Xpanding your options

With the long holidays coming up, and many road trip destinations to choose from, deciding on the next family road trip can be a daunting exercise. Thankfully, we’ve recently come across a combo that goes perfect together: The new Mitsubishi Xpander and a drive to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan.

The Mitsubishi Xpander is one of the current top choices in the small MPV/ 7-seater SUV class, so this test drive hosted by Mitsubishi couldn’t be more timely. Exterior

You’ll notice the fascia has quite a bit in common with the current Montero Sport. The look of the front end is called the Dynamic Shield Concept. If you like chrome, this is for you, as there’s generous use of it throughout the façade.

Most noticeable in the Xpander are the position lights. The grille leads eyes to the Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) on the sides instead of the head lights. Those are actually mounted lower on the far edges of the bumper itself. Around back, you get L-shaped LED combination lamps. All variants roll on 205/55 tires on 16-inch alloy rims except for the GLX M/T which is equipped with 185/65 tires on 15-inch alloys. Ground clearance is very high 205mm. Interior

We immediately found the interior spacious. Getting in was easy, especially with the large rear passenger doors. My car mates were not your average petite Pinoys either, so they were the perfect subjects to help put the car’s spaciousness to the test.

Getting behind the wheel, it was easy to find the perfect driving position with the Xpander having a tilt/telescopic adjustable steering wheel. The dash layout was simple and logical, with every- thing within reach. There was good headroom all around. The fabric seats were comfortable all around and the space in the second and third rows were impressive for a car this size.

The entertainment system is a six-speaker, seven-inch touchscreen with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity with USB and AUX-in ports with Navigation. Powerplant