• Women play an integral role in the various departments at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).
• MMSA celebrated women’s month by showcasing what women have achieved within their company.
• MMSA pride themselves on a culture of inclusivity and diversity.

JOHANNESBURG – During women’s month, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa celebrated the many women that form part of their critical staff compliment. A key strategy within the Mitsubishi Motors South Africa business is their commitment to empowering and elevating women within their organisation

“At Mitsubishi Motors South Africa we pride ourselves in the fact that we continuously create a working environment that fosters inclusivity and allows people of all genders, and from all walks of life an equal opportunity to follow a successful career in the automotive industry,” says Thato Magasa, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).

Within the larger Mitsubishi Motors South Africa organisation women fulfil a variety of roles with great success, many of which were reserved for men in the past.

“Mitsubishi’s staff compliment includes a large number of woman who fulfil a variety of roles across the company. Through these testimonials we hope that we can inspire other women to pursue a career in the automotive industry,” adds Magasa.

Felicia Sono – Customer care manager

Customer care manager Felicia Sono has vast experience in customer service and training in the automotive industry that spans 16 years.

“In my current role I support and mentor the customer care team, which includes training and mentoring staff to enhance productivity. We really need to support the younger generation in achieving their goals,” says Sono.

“Working in a male dominated industry I have seen that certain male customers tend to believe that women don’t know much about the motor industry and can be very reluctant to accept the feedback that you give back to them. They will prefer to speak to a male co-worker, who gives them the same feedback which is then accepted as the truth. I expect to be treated with respect and fairness just like anyone else in the organisation,” explains Sono.

Thabiso Ramatla – Distribution manager

Distribution manager Thabiso Ramatla now has more than 10 years’ experience in the automotive industry. She started out as a graduate and worked her way through the ranks to her current position as distribution manager where she is responsible for inbound and outbound logistics.

“I love working for Mitsubishi because the company allows me to grow, I work with people who are courageous and who are helping me to grow, who are very passionate about the brand and who are always looking forward,” says Ramatla.

“Working in a male dominated industry has been a beautiful journey because the men that I have worked with have pushed me to do my best, they are passionate and help me to improve my skills. This has helped me become more confident in making decisions and delivering on behalf of the brand,” says Ramatla.

Ramatla believes that women are hard workers with integrity who bring unique solutions to the industry, and they make good choices by knowing what to do and when to do it. 

“Women are coming on board with skills that allow institutions to be successful and are being recognised based on those skills and the power they carry as women,” concludes Ramatla.

Carmen van Dyk – Financial Director

Financial Director Carmen van Wyk believes that anything is possible, but that the numbers never lie.

“I love life and all its beautiful things, I think it’s important to have a critical understanding of the numbers and their impact on the organisation,” says van Wyk.

“I like working at Mitsubishi as it allows me to grow. I work for a small, fairly young team who are agile and forward thinking. In a smaller organisation like this there is less bureaucracy, and we can make decisions quickly,” adds van Wyk.

“What matters most to me is how you show up and land on a daily basis. I want to be a positive influence, an instrument of change and I believe that I have a sharp eye for identifying and developing talent. I believe in people and in people being treated fairly. When given the platform those people will grow and excel,” says van Wyk.

Van Wyk believes that women should remain feminine and authentic, especially in an industry that is very muscular and outdoorsy. For automotive companies looking to attract a different demographic the feminine influence is very important.

Dalene Bekker – General Manager, Parts

General manager of parts, Dalene Bekker explains that mentorship and support are crucial for women in male dominated industries. “During my 34-year career I sought out the specialists in various areas and learnt from them by shadowing them and learning from the way they do things. Engage with stakeholders, do your research and develop your processes in that way,” says Bekker.

“Women tend to be more analytical, pay more attention to detail, ask more questions and get to the bottom of issues, which makes it easier to establish new processes. These unique strengths and skills that women bring to the parts and distribution industry can be harnessed for greater success,” adds Bekker.

Lebogang Maepa – Warehouse administrator

Warehouse administrator Lebogang Maepa always wanted to be the lady that breaks barriers and changes the whole concept of male domination. This was possible thanks to her passion and determination to learn new things, which has been key to her success to date.

“Women looking to enter the industry shouldn’t be afraid to put themselves out there as women, open their mind and learn everything they can. Be like a sponge and learn as much as possible from the people around you. Go above and beyond and you will get wherever you want to be,” says Maepa.

Mathabo Mapea – Management accountant

Management accountant Mathabo Mapea believes that it is important to foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork among employees, regardless of gender in order to achieve the organisations goals.

“We need to encourage a culture and an environment that is supportive and safe for all employees. We need to create an environment where we know we can express ourselves and our opinions without fear or favour. We are all part of one team, so it is important to create an environment where we are all equal and where we all feel safe and comfortable to do our job and take risks, when necessary,” says Mapea.

“As women we need to come together, encourage one another and form initiatives where we can guide and support each other on how to advance in this industry,” says Mapea.

“Women wanting to pursue a career in the automotive industry should choose a field within the industry that they want to follow and pursue that field with an end goal in mind. They should then do everything in their power including making sure that they continually educate themselves on their path to becoming experts in that chosen field,” adds Mapea.

“During my career in the automotive industry I have learnt that if you pursue and persist you will be able to reach your goals. As women we need to realise that we have the ability to make a positive contribution to this industry, through our innovative and creative ideas,” concludes Mapea.

Melissa Lombard – Admin Manager

Admin Manager Melissa Lombard believes that gender diversity has many benefits that relate to the company’s bottom line. “By embracing gender diversity companies can foster a more innovative and productive work environment. Having both males and females in your team means you benefit by having different points of view and approaches from different life experiences,” says Lombard.

Lombard notes her biggest career achievement to date as when she completed her BBA at the same time as caring for a new-born baby. “Having to complete assignments, study and write exams while on maternity leave is a big achievement in my opinion. That just goes to show how strong and amazing women really are, if we put our minds to it, no matter how tough or challenging, we can accomplish anything,” adds Lombard.

Molly Prakesh – Parts Distribution Manager, Motus

Molly Prakash is the Manager of the Parts Distribution Centre for Motus emerging brands and for her the journey of breaking barriers and entering the parts distribution industry, which is traditionally male dominated, has been fruitful.

“18 years ago I started out in a very male dominated industry but over the years we have seen change. Women are now valued and recognised for their contribution. My focus has always been to do the job. Don’t get distracted by gender or any other form of discrimination,” explains Prakash.

“My belief is that finance is there to support the business in achieving its targets and goals, this motivated me to learn and understand all aspects of business. When I was offered my current position in the parts distribution centre, I saw it as an opportunity to further my career,” says Prakash.

“A change from finance to operations made me realise that I actually enjoyed operations because of its challenges. I love working with the team to try and find solutions in pursuit of achieving daily, monthly and annual targets. I love implementing processes and controls to ensure increased productivity and efficiency,” adds Prakash.

YouTube Videos:

Dalene Bekker: https://tinyurl.com/yeyjy8bz

Lebogang Maepa: https://tinyurl.com/sdevurex

Mathabo Mapea: https://tinyurl.com/2fjhz4rs

Melissa Lombard: https://tinyurl.com/6r4662jt

Molly Prakash: https://tinyurl.com/yywc5fnx

Thabisho Ramatla: https://tinyurl.com/yt7usw88

Carmen Van Wyk: https://tinyurl.com/mw924v47

Felicia Sono: https://tinyurl.com/43p39k9a 

• The limited-edition Mitsubishi Triton Athlete is now available in SA.
• The Mitsubishi Triton Athlete boasts several bespoke interior and exterior touches.
• The Triton Athlete offers bakkie customers a unique vehicle off the showroom floor.

JOHANNESBURG – Mitsubishi are expanding their Triton range with the addition of the Triton Athlete, a limited-edition model that takes the Triton concept to a whole new level.

The Triton remains a key product for Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, a bakkie that has been well received for its combination of sporty styling, excellent performance and legendary capability that allows it to tackle any terrain with ease.

The Triton Athlete is the next model in Mitsubishi’s extensive product rollout and boasts several unique exterior features that are sure to make it stand out in the crowded bakkie market as well as a variety of interior touches that elevate its premium feel significantly.

“South Africa is a bakkie country and local owners love to customise their vehicles, the Triton Athlete caters for that need by offering a  bespoke package to make it stand out whether you are on or off-road,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA). 

Based on the Triton 4×4 Automatic, the Triton Athlete is inspired by the Café Racer concept that originated among British motorcycle lovers in London in the 1960s who took inspiration from motorsport to personalise their motorcycles.

The Triton Athlete is immediately noticeable thanks to red touches to the front bumper lower garnish, side-step and rear bumper step that remind of motorsport body kits that featured prominently on legendary models like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

A comprehensive decal kit inspired by the world of motorsport includes a hood decal, tailgate strip and side stripes featuring the number 01. Adding to the visual appeal of exterior specification upgrades are LED headlamps with black accents and matching daylight running lamps. The Triton Athlete rides on unique black 18-inch alloys.

The motorsport inspired theme is continued in the interior where the leather steering wheel, parking brake and floor console feature black and red stitching. Unique leather seats and door trim have also been treated to red leather stitching.

While the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete is differentiated by a variety of bespoke aesthetic touches this model retains all of the performance and legendary off-road capability that Mitsubishi vehicles are renowned for.

Under the bonnet is the same 2.4L DOHC MIVEC Diesel engine that has the performance to match the unique styling elements. Boasting 133kW at 3 500 r/min and 430Nm at 2 500r/min it is paired with a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission that features Intelligent Shift Control.

Endowing the Triton with go anywhere capability is Mitsubishi’s legendary Super Select II 4WD system that ensures optimum traction and handling on any surface. The system does not rely on driver input but instead transfers power to the wheels with grip instantaneously. In addition, the selectable off-road mode maximises traction by allowing the driver to select from Gravel, Mud/Snow or Sand modes when in 4hLc to suit surface conditions and optimise engine output, transmission settings and braking for superior traction. An additional Rock setting can be engaged in 4LLc. With ground clearance of 220mm, approach and departure angles of 31 and 29 degrees and a 25-degree ramp breakover angle the Triton is ready to tackle any obstacle.

“The Mitsubishi Triton Athlete offers customers a bakkie that embodies Mitsubishi’s philosophy of creating products that provide safety, comfort and quality while a number of unique features elevate the characteristic styling and athleticism, resulting in a truly unique offering,” concludes Allison.

Pricing

As with all Triton models the Triton Athlete is covered by Mitsubishi’s manufacturer’s warranty of three years or 100 000km, a five-year/90 000km service plan and five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance. Service intervals are every 10 000km.

Tokyo – Mitsubishi Motors will celebrate the global debut of an all-new compact SUV at the 30th GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. Ahead of the world premiere, the company revealed the exterior design of the all-new compact SUV. The all-new model will be built at Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (Bekasi, West Java), with delivery to start in November 2023.

At the show, Mitsubishi Motors will also display the eK X EV, an all-electric kei-car, for the first time outside of Japan, along with the Minicab-MiEV, a onebox kei-car class commercial electric vehicle (EV) that is scheduled for local production in Indonesia. The company will also exhibit models sold in Indonesia, including the Xpander and Xpander Cross crossover MPVs, as well as the Pajero Sport mid-size SUV.

Further, the Mitsubishi Motors exhibition stand will feature a special area where visitors can experience the new Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium sound system, which was jointly developed with Yamaha Corporation and will be adopted for the first time in the all-new compact SUV. Inside the all-new model, visitors can enjoy the sound system’s characteristic, clear mid and high tones as well as lively bass.

“In this all-new model, we have further evolved the design to meet the needs of the compact SUV market, which has been growing in recent years,” said Seiji Watanabe, division general manager of design, Mitsubishi Motors. “In addition to the robustness and powerfulness characteristic of Mitsubishi Motors, we have pursued a design that is more stylish, energetic, and distinctive than ever. At the upcoming GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show, we hope that even more customers will discover what Mitsubishi Motors has to offer and empathise with our design through this all-new compact SUV.”

Design of the All-New Compact SUV (World Premiere)

Based on the design concept of Silky & Solid, the stylish yet powerful, authentic SUV design combines elegance and robustness, thereby realising styling that creates a commanding presence in scenes from ASEAN cities to the great outdoors. The upper part of the body expresses an airy silkiness with a floating roof and a sleek surface that begins from the three-diamond emblem up front and flows along the side to the rear. The lower part of the body adopts the solid and powerful proportions of an SUV – the muscular fender flares express the agility of an athlete, while a top-class ground clearance of 222 mm as well as 18-inch wheels and large-diameter tyres enhance road handling on rough roads.

“We are sure that current and new Mitsubishi customers are waiting with huge excitement on our all-new compact SUV, which will further build on MMSA’s lifestyle attraction – stay tuned for the world premiere” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA). 

At the front, the Dynamic Shield front face has been evolved in line with the design concept. Here, the design consisting of left and right bumpers that protect the front grille which symbolises the performance of the powertrain, is three-dimensionally integrated to create a sporty front face with a sense of depth. The LED daytime running lights combine an L-shape with slitted accents to emit light in an iconic T-shape, making the SUV instantly recognizable as a Mitsubishi model even from a distance, while also emphasizing the wide stance.

On the body sides, the rich, muscular surfaces combine with sculpted fender flares and character lines to express the strength and dynamism of the SUV. By adopting the same T-shaped design for the LED tail lights as the front, the rear attains a wide and stable look.

Specifications of the All-New Compact SUV

Overview of the eK X EV (Indonesian Premiere)

The eK X EV, an all-electric kei-car, is an EV variant of the eK X, a height-wagon kei- car. The eK X EV offers a spacious, pleasant cabin despite its small vehicle size, user- friendliness, the smooth and powerful driving unique to EVs, a quiet and comfortable ride, advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity.

• ongoing success.
• Three Mitsubishi service advisors were ranked the highest in a nationwide survey.
• Mitsubishi Motors East London clinched the overall 2023 Mitsubishi Dealer of the Year award.

JOHANNESBURG – Mitsubishi Motors East London has clinched the brand’s 2023 Dealer of The Year award in a tightly contested competition. The Dealer of the Year is crowned following an extensive and continuous evaluation process that measures all aspects of dealership performance.

The evaluation process takes into account sales volumes, sales volumes compared to targets, parts purchases compared to targets as well as overall after sales scores.

Dealer categories are determined by location and area of responsibility. Mitsubishi Motors East London walked away with the victory in the B category and as overall dealer of the year, while A category honours went to Mitsubishi Motors Melrose. Mitsubishi Motors Empangeni walked away with the laurels in Category C.

“Dealership excellence is not achieved by individual results but by the combination of working together as a team. The winning dealers have excelled in all aspects of dealership life and above our expectations,” says Thato Magasa, Managing Director of MMSA.

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa have put a lot of effort into improving their relationship with their dealer network and also giving them the tools to perform at their best.

Testament to the great relationship between Mitsubishi Motors South Africa and its dealer network is the fact that they were awarded Gold at the recent NADA DSI awards once again.

“In the sales categories we have succeeded in all aspects of our business and it gives us great pleasure to honour the dealers who achieved the highest overall volume in their categories as well as the teams who have achieved the highest percentage to target,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).

In the after sales categories the top performing dealers achieved excellent results in the annual Mitsubishi Motors Service Dealer of the Year Program by consistently delivering record high monthly CSI results, always developing their staff, achieving excellent warranty performance results and campaign completion rates among a variety of measurables.

For the first time Mitsubishi Motors SA participated in the International Competitive CSI Survey conducted by Kantar across the entire local motor industry. Mitsubishi Motors SA was ranked first in SA thanks to contributions from frontline staff at dealerships.

“After sales staff are the people who ensure excellence is not only exemplified in our vehicles, but how we treat you when the car is sold. The best three service advisors scored the highest across all South African dealers as well as in Mitsubishi Motors SA’s own local CSI program for the past year as voted for by our customers and we second that,” says Steven Terblans, General Manager: Aftersales at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).

Diamond Service Awards for National & International CSI were awarded to Tanika Knoetze from Mitsubishi Motors East London, JJ Smit from Mitsubishi Motor Paarden Eiland and Deon Nieuwenhuis from Mitsubishi Motors Menlyn.

Mitsubishi Motors SA’s efforts in improving customer service, customer retention and positive brand image were recognised by Mitsubishi Motors Middle East & Africa (MMMEA) with a Platinum award recently. This accolade was awarded upon completion of the parent company’s After Sales Business Excellence Program, which is conducted annually and represents service excellence by MMSA and its dealer network relative to other regions.

“Our regional partners have become a pivotal role player in our overall success and the region has increased their sales volume by 38% year on year. For the first time Mitsubishi are also honouring our top performing regional partners as part of our dealer of the year awards,” says Allison.

The Regional Distributor sales dealer of the year went to Mozambique for volume and Zambia for percentage to target.

Industry stalwart Reiner Stuck who passed away earlier this year was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the growth of the Mitsubishi brand and his enthusiastic involvement on the Mitsubishi dealer council for many years.

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has already launched a variety of new and special edition models this year including the next generation Outlander, Eclipse Ralliart, Triton AT35 and Athlete and Pajero Sport Shogun.

“Our product rollout will continue as the entire product offering is refreshed in coming months and we look forward to working with our dealer network in launching these exciting new products. Our dealer network is critical to the ongoing success of the brand in South Africa, and we thank them for the investment, dedication and effort that they put into maintaining the Mitsubishi brand values and customer relationships in South Africa,” concluded Magasa.

Dealer of the Year awards:

Sales Volume

• C-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Pietermaritzburg
• B-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors East London
• A-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Boksburg

Sales percentage to target

• C-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Empangeni
• B-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Zambezi
• A-sized dealers –  Mitsubishi Motors The Glen

Parts

• C-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Vereeniging
• B-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Ballito
• A-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Port Elizabeth

Service Advisor

• Tanika Knoetze – Mitsubishi Motors East London
• JJ Smit – Mitsubishi Motors Paarden Eiland
• Deon Nieuwenhuis – Mitsubishi Motors Menlyn

Aftersales

• C-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Pietermaritzburg
• B-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors East London
• A-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Port Elizabeth

Sales Executive

• Thulani Sibiya – Mitsubishi Motors Empangeni
• Sipho Makuliwe – Mitsubishi Motors East London
• Neil Muller – Mitsubishi Motors Boksburg
• Gavin Cherry – Mitsubishi Motors Port Elizabeth

DOTY Category

• C-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Empangeni
• B-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors East London
• A-sized dealers – Mitsubishi Motors Melrose

Regional Distributor Sales Dealer of the year

Volume – Mitsubishi Motors Mozambique

Percentage to target – Mitsubishi Motors Zambia

Overall Dealer of the year

• Mitsubishi Motors East London

• Mitsubishi Motors SA has received Gold status in the NADA DSI survey for the third year running.
• The ongoing good performance is testament to a healthy relationship with its dealer network.
• Mitsubishi Motors outperformed the industry average considerably and was ranked highly in a variety of the survey categories.

JOHANNESBURG – Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) achieved an excellent result in the latest National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index, with a Gold status award for the third year running.

NADA has measured dealer’s satisfaction with their various automotive brands annually since 1996. A total of 34 independently researched brands participated in the 2023 NADA DSI survey which is conducted by the appointed research company Lightstone. The survey is conducted over 14 categories.

A total of 1 362 responses were received, 1181 of these were received from passenger or light commercial dealerships. The survey evaluates aspects such as dealer satisfaction, communication & relationships, vehicle range and vehicle distribution amongst others.

Mitsubishi achieved Gold status for the third year running with a score of 79,8 percent, outperforming the industry average of 76,4% considerably.

“The responses from our dealer network that participated in the survey are used to gauge our performance and are testament to the great relationship we have with our dealers across all aspects of the business,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager Marketing for Mitsubishi Motor South Africa.

Mitsubishi dealers ranked the brand highly in a variety of the measured categories including parts availability and technical training for dealer staff while Mitsubishi was also one of the best performers in the franchise compliance category.

“The NADA DSI awards are a great tool in highlighting where we can improve and refine our business operation to the advantage of our dealer network and ultimately our customers,” adds Allison.

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa have initiated a number of key strategic programs with the aim of improving all aspects of their business, including a recently launched fleet program to improve their value proposition for their dealer network and customers alike. The brand has also focused on improving their in-store experience through a reformed frontline staff learning and development program.

“In 2023 we have both expanded and strengthened our dealer network and have put an immense amount of effort into ensuring that our dealers have a steady supply of the latest Mitsubishi products to offer customers. This will be bolstered as we completely refresh our line up with a number of exciting models over the next 12 months,” concludes Allison.

ENDS

Caption:

Left to right: L-R – Ghana Msibi (CEO WesBank), Steven Terblans (General Manager Aftersales – MMSA), Nic Campbell (General Manager Sales – MMSA), Ryan Seele (NADA)

• Mitsubishi Motors South Africa are empowering the Basadi Automotive group with an all-new Mitsubishi Xpander.
• Mitsubishi Motors are proud to assist an up and coming business partner with the tools needed to excel in the motor industry.
• The versatility of the seven-seater Mitsubishi Xpander knows no boundaries.

JOHANNESBURG – Mitsubishi Motors South Africa have bolstered their partnership with the Basadi Automotive Group through the sponsorship of a Mitsubishi Xpander.

The keys to the branded Mitsubishi Xpander were handed over to Basadi Automotive Group founder Josephine Malakoane at Mitsubishi Bedfordview.

Basadi Automotive Group was established by Josephine Malakoane in 2018 and is 100 percent black female owned. The company specialises in vehicle transfers, vehicle carrier movements, de-fleet inspections and collections as well as new vehicle deliveries nationwide.

“Mitsubishi Motors SA has an existing partnership with Basadi Automotive Group through the Motus Enterprise and Supplier Development programme and we are delighted to help them take their business to the next level with the sponsorship of a Mitsubishi Xpander,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).

The Mitsubishi Xpander’s combination of the versatility and practicality of a multipurpose vehicle thanks to its seven-seater capability combined with the rugged and sporty looks of an SUV make it perfectly suited to the needs of the Basadi group who will use the vehicle to transport drivers between vehicle collection points as part of Basadi Automotive Groups vehicle ferrying service.

“We previously relied on e-hailing services to move our drivers between vehicle drop off and collection points so the Mitsubishi Xpander is going to make a massive difference in our business operationally as it will allow us to be independent and more efficient in our daily operations,” explains Malakoane.

“The Xpander is perfect for our needs, it is spacious and comfortably accommodates seven adults, while it is also fuel efficient which is always a consideration in a business that does a lot of travelling. In addition the SUV styling of the Xpander means that we can travel in style without being mistaken for a minibus taxi,” adds Malakoane.

The Mitsubishi Xpander will be branded in Basadi Automotive livery which will also allow the vehicle to act as a moving billboard as it travels to dealerships and stock yards around the country.

“Mitsubishi Motors pride ourselves in developing long standing relationships, both with our customers, many of whom are loyal to the brand thanks to our reputation for reliability and durability as well as with our suppliers and partners. We are honoured to assist Basadi Automotive Group with the sponsorship of a vehicle and hope that it will allow them to serve our needs better, grow their business and be the start of a long and fruitful relationship,” says Allison.

The Mitsubishi Xpander is one of the top selling models in the Mitsubishi range thanks to its unique combination of practicality, SUV styling and a powerful yet fuel efficient engine.

The flexible seating of the Mitsubishi Xpander can be configured to suit a variety of needs. The second and third rows feature a 60/40 split, while the seats of the third row can be folded completely flat and stowed to create additional space in the cargo area.

Occupant comfort is guaranteed thanks to air-conditioning with a manual rear overhead cooler, electric windows all round, a USB port in the front, 120W power sockets to supply each row of seating and clever storage compartments under the seats to keep personal items out of the way but within reach.

Driver comfort is ensured thanks to a tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel that features Bluetooth and hands-free communication as well as a multimedia system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and a rear-view camera.

Powering the Xpander is a 1.5-litre DOHC 16-valve engine that features Mitsubishi’s Intelligent Innovative Valve Timing Lift Control (MIVEC) system and Electronically Controlled multipoint fuel injection, resulting in a peak output of 77kW at 6 000r/min and 141Nm at 4 000r/min.

Despite its formidable performance the Xpander will use just 6,7 litres/100km in manual guise and 7,0 litres/100km when paired with an automatic transmission.

Bolstering its people carrying status is the fitment of a variety of safety features as standard. The Xpander is built around an advanced all-direction collision reinforced impact safety evolution (RISE) body construction which incorporates side impact bars and an impact-absorbing structure at the front of the vehicle. Airbags for the driver and front passenger, seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters, ABS with EBD and Isofix child seat mounting points are in place to keep all occupants safe.