MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles) are great at hauling cargo and transporting people. But they surely aren’t top-of-mind if you want a stylish or sporty vehicle. You might have to choose from pricier offerings from the SUV or (sport) sedan segments.

If you are budget-conscious, like most Filipinos are, and want the most bang for your buck, Mitsubishi Philippines gave one of its best-selling models a new body kit and called it the Xpander Cross. It is the more rugged expression of the Xpander, and while it most certainly will not pass as an SUV, let me tell you why you cannot go wrong with this sporty MPV. 

The body does not differ much from the original. It has the same lines, the ebbs and swells of the surface, and the belt line running across the side doors. The added body kit, including new front and rear bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels, wraparound body cladding, and roof rails, makes it appear heftier, and more dynamic. These may not seem like much on paper, but it has a huge effect on the looks. It appears more powerful with that mean resting façade, with the added capability for topside cargo, a new, youthful two-tone color (Sunrise Orange Metallic with Black Roof), and a sportier look with the rear spoiler and wheel design. It is still an MPV from any angle, but one that will not look out of place parked in a row full of SUVs. It might even get better equipment than some because it has T-shaped LED headlights and taillamps, and LED front fog lamps.

Getting in is easy with the smart key. Press the button on the door handle, and the vehicle automatically unlocks. It uses synthetic leather on most interior surfaces such as the seats (with white stitching), the multi-function steering wheel, soft-touch padding on the dashboard, door panels, and center console. Immediately, it does not feel like a typical utilitarian cabin with basic amenities. The seats feel soft and fit well (a bit more bolstering would be better) and the Montero Sport-inspired steering wheel says ‘premium’ at first glance.

I like the minimalistic climate control system design. It has two toggles and slim, rectangular buttons that do not take up much space and are very stylish. There is one USB Type-A port in front and two ports at the rear (Type-A and Type-C).

It could do better than a seven-inch touchscreen display because this is the kind of size that says MPV. Something larger and colored would be better. At least it gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has Bluetooth audio streaming. 

Other modern features I appreciate are the Start/Stop button, reverse camera, and electronic parking brake (that frees up space between the front seats). The convenience features I like are the tray under the front passenger seat and the one-touch lever system of the second row. The former allows you to store stuff that will not fit in the glove box, while the latter will not require muscles and an engineering degree to operate.

Like most MPVs, it has a small displacement 1.5-liter gasoline engine, but I was wary about the four-speed automatic transmission. In this modern day of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), I felt it might struggle to deliver power and efficiency. After driving 350-kilometers in a week, my suspicions were baseless. I liked how this powertrain felt more responsive. When I was in a hurry, the torque’s pull was palpable at just a little over 2,000 RPM, but cruising speed kept revs much lower for higher efficiency. Through seven days, it returned a respectable 12-km/l in mixed driving conditions.

Noise and vibration levels are low, but I would like to see better road harshness dampening. Also, there is a dead spot at the center position of the steering wheel, which makes it feel less responsive than other MPVs. Other than those, stability is excellent even around corners, and it moves gracefully around traffic (in the city and on the highway).

This model is already one of the most popular ones in the market. It has the looks, size, versatility, and best of all, it is efficient and competitively priced at ₱1,328,000. If you are not averse to being seen driving around in an MPV, how can you go wrong with the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross?