The Xpander is a multi-purpose vehicle. But, the recent rumors are speaking about something different. The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander might be on the way to the US dealerships – as an SUV! Well, this is just speculation and there are no sources to confirm this.
First of all, Mitsubishi is not a big player in the US market. On the other hand, the Japanese manufacturer wants to expand. There are several options, after the big success of the Outlander. Now it is turn to test the mid-size SUV segment. The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander is just one of many rumors related to this topic. But, let’s check what we know about the MPV.
New Model, Shares Platform With Nissan Livina
Mitsubishi closed a partnership with another Japanese automotive giant. Nissan Livina is an older MPV, introduced in 2007. The second generation replaced it in 2019, and Mitsubishi launched a new vehicle at the same time. Livina is not a non-US sibling of the Nissan Quest, the minivan for North America. Well, that one is out since 2016. MPVs are not quite popular in the largest market in the world, losing the battle with versatile SUVs.
That is why we are sure the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander is not going to be a minivan. On the other hand, the carmaker needs an upgrade of the lineup. Outlander did a great job, becoming a very popular compact crossover. Still, Mitsubishi lacks coverage and many buyers are looking elsewhere because of that. Compared to the competition, Outlander is not a worse option technically. But when it comes to the maintenance, it might become a problem if you don’t have dealerships close.
Size
Determining what kind of vehicle the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander will be is the key for the discussion. The company is serious, but there are also other rumors and options. It might be more likely to see the larger SUV bringing up from Europe and Asia – the famous Pajero. That would be a battle between the legendary name in the new market, against the completely fresh model.
Outlander is a compact crossover and the second hottest class in the market is the mid-size SUV segment. So, Mitsubishi will probably decide to go this way. However, the competition is also the toughest. The company would bring the experience from abroad, where Pajero is one of the most popular models.
2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Specs
It will be a surprise to see what will be under the hood of the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander. The mid-size SUV is going to need something bigger than existing models in the US. Outlander is powered by a four-pot mill. The Xpander MPV gets power from a 1.5-liter 4-cylidner. There are a few interesting V6 options the SUV might use, such as 3.0, 3.5, or even 3.8-liter.
Furthermore, the Xpander could be a hybrid SUV. Again, Outlander opened the world to the rest of Mitsubishi vehicles with its PHEV configuration. What’s more, the partnership with Nissan might lead to the electric SUV. And finally, the vehicle can be out with a different name, or even as the MPV.
2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Release Date
We’ll have to be patient with the updates from the company. But, the time is ticking away with many other mid-size SUVs already taking a piece of the pie. Some notable models are Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Chevy Traverse. The minivan class is not so crowded with only a few vehicles still available in the dying segment.
