It looks like we are finally getting the popular Mitsubishi SUV, the Xpander. Those who aren't aware, it is one of the best-selling offerings of the Japanese carmaker, and it's great if it comes to Malaysia. Before we get into all the details, let's first know the Xpander SUV a little better.

The Xpander SUV was first launched in 2017 in Indonesia, and back then, it created a lot of hype. Since then, we have been hoping to see the car on Malaysian soil but had no luck. Some hope came in 2018 when the SUV was said to head towards Malaysia, but it didn't happen. Its current local arrival status is still a question, but that can't stop us from stocking this beautiful beast.

Indonesia recently received its supply of facelifted Xpander, and we hope the same model will arrive in Malaysia (in case the company plans for the same). Here, the Xpander SUV will give a fierce competition to the Perodua Aruz and Honda BR-V. Let's now check out the latest Xpander inch-by-inch and pray for its local debut.

Exterior

The Xpander showcases a firm profile on the outside, making it hard to miss on the road. At the front, it gets Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield grille that features the company's moniker in the middle. It also gets louvers that swing upward in the middle, and top variants get dual horns as well.

Other prominent Xpander exterior features include -

• LED headlamps
• 16-inch wheels
• Front and rear bumper
• Shark fin antenna
• Rear window defogger
• Modern rear spoiler
• Rear camera
• Rear parking sensor

Interior

The Xpander cabin is designed for utmost driving comfort and luxury - something desired by every car owner. The SUV offers a spacious cabin with a choice of materials and designs. The car provides ample space for six passengers; the third-row can also be folded in multiple ways for large payloads. What's best is the 3rd row seats are wide and offer ample legroom, a rear thing to see. Coming to the design, it's elegant, and every control on the dashboard is appropriately stacked.

Key highlights of Xpander interior -

• High contrast meter cluster
• Tilt & Telescopic steering
• KOS (Keyless operating system)
• 7-inch audio head unity with smartphone connectivity
• Versatile storage options
• Double blower AC

Performance

Mitsubishi Xpander specs sheet (Indonesia specific) tells the SUV source its power from a MIVEC 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder making 104 PS at 6000 rpm and 141 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The powertrain is paired with either a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic, both directing drive to the front wheels. Besides, the car offers the highest ground clearance in the segment, making it more comfortable to drive.

Safety

The Xpander SUV has a lot to offer on the safety front, making it one of the safest driving options. It comes with RISE (reinforced impact safety evolution) body that's a sturdy body frame technology offering the best safety in driving.

Xpander safety kit includes -

• Power window timer
• Auto-off function headlight
• Auto door relock system
• Lane change turn signal system
• Anti-lock braking system
• Hill-start assist
• Pedestrian protection system
• Active stability control
• Dual SRS airbag
• Emergency stop signal

Price

As far as Xpander's price is concerned, we can only catch hold of it via Indonesia's figures. The SUV's price starts from 217.8 million rupiah (RM 63,625) and goes all the way up to 275.1 million rupia (RM 80,364).

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi Xpander is a fantastic car with a lot to offer on the performance and safety front. We are now only waiting for the day when Mitsubishi Malaysia will officially announce its arrival.

Also Read: Check out the all-new Mitsubishi Xpander Cross