MPV melee: Suzuki XL7 vs. Mitsubishi Xpander

Convenient and comfortable, multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) allow their owners to enjoy decent space — like one would find in a sport utility vehicle — while having the smooth ride quality of a sedan. That said, it’s no wonder why many Filipinos flock to get the best the segment can offer.

On that note, we are pitting two of the most sought-after multi-purpose automobiles in the market today, the Suzuki XL7 and the Mitsubishi Xpander. Interested to see which nameplate will come out on top? Join us in this MPV melee.

Weigh-in

The Suzuki XL7 measures 4,450 millimeters (mm) long, 1,775mm wide, and 1,710mm tall. It has a 2,740mm wheelbase and a ground clearance of 200mm.

Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Xpander has an overall length of 4,595mm, an overall width of 1,750mm, and an overall height of 1,750. Its wheelbase is at 2,775mm and it clears the ground by 225mm.

At a glance, the Mitsubishi Xpander has a slight advantage over the Suzuki XL7 in terms of size.

Exterior

Outside, the Suzuki XL7 wears a pair of LED headlamps flanking its black front grille with chrome elements. It also gets halogen front fog lamps and a faux front skid plate that adds to the character of the MPV.

To its side are blacked-out B- and C-pillars as well as black side garnishes with mudguards. Adding a touch of luxury to its look rooted in utility are chrome door handles and silver roof rails. It also rides on 16-inch polished alloy wheels shod in 195/60R16 tires.

At its rear is a manual tailgate, two aggressive-looking LED taillamps, a roof-mounted third brake lamp, reflectors on each side of its rear bumper, and a diffuser that mimics the look of the cosmetic skid plate one finds at the front.

As for the Mitsubishi Xpander, its face is decorated with the brand’s latest interaction of the Dynamic Shield front fascia. To each of its side are new T-shaped headlamps complemented by new daytime running lamps. There’s also a modern-looking front bumper that houses the MPV’s front fog lamps.

The side profile of the Mitsubishi Xpander is bedecked with side skirts, body-colored door handles, and body-tone side mirrors. It rides on a set of 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped in 05/55R17 tires.

Its rear end boasts a roof-mounted spoiler with an integrated brake lamp, a durable-looking rear bumper with reflectors on each of its sides, and a pair of taillamps that bear resemblance to that of the Suzuki XL7.

We’re calling this round a tie since both MPVs touch different ends of the spectrum with the Suzuki XL7 offering a somewhat rugged and utilitarian design while the Mitsubishi Xpander comes with a more modern, futuristic appeal.

Interior

Inside, the Suzuki XL7 packs some decent amenities such as a three-spoke leather steering wheel, seats covered in fabric and leather materials, a leather center armrest, a leather-wrapped shift boot, and a pull-down armrest for the occupants sitting in the second row.

Also found is an instrument cluster with a mix of analog and digital gauges, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with offline navigation as well as Apple and Android connectivity, and controls in the center console for the vehicle’s air conditioning unit.

The Mitsubishi Xpander also gets a leather steering wheel, leather seats, a leather-finished shift boot, and door panels finished in the same quality hide.

Past the aforementioned steering wheel is a similar instrument panel that also mixes analog and digital gauges. It does fall a little short when it comes to its infotainment unit as Mitsubishi packed the Xpander with a seven-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

For us, we give the win to the Suzuki XL7 due to its larger touchscreen unit and abundance of plush appointments inside the cabin.

Engine

Powering the Suzuki XL7 is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. On paper, it makes approximately 103 horsepower with 138 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque.

Similarly, the Mitsubishi Xpander hides a 1.5-liter mill under its hood, which also happens to produce around 103 horses with 141Nm of pulling power. The powerplant can be married to either a five-speed gearbox or a four-speed automatic transmission.

For this round, we give the win to the Mitsubishi Xpander thanks to lightly edging over the Suzuki XL7 with more torque.

Safety

The Suzuki XL7 is outfitted with both passive and active safety features, which are its front airbags, seatbelts, side-impact door beams, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability program, hill hold control, automatic transmission shiftlock, rear parking sensors, as well as child seat tethers and child lock doors.

Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Xpander gets seatbelts and airbags, active stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, ABS with EBD, active stability control with traction control, brake assist, an emergency stop signal system, and a rear camera.

On that note, we give this round to the Mitsubishi Xpander due to its rear camera, which will prove helpful in many situations.

Variants and pricing

Suzuki XL7

XL7 GLX AT – P1.181 million

Mitsubishi Xpander

Xpander GLX MT – P1.068 million
Xpander GLX AT – P1.128 million
Xpander GLS AT – P1.198 million

Verdict

The winner of this MPV melee is the Mitsubishi Xpander. It offers a modern-looking exterior, a decent interior, a better powertrain system, and a good list of safety features.

Photos from Suzuki and Mitsubishi 

Also read: 

Interior inspection: What’s inside the Kia EV6?

These are some of the must-see cars at the Manila Auto Salon 2023

Here are the PH-spec Suzuki Jimny's 8 hues