With the ever increasing fuel price, the need for more cost effective ways of getting from point A to point B has become greater than ever. There are a few ways of doing this. One of the easiest ways is to just walk, unfortunately we live in a world where time is of the essence, so that's out the window. You could take public transport but there are still a few issues with that. Perhaps an electric car will work. No fuel cost, however it may not fit into your budget. Perhaps
Mitsubishi has an answer with the new
Xpander.
The
Xpander is the brand's latest 7-seater offering and while it might look like an
MPV, this newcomer is rugged and practical enough to satisfy your active lifestyle in the same way a
crossover SUV will.
Will this be the answer? A seven way split on the fuel bill? Perhaps, but what is the
Xpander like to live with? Here are the answers that you need.
From a styling perspective, the
Xpander catches your attention and is easily recognisable as a
Mitsubishi product, thanks to a dominant front grille and sleek headlights. We admire the fact that the car doesn’t look cute and cuddly like others in the segment and instead looks more angular and muscular. Seen here is the automatic version which features 16-inch alloy rims. Overall the
Xpander offers around 205mm of ground clearance, which enhances its versatility.
Powering the
Xpander is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated motor that’s good for around 77kW and 141Nm. The automatic gearbox offers four forward speeds and does like to be revved out, with excellent power delivery when meandering around town and on the highway.
The
Xpander's is spacious and rear occupants have their own climate control system. Up front, you get neat facia with an infotainment screen that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a USB port, Bluetooth, rearview camera and some very clever storage solutions. The 2nd and 3rd row of seats can fold in 60/40 fashion, with the 3rd row going completely flat.
As for practicality, the
Xpander offers 781-litres of luggage capacity which can be xpanded (see what we did there!) to 1 608-litres if you fold the rear bench flat.
The ride quality is up to the mark and the
Xpander is easy to park, while also being a first-rate people mover. We also think that the
Xpander is good value for money, with a price ranging from R319 995 .
