been repositioned into the uppermost cluster to aid with better visibility.
The bottom extremity retains rugged looking trim that is prominent throughout the car, combining black plastic with faux anodized trim as contrast. In each corner of the Xpander Cross are 17-inch alloy wheels with chunky tyre walls to absorb road imperfections for the emerging markets in which it will go on sale. Most notably, the refreshed model has had its front and rear overands lengthened by 95 mm.
Sufficient ground clearance of 220 mm in the CVT and 225 mm in the five-speed manual means that the Xpander Cross will be able to handle a fair amount of treacherous terrain without risking damage to the bodywork or mechanical components housed within. Considering the 1,5-litre MIVEC petrol motor only powers the front wheels, we can’t imagine it is capable when the going gets tough. Although the 77 kW and 141 N.m do make it an economical and affordable family hauler in the three-row MPV segment.
On the tech side of things, the facelifted Xpander Cross has also received a raft of safety and amenity upgrades. This includes the technical Active Yaw Control (YAC) system that improves handling in corners by applying braking force onto the inside front wheel.
The facelift also gets an electric parking brake, digital instrument cluster and larger-than-before 8-inch touch infotainment screen. The manual buttons and knobs of the climate control from before have been replaced with a screen while a wireless charging pad is included in the Xpander Cross too.
Related: New Mitsubishi Xpander Cross: SA launch of seven-seater ‘imminent’…
Despite initial interest in the Xpander Cross a few years ago, the local portfolio of Mitsubishi only includes the standard model and we can’t imagine that we will receive this facelifted derivative either.