Head to Head: Mitsubishi Xpander Cross vs Honda BR-V

With the recent launch of these two models, it’s safe to say that brands are still interested in making competitive seven-seaters with some SUV-like flair. Mitsubishi and Honda are key players in the segment, fielding nameplates like the Xpander Cross and the BR-V. 

One of these contenders is more SUV-like than the other, but both present a high-riding and premium package over what the brand offers with the starting models. So we ask the question, which of these two will be better? Will it be the Xpander Cross or the BR-V? Which of the two will be a better buy if you’re looking at an MPV with SUV-like qualities? 

Nowadays, you can’t price a car a certain amount and expect there to be halogens for headlights. It’s a good thing that both Mitsubishi and Honda have equipped their most premium MPVs with a set of LEDs all around, that includes the headlights, taillights, DRLs, and also the foglamps for each. Just like SUVs both models also come with roof rails for your ski boxes and cargo racks, whichever you prefer, and while neither manufacturer makes a claim as to their load-bearing capability, to our hands they’re both on par and sturdy. 

The Xpander Cross really starts pulling away in terms of being more of an SUV than the BR-V. Just like its previous iteration, the Xpander Cross has a more rugged appeal to it, opting for skid plates, muscular lines, and essentially, body panels that look like they belong on its bigger brother, the Montero Sport. While the prior model looked like it was an Xpander that donned an SUV costume, this new one looks much better and has a more integrated look to it, looking like its own model rather than just another spruced-up version of the base Xpander. 

Meanwhile, it’s hard to pick out where the Honda Mobilio begins and where the BR-V ends. If you recall the Mobilio, it’s a lower-riding seven-seater from Honda that was not as popular as the BR-V during its time. Until now, Honda’s still using the Mobilio’s platform for the BR-V which is also similar to that of the Brio, HR-V, and City. Unlike the Xpander, however, you might not be able to tell that it is any of these other cars underneath until you rip off its clothes. The BR-V looks like its own standalone model. 

All in all, it’s a tough call separated by mere millimeters, literally. The specifications are more or less matched save for the ground clearance between the two. The BR-V has a ground clearance of 207mm which is plenty enough for most Filipinos, but the Xpander Cross has been advertised as having the best-in-class clearance in its segment coming in at 225mm. While this category can depend on whether you love the rugged look of the Xpander or whether you love the sleek and unique design of the BR-V, it’s hard to argue with the facts. Taller is better, at least on paper, so to kick off this bout, let’s award the first category to the Xpander Cross. 

Winner: Xpander Cross 

Inside, both cars will give you a lot of room, but the Xpander, as its name suggests is an expansive vehicle for the category that it competes in. The Xpander Cross is the same, with all the same dimensions on the interior, and even the same dashboard design. While Mitsubishi has tweaked a few things like the dashboard, door cards, and even the seats, it’s still more or less an Xpander, and it’s not radically different compared to its predecessor. 

Meanwhile, Honda has overhauled a lot of things in the new BR-V interior. It’s like the story with the City compared to its predecessor. The dashboard and most of the touch points are totally new for the model, and you see quite a few flashes of premium material all throughout. While there are quite a few premium touches in the Xpander Cross, the BR-V just does it slightly better. However, where the Honda falls off is when it comes to space. It’s not as big as the Xpander by a few millimeters, and its rear cargo area doesn’t fold flat like the Xpander Cross’. 

With that being said, and given how close the tradeoffs are, this category ends in almost a tie. It would have been a straight-up tie if it weren’t for the additional amenities that Mitusibhi tied in with the Xpander Cross. There are charging ports for the rear passengers, which is great given that these seven-seaters will see a lot of action on family trips and various errands. Both of the cars have 12V sockets on all rows, but the Xpander Cross has a set of USB ports, which eliminates the need to bring a car charger altogether. It seems like we’re splitting hairs here, but the Xpander Cross wins in this category. 

Winner: Xpander Cross 

It’s great to see that brands are paying attention to all of their cars now. Instead of just fielding ABS with airbags, we’re seeing a few more advanced features trickling into the MPV segment, and there are new things to cover with both models, but one simply has more. For infotainment systems, the general gist is that Honda executes it better but functionality-wise, they’re both the same and they come in at the same size with the same number of speakers each. 

For the Xpander Cross, there is a new driving safety feature called Active Yaw Control. Those familiar with old Mitsubishi vehicles will know this term as it is one of the features that the brand pioneered in the Lancer Evolution models. While the addition of Active Yaw Control is remarkable, it will not make the Xpander Cross like the rally legend. After that, it’s standard fare with two airbags, ABS with stability and traction control, and a rear-view camera. The head unit is also capable of pairing with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so we’re seeing a thoroughly modern car from Mitsubishi. 

However, Honda’s tech is simply hard to beat. Honda SENSING is a titanic step up from the basic driving safety features. It’s too bad that it’s only available in the top-spec trim of the BR-V. While you don’t get a driver aid like the Active Yaw Control found in the Xpander Cross, you do get Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Auto High Beam (AHB), and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN). All of these features are on top of the standard ABS and traction plus stability control systems in play. 

We also have to point out that both models now get TFT displays. The Xpander Cross has a TFT from the Montero Sport’s GT variants, and the BR-V gets one that is similar to the Honda City’s top-spec and mid-spec trims. The kicker here is that the Honda’s looks better integrated into the dashboard. As such, picking out a winner for this category is easy, with the BR-V knocking it out of the park. 

Winner: BR-V 

The Xpander has 103 hp and 141 Nm of torque coming from its 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated mill. Other than that, however, there’s not too much to write home about here especially considering the rather dated 4-speed automatic transmission paired with the motor. While it is good enough for the model, it looks out of place in an industry that has DCTs and CVTs. 

Meanwhile, the Honda BR-V is touted as being one of, if not, the most powerful in its class. The previous model had one less horsepower than the current one, and this new model’s figures sit at a very respectable 119 hp and 145 Nm of torque paired with a CVT. You cannot deny that Honda’s 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated mill looks like it has plenty of pep based on its specs. 

It’s yet another clear victory for the BR-V with its powerful engine and more modern transmission. While some people will lament and lambast CVTs for feeling like a rubber band to stretch out on the road, it’s hard to deny the power of power. As such, the BR-V takes this, hands down. 

Winner: BR-V

We’re all tied up going into the price category of our little Head to Head comparison. With both models securing one win each, this category will be a very important one. However, it seems like we’ll be in for another tie. 

The Xpander Cross costs P1,328,000 but that’s for the base colors. The price goes up to P1,358,000 if you want the white version, which is a special color, and finally, the orange colorway is P1,338,000. There’s no up or down here either since only one set of specifications exists for the Xpander Cross. With that being said, if the Cross is too expensive for you, the standard Xpander is still available at a lower price. 

It’s not the same story with the Honda, however, because the BR-V has more affordable variants apart from the top-spec Honda SENSING-equipped version. The most expensive BR-V tops out at P1,390,000, which is only a few thousand more expensive than the Xpander Cross’ white colorway option. However, the prices for this model can go as low as P1,090,000, which encroaches on the standard Xpander’s price bracket. 

While this may seem like another win for the Honda, it’s technically not. It’s the most affordable and the most expensive at the same time which is good and bad at the same time. If you want all of the possible features in a top-of-the-line package, Mitsubishi makes it easy for you, and all you have to do is pick the color that you want. For the Honda, it’s not as straightforward if you don’t want to pay top-shelf pricing as you will have to weigh the pros and cons of forgoing a few of the features not present in the top trim. So does simplicity win the say for Mitsubishi? If the difference was bigger, the answer would be yes, but it’s not so let’s settle on a tie here considering that you still get more for your money with the BR-V if you decide to pay more. That’s not to say that the Xpander Cross is ill-equipped, however. 

Tie 

This is one of the rare cases where both vehicles are so evenly matched that it will be up to you to decide which one is better. These are two very well-specced seven-seaters from two very reputable brands in the country. As such, the models’ respective success will depend on whether dealers can keep up with demand and if the models themselves can keep customers coming and wanting more. 

It seems a bit anti-climactic, but the spec sheet brawls in our Head to Heads aren’t fully indicative of how these cars will perform in the real world. As such, getting to test these cars together will net us our final verdict so stay tuned for that.