15/03/2026

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY MAR 15, 2026

The layout of the 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster might take some getting used .

Though the engine is the same as the Xpander, the transmission here is a newer CVT-type automatic and not the 4-speed automatic.

The mocha accent strips on the seats are exclusive to the Ultimate variant.

system, wireless charger and a cooler in the cooled centre console storage box. CONCLUSION The basis of every good vehicle, espe cially an SUV, is to get the fundamentals right. Without getting the basics covered, there is no point in progressing and using more complex powertrains or packing the infotainment with features to impress. In this scenario, the Xforce gets the basics right. It is immensely practical, spa cious and has enough storage spaces for an entire family packed into its good looking body. Is there anything else exciting about it? Hardly. We are stopping short of using the ‘b’ word. If you need a functional SUV that just gets the job done with little fuss, the Xforce is definitely a model you have to keep on your shortlist. SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 1.5-litre 16-valve DOHC natu rally-aspirated, Mivec variable valve tim ing Power: 105PS Torque: 141Nm Transmission: CVT PRICE (AS TESTED): RM120,000 (TENTATIVE) We like: Getting all the basics of an SUV right and the looks. We don’t like: Not the most exciting drive and plasticky interior.

though the typical CVT-drone begins pierc ing the cabin as you approach highway speeds and beyond. Furthermore, the Uphill Logic provides a 25% improvement in driving force on slopes, requiring significantly less pedal input, while the Downhill Logic increases engine braking by 10% to reduce brake wear. IS IT NICE INSIDE? Again, the Xforce does the basics right in the cabin. You get comfortable seats and convenient features that make daily use that much better. They claim a class-leading 23 storage spaces and while we did not tally them up, there was no reason to doubt them. The genius C-pillar storage slots are something the automotive world needs more of. Rear occupants will enjoy the eight-step reclining rear seats and supportive bench. However, do not expect HR-V levels of refinement. The interior does still feel plasticky and the finishing could have used a bit more effort. We are not fans of the ivory fabric used on the dashboard in the flagship Ultimate trim as it is something that would get dirty very quickly. Equipment wise, the Xforce Ultimate that we sampled has the goods. You will find a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an eight-speaker Yamaha audio

We did manage to experience this during a driving exercise around a wet roundabout. When activated, the AYC made consider able difference to reduce understeer. Speaking of the drive modes, the quartet are Normal, Gravel, Mud and Wet, just like a proper off-roader. That last one is something different that Mitsubishi says was produced with over coming Southeast Asia’s monsoon weather in mind. It functions by improving corner ing and stability on wet or flooded roads. HOW DOES IT DRIVE? Tamura wanted to give the Xforce an engaging drive. Apart from the revised sus pension geometry and AYC, the structural rigidity was increased with more adhesive. Applying it at the rear quarters, wheel wells and tailgate hinge help the body better distribute suspension input. Our time behind the wheel was not sig nificant but it confirmed our initial impres sion that the Xforce got the basics right. Comfort levels were satisfactory even on 18-inch wheels and you could take it well past highway speeds with confidence. It just worked. Could it use a bit more power? Definitely. Does it ever feel like it was lack ing any? No. Mitsubishi did some clever calibration with the CVT by implementing “Step-up Shift” software that simulates an eight speed automatic when you floor the throttle

There is nothing fancy under the hood either. It shares the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Mivec unit. Of course, some fine tuning was done in the powertrain depart ment to fit the driving characteristics of an SUV but it still makes the same 105PS and 141Nm of torque. It does not use the conventional auto matic found in the Xpander though, instead running a CVT. Only in Indonesia does Mitsubishi use a CVT in the Xpander for fuel efficiency requirements. X-FACTOR Mitsubishi were serious about the Xforce’s ride and handling – so much so that they placed the man behind the legen dary Mitsubishi Evo 7, 8, 9 and 10 as the lead product engineer, Masahiro Tamura. Bear in mind that the Xforce is still a front-wheel drive soft-roader but it does have some unique driving modes similar to a dedicated off-roader and a ride height that is useful for wading through floods at 222mm, similar to its Mitsubishi Triton pick-up sibling. One of the pieces of tech that caught our attention was the Active Yaw Control (AYC) that debuted in the Evo and gives the Xforce some rally-bred DNA. Here, it works with the four driving modes and is adapted to apply individual brakes on the driven wheels to direct more torque to the outside rear wheel and reduce understeer.

The white weave on the dashboard does elevate the cabin’s appearance but might not hold up well against stains and dirt.

Always a welcomed convenience, the powered tailgate in the Xforce is reserved for the Ultimate trim.