I’ve lost count of how many cars I’ve reviewed this year, ranging from top-flight EVs to everyday SUVs but bristling with all the latest driving aids. And when Mitsubishi offered a lend-out of the Xpander Cross, it occurred to me that I’d never actually driven one for more than a day or two.

This—even though the Xpander was first launched way back in 2018 and has since gone through some midlife upgrades—is the most notable being the introduction of the Xpander Cross.

The Xpander Cross was introduced in 2023 as a slightly raised version, with mild soft-roader mods like body cladding and roof rails. The 2024 model comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a nine-inch touchscreen, an electronic parking brake, cruise control, and digital climate control, among others.

It does not have increasingly common driver aids like lane-keeping assist or blind spot warning, instead sticking to the basic stuff like traction control, active yaw control, ABS, and hill-start assist.

The drivetrain is still a 1.5-liter MIVEC rated at 103hp and 141Nm of torque, and a reliable (if quite dated) four-speed automatic transmission.

Prior to this demo, I had the Hyundai Stargazer X which had the aforementioned advanced driving aids, 113hp and 133Nm, and an Intelligent Variable Transmission, which is Hyundai-speak for a CVT.

Driving it around town and on the highway reveals a competent but not exactly invigorating experience. The suspension is on the stiff side, which makes it feel more robust for our lousy roads. The steering effort and feel are almost truck-like, giving you that perception of solidity compared to an overboosted feel.

The interior looks nice, if not especially opulent even with the use of leather. A lot of gray and black plastic, faux carbon fiber, and cheap carpeting—no surprises. It looks and feels old-school, even with that bright nine-inch touchscreen livening up the dashboard.

The 1.5-liter makes decent power when lightly loaded, and the four-speed is game to downshift as needed and keep the revs up when you’re in a hurry, but it definitely feels outdated compared to the newer transmissions now extant. The ratios are widely spaced since you’ve only got four gears to work with, so you’ll frequently find yourself either lugging in a high ratio or revving in a low gear.

Hyundai’s IVT is a much more drivable unit, quick to respond to throttle inputs and neatly simulating the feel of a five- or six-speed transmission when in the appropriate driving mode.

So, why don’t we see more Stargazers out and about, while the Xpander is still the best-selling MPV in the country? In 2023 alone, Mitsubishi sold 24,178 units, and the car is still going strong even today, with the company selling nearly 113,000 Xpanders since 2018.

Is it a great car? I just told you that it isn’t, but there’s more to selling a car than drivetrain configurations and pricing. Heck, it’s not even that affordable, because it starts at P1,068,000 for a base GLX and climbs all the way to P1,356,000 for a two-tone Xpander Cross.

If you want instant bang-for-the-buck, go check out what GAC, Changan, and Chery can offer you for the same amount of money. Or yes, check out the Stargazer, too.

So, what’s the secret? A vast dealer network, aggressive (relentless) marketing, after-sales reliability, and brand equity.

You can go to practically every major city in the country and chances are you’ll find a Mitsubishi dealership. If you check the brand’s dealer locator on its website, it lists more than 60 dealerships throughout the archipelago. It’s a lot easier to sell a car if you actually have a nearby outlet, because in retail, location counts for a lot.

Next is the marketing. Mitsubishi punches out promos all the time—so much that I don’t even know if they ever have a month where they don’t offer rebates, discounts, free two-month amortization, or some such offer. The SRP with the cars really lives up to the “suggested” part, because if you pay in cash, you get a discount or you get freebies.

If you finance it, a competent sales agent will bombard you with every possible combination of “low down/low monthly” offers in order to get that Mitsubishi into your garage. It’s all about pushing numbers around to get that nice and shiny Xpander into your hands.

Next is the after-sales reliability. To be honest, I have no idea if the Xpander is actually a reliable car, but I have long experience with the brand, having owned two in the past. Prices for spare parts and labor at the local casa were reasonable, and outside of it, it was easy to source original parts. I never had a problem maintaining my 1996 Galant or 1997 Space Wagon (yeah, I’m that old). The only reason I sold those two was because I got bored and wanted to try something else for a change.

If the Xpander lives up to the Mitsubishi reputation for reliability, then there’s no worry about keeping it running for many years to come. And say what you will about that four-speed dinosaur, once you go over the warranty period, overhauling it will be a simple process compared to a worn-out CVT, which many talyers will simply replace rather than overhaul.

It’s a keep-it-simple-stupid approach that won’t wow in the short term, but will save you a lot of money and headaches in the future.

Finally, there’s the brand equity. Mitsubishi may be floundering in the US market, but it is flourishing in Southeast Asia. The revival of Mitsubishi Ralliart brought back excitement to the brand, but for regular people, the brand is approachable, respectable, and even aspirational. Grab drivers swear by the Mirage; small business owners depend on the venerable L300; and thousands of middle-class families are quite happy with the Xpander.

In the end, the Xpander Cross is a classic case of a competent and good-looking car—not particularly excelling in any one aspect, but taking into consideration how it fits in the Mitsubishi ecosystem, it’s not hard to understand why it continues to be a winner.