2024 Mitsubishi Xpander Plus Review

The B-segment MPV market in Malaysia has always been a competitive choice for family users. Consumers look for practicality to accommodate 7 passengers while having clear demands for features, fuel efficiency, and pricing. The 2024 Mitsubishi Xpander Plus, as a mid-cycle facelift model, enters the market with a price tag of RM 109,980. Its key selling points focus on upgraded smart features, a high ground clearance of 225mm, and a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. In this test drive, we focus on evaluating whether it can surpass its rivals in space, features, and day-to-day driving experience, making it a better choice for family users.

From the exterior, the Xpander Plus continues Mitsubishi's family Dynamic Shield design language, with an overall style that leans toward ruggedness. The front features a large chrome strip connecting the LED headlights on both sides, while the L-shaped daytime running lights inside the headlight assembly are highly recognizable. The lower part of the front bumper adds a black plastic surround paired with trapezoidal design elements in the front fog light area, enhancing the SUV-like visual effect. The side profile of the body is straight, with concave designs at the lower doors and 17-inch multi-spoke wheels adding a sense of layering. The 225mm ground clearance is much higher than rival models in the same class, providing ease in tackling rural roads or minor water hazards. At the rear, the horizontally aligned LED tail lights are connected by a chrome strip, visually widening the car's appearance. The rear bumper is also equipped with a black surround and hidden exhaust, creating a harmonious design that matches the aesthetic preferences of family users.

Sitting inside, the interior layout of the Xpander Plus leans towards practicality. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials and accented with silver trims, which feel better than the previous model. The 9-inch touchscreen sits atop the dashboard, featuring a clean interface and supporting Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto with decent operational fluency. Below it, the physical buttons for air conditioning are retained, allowing for easy operation while driving. In terms of features, keyless entry, push-start ignition, automatic air conditioning, rear air-conditioning vents, a 6-speaker audio system, and rain-sensing wipers are all standard, ensuring sufficient convenience for daily use. However, the safety features are somewhat lacking, as it only comes with dual front airbags, unlike some competitors in the same price range, which offer 4 or 6 airbags—a point to note.

Space is one of the core strengths of the Xpander Plus. With dimensions of 4475mm×1750mm×1750mm and a wheelbase of 2775mm, it surpasses most MPVs in its class. The front seats support manual adjustment, and the backrest and seat cushion offer decent support. A 175cm tall passenger sitting at the front still has a fist-sized headroom left. The second-row seats are equipped with one-touch folding and sliding adjustments, offering up to two fists of legroom, ensuring no crowding even when child safety seats are installed. The third-row seats, while primarily intended for children or short-distance use, feature recline adjustment, providing up to four fingers of headroom, which is better than the "small bench" experience some competitors offer. The trunk space is 495L when in a 7-seat configuration, capable of fitting two 20-inch suitcases. Folding down the third row increases the capacity to 1630L, making it easy to carry large items. For storage compartments, there's a phone slot and cupholders below the dashboard, while the door panels also provide space for water bottles, addressing the needs of family users in detail.

In terms of power, the Xpander Plus is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 105PS/6000rpm and a peak torque of 141N·m/4000rpm, paired with a 4AT gearbox. During daily driving, it has a relatively smooth start, with moderate throttle response, making it suitable for congested urban conditions. After accelerating to 60km/h, the power output gradually becomes more stable. Overtaking requires pressing the accelerator harder, during which the transmission downshifts to increase speed, but the response has a slight delay. While driving at high speeds, the engine revs are maintained at around 3000rpm at 120km/h. The noise control is decent and does not affect conversations inside the car. There is only a normal driving mode available, with no sport or eco mode options, which appears somewhat limited.

The handling and suspension performance are geared towards comfort. The steering wheel is electrically adjustable and offers a lightweight turning feel, suitable for female drivers. The chassis uses a front MacPherson strut + rear torsion beam suspension, which is tuned on the softer side and can filter out most road impacts. When passing over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, passengers in the rear seats experience minimal jolts. However, when taking corners at high speeds, the body leans significantly, so speed control is required. As for fuel consumption, the fuel consumption in urban conditions is about 8.5L/100km, 6.5L/100km on highways, and an average of 7.5L/100km, which is considered normal for a 1.5L MPV. The braking performance is average; the brake pedal travel is relatively long, and the initial braking force is soft, which requires some adjustment to get used to.

In terms of driving comfort, the Xpander Plus provides well-cushioned seats, making long drives not too tiring. The rear air vents can quickly adjust the temperature, and the third row also has air vents, ensuring comfort for all passengers. In terms of noise control, engine noise can be heard inside the car at high RPM, but wind and road noise are well suppressed, with an overall performance that matches its price range. The 360-degree panoramic camera offers high clarity, along with rear parking sensors making parking and reversing very convenient. The hill-start assist feature prevents the car from rolling back on slopes, making it friendly for new drivers.

In summary, the key strengths of the 2024 Mitsubishi Xpander Plus lie in its spacious interior, high ground clearance, abundant practical features, and a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Compared to similarly priced models like the Perodua Alza or Toyota Veloz, it offers more space and better off-road capability, but its safety features (only two airbags) and transmission (4AT) seem slightly outdated. Nonetheless, with a price of RM 109,980, these advantages still make it competitive in its segment.

This car is suitable for families that value practicality, often drive on unpaved roads or rural routes, and need a 7-seater vehicle with a budget around RM 110,000. It is not a performance-focused model, but it can adequately meet the needs of daily use for transporting people and goods. If you're looking for a balanced and reliable family MPV, the Xpander Plus is worth considering.