Five things we like about 2024 Mitsubishi Xforce
Does the all-new Mitsubishi Xforce have the X factor?
Mitsubishi has just expanded its lineup in the country. But instead of rolling out something big, they went for something smaller, smarter, and more efficient.
MMPC has finally introduced the 2024 Xforce crossover in the Philippine market, marking the first time that Mitsubishi has offered a small crossover for personal transport since the ASX.
Using an adaptation of the Xpander platform, Mitsubishi transformed a tried and tested MPV into a five-seater small crossover with a host of intelligent features, premium in-car entertainment, a new transmission, and a trick drive system to make everyday driving fun and confidence-inspiring.
Before its launch, MMPC took us on a trip up north to try out their newest baby, and it’s here where we found out the five things we like about the all-new Xforce.
Striking looks
Before the drive, we’ve only seen pictures of what the Xforce looks like on the outside. But upon seeing it in the metal, the Xforce is indeed quite the looker with its futuristic design and short overhangs. It all starts at the front with the latest interpretation of the Dynamic Shield with the proud Mitsubishi emblem on the grille.
The Mitsubishi design team did a good job making the Xforce a distinct identity with the LED light signature emitted by the DRLs. The silver garnish below the headlights give everything a nice contrast, especially in this Energetic Yellow Metallic color. On the road, you’ll immediately know it’s an Xforce when you see it pop up in your rearview mirror.
On the side, the Xforce has what a lot of people want in a crossover – it looks robust and athletic. The fenders are nice and chunky, the rear quarter panels bulge out a bit to mimic wide shoulders, and it has stylish 18-inch wheels that come standard in both GLS and GT variants.
If we talk numbers, the Xforce also hits it right. Ground clearance is one of the best in class at 193 mm. Mitsubishi did it intentionally as they considered things like flood wading with the Xforce while developing it specifically for the ASEAN market. The high ground clearance also translates to good approach and departure angles at 21 and 30.5 degrees, respectively.
At the rear, it’s nice how Mitsubishi translated the LED light signature in front with the way they did the taillights. It looks cool; even the turn signals, brake, and reverse lights were neatly integrated into the design. The lower bumper details are also nice, making the car look sporty enough without using faux exhaust tips like today’s common crossover trends.
Premium interior feel
Getting inside the Xforce is a completely new experience even for those who have already driven the Xpander and Xpander Cross. Mitsubishi made an effort to make a fresh new design inside, along with the interior materials and most of the controls in the cabin. After spending quite some time inside, I actually find it quite impressive for its price. The dashboard is even laid out with mélange fabric, which is supposedly a stain-resistant material.
There is a continuous panel for the instrument display and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment, with soft-touch materials and LED ambient lighting. Black leather seats with brown contrast stitching give the upscale vibe inside, but the one that caught our eyes (and ears) was the Yamaha premium sound system that comes standard with the Xforce. Yes, audiophiles, both GLS and GT variants will have it.
Other features include dual-zone climate control, overhead seatbelt reminders, and a nanoe-x air filtration system that Mitsubishi claims has anti-virus, bacteria, mold, pollen, and anti-smell properties. Not to mention, they say it has skin and hair beautification effects – that’s a thumbs up for advocates of skin and hair care.
Space-wise, there’s a decent amount of head, leg, and elbow room on both rows of the Xforce. The seats feel comfy with minimum fatigue experienced during the trip from Manila to La Union and back, and the 40-20-40 split rear seats increase the versatility of the Xforce in terms of cargo carrying.
Speaking of cargo, there’s a pretty sizeable area when you pop the electric tailgate. It gives you up to 32 inches of length and up to 40 inches of width with all the seats up. The floorboard is also adjustable depending on your needs. You can create a flat cargo area with the second-row seats down and have up to 62 inches of length, or you can adjust the floorboard to a lower setting to accommodate taller items inside the Xforce.
But perhaps, the best part is the thoughtfulness in terms of storage – the Xforce has pockets for everything you may have on you. There’s a pocket on the passenger side dash, generous door pockets, and up to 21 spaces for different bottles and cups all around. That even includes a cooler function for the console box that kept our drinks cold during the long drive.
Information, lots of it
There are a lot of subcompact crossovers in the market today. And with each closely matched to the other, Mitsubishi knows they need something that most small crossovers don’t have. But instead of introducing something fresh to stand out, they took a leaf out of the playbook of its iconic SUV, the Pajero.
Most have wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto on their screens, but Mitsubishi added more. On the Xforce, you can view things like the altitude, the roll and pitch of the vehicle, the direction where you’re heading, and even the longitudes and latitudes of your location – all of those we've seen first with the Pajero, but now it has made its way to the Xforce.
On top of that, Mitsubishi wants you to be in command of the Xforce towards everything – so much so that it even comes with its version of aircraft avionics. The screen can display things such as throttle inputs, brake pedal pressure percentage, the amount of fuel being sprayed to the cylinders by the injectors, and a G-meter in case you decide to do some spirited driving with the Xforce.
At the end of the day, the Xforce even tells you if you have been a smooth operator. The Xforce measures the smoothness of your braking, acceleration, and steering inputs to give an overall driving score.
Refined ride
The Xpander has one of the comfiest rides we’ve experienced for an MPV, and we’re delighted it has also translated to the Xforce crossover. NVH levels are pretty good for a crossover, and the ride sits somewhere in the middle of the stiff and soft spectrum.
They both share the same suspension setup – MacPhersons in front, and a torsion beam setup at the rear. However, for the Xforce, Mitsubishi’s engineers provided beefier shock absorbers; the tube diameter is similar to the Montero Sport. That results in better control and better absorption of bumps and other road undulations.
While both vehicles share the 4A91 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that puts out 105 PS and 141 Nm of torque, the Xforce comes with a CVT rather than a 4-speed auto. What that gives you is better control of the ratios for your driving needs. If the driver demands efficiency or quicker overtaking, the CVT gives the Xforce the flexibility to better adapt to driving situations that it’s put in.
Also, the CVT works intelligently with the engine and carefully senses the optimum delivery of power and torque. If the road ahead is an uphill section, the CVT adjusts to a higher rpm band for maximum climbing power even when the driver is applying the same amount of throttle. When going downhill, the CVT likewise adjusts to a higher rpm range for better engine braking and makes the driver less dependent on the brakes to slow the Xforce down.
During the drive, we averaged around 16 km/l in a mix of provincial roads and expressways. But hopefully, pretty soon we can get better readings once we start doing reviews of the Xforce.
X Factor: The Drive Modes
The Xforce is only two-wheel drive, but don’t underestimate it. As we found out during the drive, the Xforce can give you a lot of confidence in handling loose surfaces because Mitsubishi engineered it with Active Yaw Control or AYC. This technology aids in cornering and control and is something they competed with and proved in the World Rally Championships using the Lancer Evolution, but the application is now in a front wheel drive platform.
The AYC, along with traction, stability, and steering weight adjusts accordingly to the Xforce’s four driving modes – Normal, Wet, Gravel, and Mud.
To test all that, Mitsubishi laid out a rallycross-style course around the Tarlac Circuit Hill which was divided into four parts – a dry and wet section of the twisty track, a gravel road, and a mud loop. Those were all designed to demonstrate what the Xforce and its four driving modes can do.
Despite being a crossover with high ground clearance, the Xforce easily handled the twisty sections of TCH. What impressed me was that on the times we hit a wet patch of the track or one with standing water during cornering, the Xforce kept its composure as the AYC and other electronic driver aids helped in rotating the car through the corner.
On the gravel road, the Xforce provided a stable and smooth ride as the traction control permitted a higher slip while having reduced throttle sensitivity. But on the muddy part of the test track with Mud mode on, we were impressed with how it manages grip levels very well even with just two driven wheels.
In this aspect, it was clear that Mitsubishi leveraged its years of rallying experience to develop a crossover that can hold its own on the beaten path. The result is the Xforce delivers the efficiency you need and the fun you want in a small crossover package. MMPC has set the pricing of the Xforce as follows:
Xforce GLS CVT - PHP 1.367 million
Xforce GT CVT - PHP 1.581 million
A more detailed review should be in the cards soon. It’s been a long time since Mitsubishi last offered a small crossover. But based on what we’ve experienced, we honestly think Mitsubishi has got an X that can really hit the spot.