Prices for this upcoming successor to the Mitsubishi ASX apparently is set to start from RM 110,000.
Following the many teasers that have been trickling out since the start of the year, Mitsubishi has finally showcased its Xforce locally. And while this particular occasion was only a preview of this small SUV (its official launch is still expected to take place sometime in April), this first local showing nevertheless reveals almost everything there is to know about the latest tri-diamond crossover.
Starting with the bigger news first, the Xforce will soon be offered in Malaysia in two variants: Urban and Ultimate. Prices are estimated to start from RM 110,000 for the former and RM 120,000 for the latter, with local assembly taking place at Mitsubishi’s Pekan plant.
And while still on the topic of big, the Xforce is actually a fairly sizeable small SUV. Measuring 4,390 mm long, 1,810 mm wide and 1,660 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm, it is just a shade larger than rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross and Proton X50.
Design-wise, this ASX successor continues Mitsubishi’s boxy and muscular design approach. Up front, it wears the latest iteration of the brand’s Dynamic Shield fascia, flanked by distinctive horizontal T-shaped LED headlights. This sharp lighting signature is then carried through to the angular rear lights, while a floating roof treatment and pronounced wheel arches along the sides frame the 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels fitted to both variants.
The Ultimate variant can be visually distinguished from the more basic Urban by way of the “XFORCE” wordmark on the bonnet, as well as a subtle spoiler on its tailgate. The higher-end variant also features a powered tailgate with a hands-free kick sensor, opening up to 410 litres of boot space.
Moving further inside now, standard kit with the Urban variant includes a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, anti-heat leatherette upholstery, a six-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, a chilled centre console, a front digital video recorder and rear seats with eight-step recline adjustment.
Opt for the Ultimate though and that brings with it a fully digital 8-inch instrument cluster paired with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other additions with this flagship trim include nanoe X air purification, a wireless charging pad, blue ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an additional rear DVR.
The range-topper also benefits from a Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium audio system with eight speakers, while the dashboard is finished in a White Mélange weave with Mocha seat accents, replacing the Urban’s all-black interior.
Under the hood, the Mitsubishi Xforce is powered by a familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated MIVEC four-cylinder engine shared with the Xpander (with which it also actually shares a platform). Output figures mirror the MPV’s 105 PS and 141 Nm, though this SUV differs by pairing the engine with a CVT gearbox driving the front wheels, instead of a four-speed automatic.
Despite being front-wheel drive, the Xforce still channels some of Mitsubishi’s off-road DNA through the inclusion of Active Yaw Control (AYC). Evoking its bigger Pajero brother too, its central screen does come with various off-road themes including a digital compass, elevation visualiser, and tilt angle gauge, while buyers opting for the Ultimate variant also will get four selectable drive modes: Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud.
In terms of safety, the Urban variant of Xforce comes with four airbags, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, front and rear parking sensors and an around view monitor. The Ultimate meanwhile improves on this with six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and additional active driver assistance features such as forward collision mitigation with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lead car departure notification and automatic high beam.
Colour options for the Xforce currently include Diamond Black Mica, Red Metallic, Graphite Gray and Quartz White Pearl. All variants are covered by a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
Finally, as the headline suggests, bookings for the Xforce are now open in Malaysia. And to sweeten the deal, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is offering a limited early-bird rebate of RM 5,000 for the first 1,000 customers, with an additional RM 1,000 cash rebate available to existing Mitsubishi owners under its loyalty programme. Perhaps most enticing of all too, all Xforce buyers will also be automatically entered into a “Buy 1 Free 1” contest, standing a chance to win another Xforce in its top-spec Ultimate form.
