Is the XForce the best crossover Mitsubishi has ever made?
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has the distinguished record of being the longest continuously operating carmaker in the country.
For over six decades, the Japanese company has offered cars that have been permanently imprinted in the Philippines’ motoring scene – Lancer, Galant, Pajero, Montero Sport, and the eternal L300.
With the all-new Xforce, MMPC has marked its return to the five-seat crossover stakes, from which it has long been away. We take a look back at all the crossovers from the “Diamond Star” brand to see where the Xforce stands.
Space Wagon
For many of us who were kids in the 1990s, the funky Mitsubishi Space Wagon was a familiar sight on the roads, especially with its funky, 3-spoke alloy wheels and two-tone paint.
Although it is what many would now call a multi-purpose vehicle, similar in vein to the Xpander, the seven-seat Space Wagon is arguably Mitsubishi’s first crossover because it combined the boxy utility of a van with the driving dynamics of a Galant.
Starting off in the early ‘90s with a carburated version of the 4G93 1.8-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, it evolved throughout the decade to include niceties like electronic fuel injection and optional 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Outlander
Following the Space Wagon, MMPC’s next foray into the crossover stakes was the Outlander in the early 2000s.
Built to take on the highly popular Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Mitsubishi Outlander offered generous space for five passengers, all while looking more futuristic than its comparatively staid rivals.
The first-generation model had a wagon-like body and the crosshair grill, available in 4×2 or 4×4 configurations. Meanwhile, the second-generation model that debuted in the late 2000s came with svelter styling and two powertrain options – a 2.4-liter inline-4 or a stout 3.0-liter V6.
The Outlander name still lives in the Outlander PHEV, which was one of the first plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles sold in the Philippines. It is now enjoying a resurgence thanks to the local electrification movement.
ASX
Take a Lancer EX and make it a small crossover – this is the recipe for the Mitsubishi ASX.
Smaller than the Outlander, the ASX was made to do battle in the then-emerging subcompact crossover segment that included the likes of the Honda HR-V and the Suzuki SX4.
Sporting Mitsubishi’s striking corporate face, the ASX was powered by the Lancer’s 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, mated to either a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Xforce
Based on the very stylish Mitsubishi XFC Concept, the all-new Xforce made its global debut at the 2023 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.
Indonesia is also where all Xforce units are built using the same floorpan and powerplant as the best-selling Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross. As such, it has the familiar 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve 4A91 inline-4 gasoline engine mated to a CVT.
Besides incorporating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that include things like adaptive cruise control, the Xforce also features Active Yaw Control for better stability in fast turns and a Wet driving mode, which cuts down the throttle response and the engine redline for more stable driving in slick conditions.
Our recent full review of the top-spec Xforce GT uncovered a supremely stylish and practical crossover with superb fuel economy, fine driving dynamics and interior refinement that puts it well above its rivals.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation president and CEO Takao Kato said the company is working on an electrified version of the Xforce, which it may launch in regions outside ASEAN soon. An exciting future ahead for Mitsubishi’s crossover legacy, then.
