THE MIRAGE AND XPANDER ARE MITSUBISHI’S VALUE-PACKED VEHICLES FOR SAFE PERSONAL MOBILITY
In this day and age of social distancing brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, personal mobility has become an even greater necessity for the average Filipino.
Mitsubishi offers us two affordable value-packed entry-level vehicles that are more than capable of providing the needs of safe personal mobility for all.
First up is Mitsubishi’s popular B-segment sedan and hatchback duo, the Mirage and Mirage G4.
In the Philippines, the Mirage was launched in mid-2012 and was initially offered in GLX and GLS grades. Both available with either 5-speed manual or CVT. All models are powered by the 1.2-litre engine code-named 3A92 producing 76hp and 100 Newton-Meters of torque. In late 2013, the sedan version called G4 was added to the lineup and also available in the same two grades as the hatchback. In its first full year of sales, the Mirage reached a place as the sixth best-selling hatchback.
The refreshed Mirage launched in the country in April 2016 and the G4 also launched in April 2018. Its popularity increased thanks to popular ride hailing apps such as Grab and Uber, turning many Filipinos into would-be entrepreneurs who became part of the Grab and Uber ride hailing apps. It is also a popular fleet vehicle for companies with extensive sales and marketing organizations. Aside from the Mirage’s affordability and ease of maintenance, a huge part of appeal is it’s amazing fuel efficiency. Mitsubishi claims as much as 27 kilometers per liter on their own internal tests. Real-world driving yielded 19 km/L on the highway and over 11 km/L in the city. The Mirage makes for a very faithful long-term partner for everyday personal mobility. The G4 in particular comes with dual front airbags and ABS
brakes, plus ISOFIX child seat anchors making it a perfect vehicle for young families. In-car entertainment isn’t left out either with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth Telephony and USB charging ports. Despite being a decade old, the Mirage continues to soldier on as one of Mitsubishi’s stalwart volume sellers. With a three-year, 100,000km warranty, you feel assured that the Mirage is truly great value for money.
If however you need something more than what the Mirage and Mirage G4 can offer, Mitsubishi offers the perfect next-level upgrade from their B-segment hatchbacks and sedans in the form of the Xpander MPV and its quasi-crossover twin, the Xpander Cross.
The Indonesian-made Xpander made its debut in the Philippines on March 1, 2018 and went on sale in May 2018 as the replacement to the long-serving Adventure AUV. It was initially available in four trim levels: GLX, GLX Plus, GLS and GLS Sport.
The updated Xpander was launched in March 2020, alongside the Xpander Cross, which replaced the GLS Sport trim, making the regular Xpander available in three trim levels with the Black Series variant joining the line-up in 4 November 2021, replacing chrome trim in favor of matte black trim on the front and rear fascias, body panels, and door panels.
The face-lifted Xpander was unveiled on March 5, 2022 and officially launched on May 19, 2022 which featured a redesigned front fascia that featured the brand’s Dynamic Shield front face more prominently.
The Xpander is equally packed with value, is surprisingly sprightly to drive, and offers a boatload of standard features that impress beyond its price: a 1.5 liter 4A91 engine producing 103hp and 141 Newton-Meters of torque mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, a 7-inch touchscreen with phone mirroring, Bluetooth Telephony and USB ports, dual airbags, ABS-EBD brakes, plus traction and stability control on the top variants. With a raised ride height, you are also blessed with a commanding view of the road ahead, giving you better confidence and security in your drive.
So, should you decide to finally level up your life and the lives of your family with your own personal vehicle, these two Mitsubishis make for excellent choices.