[SO SÁNH] Mitsubishi Xpander and Suzuki XL7 - Which car is more practical?

In the MPV car segment priced at 600 million VND, Mitsubishi Xpander and Suzuki XL7 are the two hottest names. These two models even attract customers from other segments such as sedans or B-class hatchbacks.

It is not difficult to see the dominance of Mitsubishi Xpander in the low-cost popular car segment. There is no MPV model that has reached the milestone of 30,000 vehicles in Vietnam as quickly as the Xpander, nor is there any car model that competes with both B-class sedans, B-class SUVs and even MPVs like the Xpander. With an extremely eye-catching design combining traditional values of Japanese cars, Mitsubishi Xpander immediately became the standard in the car segment under 700 million VND. The 2020 version of Xpander also adds many necessary equipment, including LED headlights, leather seats, new wheels, etc. Mitsubishi Xpander 2020 has a selling price of 630 million VND.

Meanwhile, the all-new Suzuki XL7 is a car line that has achieved much success in the Southeast Asian market. The car was honored as “Car of the Year 2020” in Indonesia by the prestigious organization Otomotif. XL7 passed a series of in-depth tests and conquered the jury because it possesses the perfect combination of attractive design and versatility.

This car model has reached more than 2,000 orders after only 1 month of launch in Indonesia. In the Vietnamese market, Suzuki XL7 is imported in complete units from Indonesia and distributed officially with a selling price of 589 million VND. This price makes the all-new Suzuki XL7 the 7-seat car with the best value/selling price ratio on the market. Let’s compare Xpander and XL7 to find the most suitable car for you.

Overall dimensions

Xpander is a domestically assembled car, so it benefits from the 50% registration tax reduction policy for assembled cars, so the price gap is not as large as many people think. Specifically, the assembled Xpander 2020 has a rolling price in Hanoi of 690 million VND, while the rolling price of the Suzuki XL7 is 685 million VND. Regarding peripheral dimensions, these two models are very similar, the difference lies in: Xpander has a 35 mm larger wheelbase, while XL7 is 65 kg lighter. This weight is equivalent to an adult so it will also greatly affect the vehicle’s performance.

Exterior equipment

Regarding exterior equipment, the above statistics show that Suzuki XL7 and Mitsubishi Xpander do not have too many differences. Suzuki’s MPV model is a bit better than its competitors when it comes to available roof racks and completely LED rear brake lights (Xpander’s brake lights are only halogen). However, there is one thing that I think most readers will agree with me: Mitsubishi Xpander has a much more beautiful exterior design than its competitors.

Even though it was born 2 years ago, Xpander still has a more eye-catching design with coherent, sharp and extremely modern lines. The 2020 version adds full LED headlights to the Xpander, further perfecting the beauty of this MPV model. Suzuki XL7 also has a relatively modern and dynamic appearance, especially compared to its Ertiga brother, but really, it is too inferior when parked next to the Xpander. Perhaps the exterior design is the deciding factor that makes Vietnamese customers spend money to buy Xpander.

Furnishing

When comparing the interior compartment, the battle seems to be reversed when the Suzuki XL7 is the dominant model. Suzuki’s MPV model deserves praise for possessing more better equipment than the Mitsubishi Xpander. The car has automatic air conditioning, while the Xpander uses mechanical air conditioning. Suzuki XL7 also has a quite unique feature: the cup holder can be cooled by air conditioning. Another small difference is that the XL7 has a driver’s seat armrest, the Xpander does not.

In addition, the center screen of the XL7 is 10 inches in size and has Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Xpander screen also has these 2 connections but is only 7 inches in size. The brightness, color saturation, contrast and smoothness of the XL7 screen are also superior. However, now Vietnamese customers only need to spend 5 million VND to get a much better Android screen.

However, Mitsubishi Xpander also possesses many advantages compared to its compatriots. Xpander has automatic throttle (Cruise Control), a small but extremely useful feature for long journeys. The 2020 Xpander version also has all leather seats with quite good quality, while the XL7 is just leather-covered felt seats – and the leather seats are only decorative. Finally, the Mitsubishi Xpander is completely superior to the XL7 when comparing storage space. It seems that the XL7 has been designed by Suzuki to optimize space for passengers because the 2nd and 3rd rows of the XL7 both feel more spacious than the Xpander.

Engine, transmission system

Regarding mechanical elements, these two competing models have very similar designs, the difference is only 1 or 2 horsepower, almost insignificant. The most significant thing here is that the XL7 is 65 kg lighter than its competitor, leading to a better power/weight ratio of the XL7, reaching 87.6 horsepower/1 ton of vehicle weight. However, Mitsubishi Xpander has slightly better fuel consumption, at 6.2 liters/100 km according to data from the Vietnam Register. The reason may be because the Xpander has a better aerodynamic design, so there is less power loss due to wind resistance, especially at high speeds.

Safety system

The two cars have differences in safety equipment. Both cars have only 2 airbags and both have emergency braking systems. However, the XL7 is equipped with a traction control system while the Xpander is not. XL7 and Xpander both use drum rear brakes. However, these are shortcomings that are still accepted by Vietnamese consumers, car sales have proven that.

Conclude

When compared directly, both Suzuki XL7 and Mitsubishi Xpander have very similar equipment and experiences. The on-road price in Vietnam also makes these two models compete directly with each other in a booming segment in the S-shaped strip of land. Even though the two cars are almost no different in real life experience, I will still choose the Mitsubishi Xpander 2020 because of its appearance design. Of course, this is just an extremely subjective and personal choice.

Vi Pham (Tuoitrethudo)