2023 Mitsubishi Xpander

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Mitsubishi Xpander

Mitsubishi’s Xpander is for those who need honest seven-seater practicality but aren’t keen on a giant, bus-like minivan. It’s a space not exactly crowded in South Africa — think Suzuki Ertiga or Kia Carens — but none are flying off showroom floors. Mitsubishi keeps things simple: every Xpander gets the same 1.5-litre petrol engine, with the choice between a manual or automatic. Scan the classifieds and you’ll spot just six active listings, with prices stretching from R245,500 to R384,900. Most sit north of R370,000, so if you’re chasing a sub-R300,000 deal, you’ll need to be patient or very quick off the mark. Models on offer range from 2021 to 2026, averaging about 30,330 km, so you’re not looking at high-mileage hack-jobs just yet. Manuals are rare — three listed, all hovering around the R365,000 to R380,000 mark. Automatics are spread across two trim levels and bookend the range from that eyebrow-raising R245,500 up to R384,900. That outlier at the bottom is the one value-hunters should circle. On paper at least, what you’re really buying is a seven-seat workhorse that costs less than most SUVs with five seats, and that’s the point. Yes, the Ertiga’s cheaper new, and the Carens feels posher inside, but the Xpander’s higher roof and proper sliding doors make school run chaos just a little less frantic — and in Joburg traffic, that’s worth a lot.