Meeting meticulous XForce owners

Most car owners I meet are overly meticulous, and that’s a good thing because I learn a lot from them—especially when it comes to understanding their purchasing decisions.

Baguio car owners are a different breed, though. They are particularly demanding when it comes to brand longevity, vehicle reliability, or what local residents call “Baguio-capability.” This includes a vehicle’s ability to negotiate tight, steep maneuvers and abrupt turns on undulating roads, maintain fuel efficiency on some of the most demanding routes in the country, offer seat heaters, and provide clear visibility in dense fog. Another critical factor is the consistency and reputation of the dealership’s after-sales service—because you cannot simply drive down from Baguio City on a whim if your local dealership proves incompetent or inadequate.

That’s probably the reason the motoring landscape in Baguio tends to be dominated by legacy brands, those brands that have, over the decades, earned their reputation for reliability and durability in both product and aftersales aspects.

I drove up to Baguio City last month to interview two owners of a brand that has been in the Philippines for the longest time (for over 63 years, in fact). And what these two owners have chosen is the newest offering from this brand. I’ve come to see if these owners’ choices factored in the brand’s reputation for reliability and durability.

This is Pau’s second Mitsubishi purchase. She still drives her Xpander. —PHOTOS BY TRSALAZAR

The Reyes family and their ‘SUV of steel’

Irish Tristan Enriquez Reyes, 44, is an owner of an XForce GLS purchased in January this year. Born in Manila, Tristan was raised in Baguio. His wife, Sunshine “Shine” Balderas Reyes, 41, originally from Agoo, La Union, has lived and worked in Baguio City for nearly 20 years. Their 8-year-old daughter, Sabina, is currently in Grade 3.

Tristan chose the XForce after evaluating 7 other compact SUVs available in Baguio City. He carefully weighed the pros and cons of every competitor before making his final choice.

Tristan’s first purchase is a Mitsubishi Mirage

“Before we decided on this unit, we literally visited every casa here in Baguio,” Tristan said. “At the end of the day, we chose this one because it truly stood out among all 8 compact SUVs we considered in the segment. There is really nothing more I could ask for from the Mitsubishi XForce. Even when compared against hybrid and electric alternatives, I studied everything—brand longevity, endurance, and Baguio-capability—and the XForce won.”

Shine added: “I thought it was too big because we transitioned from a small car, a Mirage G4. But once I drove it, I found it very easy and fun to handle. People assume driving in Baguio is difficult due to the constant uphill and downhill gradients, but the XForce handles it smoothly. The engine never struggles, and the drive feels light.”

Tristan said the family travels twice a month to Agoo, La Union, visits his brother in Clark, Pampanga, and frequently drives to Subic and Bulacan.

“Sabina loves to swim, so every vacation, we make sure to head down to the resorts in La Union for about three nights,” Shine shared. “Our luggage fits perfectly, even for trips lasting up to five days.”

For Tristan, beyond the cabin comfort during long drives, the exterior design was a major selling point. “The aesthetics are exceptional. I really appreciate every line and dimension of this SUV. The 2026 GLS in black looks great. If we hadn’t bought ours in January, it would have been a toss-up between the red GLX and the black GLS.”

Shine also praised the vehicle’s cabin audio system. “We always play music when we travel, so the speaker setup was important to me. I really liked the Yamaha sound system, and Sabina loves listening to music on the road.”

Sabina named the family’s XForce “Steel,” partly due to its silver color, but mostly in honor of Superman, the Man of Steel, who happens to be her father’s favorite superhero. (Sabina had named their Mirage “Beppo,” after Superman’s pet monkey, and said that all the family’s dogs were named after a Superman theme as well.)

Irish Tristan, wife Sunshine and daughter Sabina tried 7 other compact SUVs from different brands before buying the XForce GLS

Pau M and the minutest details

Then there is Pau M. (full identity withheld upon request), who has owned an XForce GT since 2024. Pau comes from a family of car enthusiasts, and almost everyone in the household loves to drive. Among their fleet is a Mitsubishi Xpander affectionately nicknamed “Mishy,” which family members still drive regularly today.

Pau can talk endlessly about even the most minute features of her XForce. When I talked to her for a couple of hours, she focused on some standout features that she said really impressed her.

Avionics display screen

One of her favorite features is the avionics display menu integrated into the central touchscreen infotainment system. Inspired by aircraft instrumentation, it provides real-time monitoring of vehicle telemetry, including brake pressure, steering angle, G-force, acceleration, engine operational data, fuel metrics, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and tire pressures.

Pointing to the telemetry pods on the screen, Pau explained: “I can monitor the acceleration gauge, so I know if my siblings are stepping too hard on the pedal, beyond just checking the RPM. You can also monitor exact brake pressure percentage—for instance, seeing if it reads 13% or zero—so my mom or I can tell if someone is actually braking or just resting their foot on the pedal. It gives everyone peace of mind, especially on expressways and long drives.”

Pau M loves the XForce GT’s safety features and its Avionics display mode

Autonomous emergency braking

Pau’s father is equally impressed by the vehicle’s active safety suite.

“The safety systems are remarkably responsive,” Pau noted. “I was driving in an area where you always yield to pedestrians. A pedestrian had almost finished crossing, so I applied the accelerator to move forward, but the system detected the (pedestrian’s) movement and automatically applied the brakes on its own. It didn’t just issue a warning chime—it actively brought the vehicle to a stop. That level of protection makes my parents feel very secure when I’m on the road.”

Nimble handling, compact footprint

While their Xpander is called “Mishy,” the family decided to name the XForce “XO.”

“My mom preferred XO because of the coffee reference and the model name,” Pau laughed. “Since we have an Xpander and an XForce, it keeps things simple.”

Pau finds the smartphone integration and display layout ideal for mountain navigation. “The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect automatically. The large infotainment screen makes navigation clear, allowing me to anticipate sharp curves ahead, especially along winding routes like Naguilian Road. The handling is exceptionally smooth and effortless.”

Despite its prominent SUV stance, the XForce remains easy to maneuver through tight urban spaces.

“It is the perfect size for Baguio,” Pau concluded. “Street parking here can be tight and difficult due to narrow roads and double-parked vehicles. I used to struggle parking our larger Xpander in tight spots, but the XForce fits seamlessly. It offers the space and safety features of a full SUV for a family of four without the cumbersome length.”

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