Tasty, even without the garnish
I have what many would call a strange diet – largely because I don’t eat condiments.
I don’t like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, tartar sauce or generally any sauce, for that matter. This means I only eat plain cheeseburgers and delight in my siomai without toyomansi – the only exceptions to this rule are certain salad dressings and homemade gravy paired with Southern-style fried chicken or a hearty steak.
It’s been like this since I was born because I only enjoy food that is properly seasoned from the get-go. The vast majority of the time, condiments just obscure shoddy cooking or, que horror, completely overpower the flavors of the main dish.
Indeed, it’s much the same when I review cars – a bevy of electronic doodads and helpings of bling may dazzle car buyers reading a brochure. But if the vehicle itself drives like a wayward shopping cart or rides like a kalesa on a cobblestone street, no “condiment” will save it.
And that’s where the base-model Mitsubishi Xforce GLS comes in. Some months ago, I tested its pricier sibling, the Xforce GT, replete with its effective active-safety suite and plush, heat-reflective leather upholstery.
With all these goodies taken away, will the newest crossover from the Diamond Star brand leave a bad taste in my mouth?
Stunning in white
If ever there were a problem, it sure isn’t in the styling.
While most car companies deliberately make their cheaper models look and feel cheap, Mitsubishi has wisely decided to make all Xforce variants look the same. That means everybody gets the gloss-black roof, two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, and T-shaped LED headlights and taillights.
The Xforce also has the distinction of being one of the few cars in the market that looks good in white. The Quartz White Pearl paint scheme makes this crossover look expensive, all while accentuating the car’s pronounced haunches and trapezoidal front grill.
Whereas the Honda HR-V is handsome and the Toyota Yaris Cross is rather fussy, the Xforce’s concept car-esque looks make a statement – Mitsubishi is really back in the subcompact crossover game, with a play that is bold and forward-looking.
Fine cloth cabin
The biggest difference between the Xforce GLS and GT variants lies inside the very roomy interior.
The attractive White Melange Fabric padded dashboard has been replaced with classy, black leatherette. However, I still wish there were more soft-touch materials, especially with the scratchy door cards.
And let’s not forget that Mitsubishi is a master of cloth interiors – much like the lovely cabin in the base-model Montero Sport, the two-tone fabric in the Xforce GLS is comfortable and breathable, without feeling like you’re sitting on low-grit sandpaper.
Another happy change from Mitsubishis of old is the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is easy to navigate and wisely separates the controls of the very powerful dual-zone climate-control system with rear air-conditioning vents.
In addition, the screen is clear and responsive enough, but the view out of the reversing camera is rather hazy. Special mention must be extended to the Yamaha 8-speaker surround-sound system – it offers good audio for a car at this price and would hopefully kick off a trend of highly-engineered systems in mainstream vehicles.
Supremely economical
Given that the Xforce is based on the bestselling Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross, you get proven mechanicals.
Under the long hood is a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 104 horsepower and 141 Newton-meters of torque. This is mated to an all-new continuously variable transmission, which is leagues better than the lackluster 4-speed automatic gearbox in the Xpander.
Although there is good pick up as early as 2,000 rpm, this is perhaps where a shot of hot sauce would be welcome. The Xforce has poor acceleration at high RPM, which means you need to plan overtaking well.
Given that rivals like the supremely attractive GAC Emkoo pack a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with about 70 more horsepower and reasonable fuel economy, surely the creator of the mighty Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution could use their turbo know-how on this baby. Conversely, a hybrid drivetrain would be highly welcome here.
On the flipside, fuel efficiency is truly exceptional for a non-hybrid crossover – 9 to 12 kilometers per liter in the city and 19 to 22 kilometers per liter on the expressway are numbers that even some subcompact sedans could only dream of.
The Xforce is also splendid to drive, offering a highly refined and planted feel on the road, largely because of the brilliantly tuned suspension that offers just the right amount of firmness. The quick albeit rather numb steering makes for perky handling, while the powerful brakes could use a pedal that offers more firmness.
A bit more seasoning
So, is going down to the P1,367,000 Xforce GLS a big downgrade compared to the P1,581,000 Xforce GT?
The latter comes with active-safety suite that features rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a forward collision mitigation system. All these made the Xforce GT easier to drive in long distances and significantly increased the crossover’s safety margins.
Given that even the entry-level P1,389,000 HR-V S comes standard with the superb Honda SENSING system, this is something Mitsubishi can and should follow suit for the GLS model. It should also put in the curtain airbags from the GT variant because safety shouldn’t just be the privilege of those with larger wallets.
Overall, the Xforce GLS proves that Mitsubishi used the right techniques to create a crossover that will make people want platefuls of their cooking. But a bit more seasoning (for power and safety) would certainly appeal to more palates.
