Head-to-head Comparison: Toyota Rush vs. Mitsubishi Xpander

Finally, Filipino families now have an even wider selection in the local 7-seater vehicle segment in the Philippines. Two of the most recent are the all-new Toyota Rush and all-new Mitsubishi Xpander – storming the local multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment.

It’s not a secret that the introduction of the Toyota Rush was a taunt to the presence of the Mitsubishi Xpander, as well as the entire 7-seat MPV segment in the Philippines. The two are now in an active showdown, though we also included the Honda BR-V in the competition in one of our comparo videos.

Even with just the photos, you know that the Rush and the Xpander are a match made in heaven. That’s actually true, in so many ways. Like, how these two cars resemble their respective midsize SUV brothers, the Montero Sport and Fortuner. However, let’s see which has exact advantages when it comes to the numbers on their specsheet.

Disclaimer: We took the specs of the range-topper Xpander and Rush — the GLS AT and G AT, respectively.

With these numbers, it looks like the Xpander has a slight advantage when it comes to overall size. Also, it’s interesting to point out that Mitsubishi’s contender has a longer wheelbase, which says something about its cabin space.

Although, the Rush has a higher ground clearance than the Xpander. It might mean that Toyota’s entry is more reliable on flood-prone Philippine roads.

One major difference between the two, aside from the exterior design, is the drivetrain. The Xpander has a front-wheel drive layout, while the Rush's rear-wheel drive might mean it's less to understeer at given situations. Though both cars are powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, the Mitsubishi Xpander leads slightly ahead with its 105 hp and 141 Nm of torque. The Toyota Rush is only down by 3 hp and 8 Nm with its power output of 102 hp and 134 Nm of torque.

When it comes to their price tags, the Mitsubishi Xpander GLS Sport AT retails at P1,175,000, while the Toyota Rush G AT can be owned at P1,090,000. The P85,000 price difference says a lot, especially with these two tightly-competing nameplates on the hot seat.

Just remember to always evaluate your decision when purchasing a vehicle; be careful and don't commit these common car-buying mistakes.