A quick first impression review of Mitsubishi Outlander Sport’s successor for the ASEAN market.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has served the B-Crossover segment for more than a decade in Southeast Asia. Its compact size yet roomy cabin and high ground clearance make the vehicle desirable for a wide audience. It received a facelift for the 2014 model year, but since then, there has been no other significant update. Needless to say, the market was more than ready for something new and fresh from the Japanese manufacturer.
So, at last, Mitsubishi recently announced its latest crossover, here to replace the Outlander Sport for the ASEAN market. Named the Xforce, this compact SUV boasts a similar size to the Eclipse Cross, and it’s ready to take over the B-Crossover segment.
Unfortunately, whether the Xforce will come to the US is still unknown. So far, Mitsubishi’s CEO has only confirmed plans to export the Indonesian-made SUV to South America, Africa, the Middle East, and other countries in Southeast Asia. But if it were ever to reach our shores, here’s what you can expect from Mitsubishi’s latest baby SUV.
Small, But Matured Look
It all started when Mitsubishi revealed the XFC Concept last year to fill the B-Crossover class. The concept was set to be class-leading, offering the most cabin space and the best comfort features amongst other Asian compact SUVs. And we can safely say the production model features an exterior styling exceeding expectations. While other manufacturers tend to overpromise and underdeliver when it comes to concept cars, the Xforce, surprisingly, has stayed true to the teaser.
Mitsubishi claims the “Silky and Solid” design language is implied, with a floating roof design, high ground clearance, and muscular fenders to give a sense of ruggedness. While only time will tell, our first impression certainly sees the Xforce as a mini SUV with big potential. The front fascia highlights the latest dynamic shield design with a three-dimensional trapezoid grill, and it’s sandwiched beautifully between futuristic headlights. Moreover, we also like the beefy fenders, making it seem larger than it actually is. The rear end also boasts a rather mature design with a simple yet elegant look.
The XForce sits on pretty 18-inch dual-tone wheels with 225/50 R18 tires, and with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it won’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. The front suspensions are the usual MacPherson strut with robust torsion beams for the rear, tuned for harsh road conditions with a similar tube size to its ladder-framed brother, the Pajero/Montero Sport.
Overall, we fancy the handsome look of the Xforce, especially when compared to the Eclipse Cross or Outlander Sport. Heck, we wouldn’t complain if there’ll ever be the next iteration of the Lancer Evolution looking a little like this crossover.
The Roomiest in Its Class
Indeed, the Xforce’s huge cabin space is one of its party pieces. Thanks to the 104.3″ wheelbase, the cabin is one of the most spacious in its class; let’s just say it doesn’t come short when compared to the Honda HR-V, for instance. Moreover, sitting in the driver’s seat feels slightly commanding, and all five seats are pretty comfortable, especially with the synthetic leather wrap on the upper trim.
While the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport’s dashboard seems rather dull and outdated, the Xforce offers a more premium look and feel. We’re a fan of the minimalist design and the use of classy mixed fabric material here. But given it’s still a budget-friendly crossover, the hard, scratchy plastic is still present on the center console, door trims, and infotainment screen housing.
That said, one thing this crossover doesn’t lack is storage, as there are plenty of pockets and cup holders scattered throughout the interior. As for the cargo space, it’s also surprisingly roomy — you can easily fit a golf bag and multiple suitcases, and there’s no doubt it could swallow your weekly groceries just fine.
It Could’ve Used More Ponies
Although the Xforce feels pretty positive so far, it’s now time to talk about one of its downsides — the engine — which doesn’t exactly y shine when it comes to power. It’s currently only offered with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder naturally-aspirated unit, producing just 103 hp and 104 lb-ft of torque. It’s also, quite unfortunately, equipped with a CVT gearbox delivering power solely to the front wheels for the newly launched model, but we can sense an AWD version coming soon.
As underwhelming as it sounds, the 1.5-liter inline-4 is actually one of the most popular engine configurations in Southeast Asia; it’s pretty nippy for tight roads and delivers good MPGs. Still, given the slightly larger body than the Outlander Sport, we expected it to retain the old 2.0-liter inline-four churning out 45 ponies more than Xforce’s tiny engine.
But on the bright side, this Mitsubishi 4A91 engine has been proven reliable and packs a decent punch, based on the performance of Xforce’s older MPV brother, that shares the same heart, the Xpander. It also comes with four driving modes: normal, wet, gravel, and mud, claimed not just to affect throttle response but also the CVT, ABS, traction control, and power steering system behavior.
More Tech Amenities
For its sub-$30,000 price, you’ll actually get a decent amount of interesting tech features in the Xforce. For starters, the crossover is fitted with a premium sound system tuned by Yamaha; it even comes with four preset equalizers to fit the driver’s preferences, a speed-compensated volume feature, and surround sound software. Furthermore, the climate control is a dual-zone auto with NanoeX technology that purifies the air cabin, and there’s a built-in dehumidifier.
Real tech geeks will enjoy how almost everything is controlled over the screens on the dash, including the digital driver’s display, an 8-inch infotainment screen in the middle, and climate control operation. The steering wheel is also packed with buttons without any missing slots, which is oddly satisfying
Unfortunately, the Xforce isn’t equipped with a load of advanced driver assistance features. For now, there’s only cruise control, hill-start assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring system. Still, rumor says a new range-topping trim could debut next year with proper ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
Trims and Pricing
So far, Mitsubishi only offers the Xforce in two trims — Exceed and Ultimate. Below is the breakdown of the pricing and highlighted features of each trim:
Exceed CVT
Starting price: IDR382 million ($24,938 US)
Highlighted features:
- 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto
- Active Yaw Control
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Blind Spot Monitoring System
- Cruise Control
- Hill start assist
Ultimate CVT
Starting price: IDR419 million ($27,324 US)
Highlighted features:
- All in Exceed
- 4 driving modes (Normal, Wet, Gravel, and Mud)
- Nanoe X climate control
- 8 premium surround sound system by Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium
- Ambient lighting
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Power tailgate with kick sensor
- Cooled Armrest storage box
- Wireless smartphone charging
Last Words
Overall, there’s no doubt the Mitsubishi Xforce is a strong challenger in the compact crossover segment. We think it makes a great alternative to the already mainstream Honda HR-V, Nissan Kicks, or Mazda CX-30. Its futuristic design and roomy cabin might’ve just won over the hearts of those looking for a daily-drivable posh crossover.
That said, the rather weak engine and no AWD configuration are indeed a problem, and they’re probably why we can’t be sure about whether the Xforce is coming to the US. But perhaps if Mitsubishi managed to get the next refresh feature a punchier turbocharged hybrid and an AWD system, we might just have the chance.
Gallery: 2024 Mitsubishi Xforce
