Why the Mitsubishi Xforce feels like a new kind of SUV for Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: On paper, the Mitsubishi Xforce doesn’t look revolutionary. It shares bones with the Xpander, carries over familiar mechanicals, and sits in one of the most crowded price brackets in Malaysia right now.

The SUV space around RM100k to RM130k is a battlefield, especially with a particular local and Chinese brands throwing everything at buyers, bigger screens, more features, louder styling.

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So the obvious question is simple.

If the Xforce is related to an MPV, why should anyone treat it like a serious SUV?

The answer isn’t marketing. It’s intent. The Xforce isn’t a rebodied Xpander. It’s Mitsubishi taking a known platform and deliberately reshaping it into something tuned for ASEAN roads, ASEAN weather, and ASEAN driving habits. And that shift gives it a character that feels noticeably different from the typical crossover formula.

Familiar foundation, but reworked for a different job

Sharing a platform sounds like compromise, but in this case it’s more like evolution. The Xforce runs a shorter wheelbase and wider stance than the Xpander, which forced Mitsubishi engineers to revisit the suspension geometry, bushings and shock absorber setup.

This wasn’t just cosmetic tuning. The Xforce was tested over thousands of kilometres across Indonesia and Vietnam, focusing specifically on the kind of roads Southeast Asia is known for, uneven surfaces, rolling undulations, patchy tarmac and sudden bumps. The engineers weren’t chasing Nürburgring lap times. They were chasing composure.

The goal was to build a ride that feels calm without becoming soft, stable without feeling heavy. It’s the kind of balance you only notice after a few hours behind the wheel, when the car stops fighting the road and simply flows with it.

That philosophy already sets the tone. The Xforce isn’t trying to be a sporty SUV or a luxury SUV. It’s trying to be a comfortable, confidence-inspiring everyday machine.

The Xforce’s quiet “secret sauce”

There was a moment during Mitsubishi Motor Malaysia's technical presentation that added an unexpected layer to the Xforce story. Standing at the front of the room was Masahiro Tamura, one of the three original Mitsubishi engineers involved in developing the Lancer Evolution line, the same Tamura who oversaw the programme from Evo I all the way to Evo X.

Seeing a name tied so closely to Mitsubishi’s performance legacy discussing a compact family SUV was, frankly, surreal.

To be clear, no one should expect the Xforce to behave like an Evo. That would miss the point entirely. But Tamura’s presence wasn’t ceremonial. He evaluated the SUV and contributed input during its development. And that says something about Mitsubishi’s priorities. When a company brings in someone whose career was built on steering feel, chassis balance and high-speed stability, it suggests the fundamentals still matter.

Call it a secret sauce if you like. Not because it turns the Xforce into a performance car, but because it hints at a deeper layer of attention to how the vehicle feels, not just how it looks on paper.

Ground clearance that is traditionally SUV in nature

SUV brochures love throwing around clearance figures, but Mitsubishi frames the Xforce’s height in very practical terms. It’s designed to clear flooded streets, tall parking curbs and uneven surfaces without drama. In a Malaysian context, that’s not off-road fantasy. That’s a weekday evening after a thunderstorm.

What’s interesting is how the Xforce combines that height with suspension tuning that doesn’t punish passengers. Many high-riding crossovers end up feeling stiff or top-heavy. Mitsubishi’s claim of class-leading comfort may sound bold, but the engineering direction is clear: ride comfort was treated as a priority, not an afterthought.

The Xforce is tall, but it’s not trying to feel tough. It’s trying to feel reassuring.

A CVT that behaves like it understands terrain

CVTs still carry baggage in enthusiast circles, but Mitsubishi has leaned heavily into software tuning to change how this one behaves. The Aisin CVT unit under the Xforce's shell was also chosen to provide durability said Masahiro Tamura, who showed his favour of the transmission maker over any other brand.

Under hard acceleration, it mimics stepped shifts, creating a sensation closer to a traditional automatic instead of the usual elastic surge.

More importantly, the transmission actively adjusts its logic on slopes. Uphill driving force improves, while downhill acceleration is restrained to reduce constant braking.

It’s a small detail, but it reflects a broader theme: the Xforce is tuned around real-world driving scenarios, not just test cycles and having an experienced world renowned engineer behind its logic is also a bonus.

You feel it less as a feature and more as a sense of purpose. The car feels like it’s helping you manage terrain instead of reacting late.

Drive modes built around ASEAN weather

The standout here is Wet mode, a dedicated setting for heavy rain and waterlogged roads. It adjusts traction control, yaw behaviour, throttle response and steering weight to prioritise stability.

In a country where torrential rain is a routine part of commuting, this feels less like a novelty and more like overdue practicality. Gravel and Mud modes extend the Xforce’s versatility further, not to turn it into an off-roader, but to widen its comfort zone.

It’s an SUV that acknowledges its environment instead of pretending it lives in perfect weather.

The invisible engineering that shapes the feel

Aerodynamics and body rigidity rarely headline spec sheets, but they shape how a car feels over time. The Xforce uses smoother underbody airflow management and a stiffer body structure with significantly more structural adhesive and reinforcement compared to the Xpander.

A stiffer structure allows the suspension to work more precisely, which translates into better ride comfort and stability. It’s the kind of engineering upgrade buyers don’t see in a showroom but appreciate after months of ownership.

The Xforce feels designed to age well, not just impress on first contact.

A different flavour in a loud segment

Here’s where the Xforce becomes interesting in today’s market.

It doesn’t try to outgun rivals on sheer spectacle. It doesn’t chase the biggest screen, the wildest lighting signature or the longest feature list. Instead, it leans into Mitsubishi’s long-standing reputation for durability, predictability and mechanical honesty.

That doesn’t make it better or worse. It makes it different.

Chinese and other SUVs often sell excitement. The Xforce sells reassurance. One approach isn’t inherently superior. They appeal to different kinds of buyers. Some want cutting-edge flair and tech dominance. Others want a car that feels engineered around long-term comfort and local conditions.

The Xforce sits firmly in the second camp.

And in a segment where many SUVs blur into each other, having a clear identity is a strength. Having a unique exterior look also helps in this department, as the Xforce is without a doubt an SUV that looks like no other.

The SUV Malaysians might quietly appreciate

The Xforce won’t be the loudest SUV in its class. It isn’t trying to shock the market, in fact it arrived here perhaps a year or two a bit too late. But it brings a carefully thought-out mix of comfort, clearance, stability and terrain awareness that feels tailored to Southeast Asian life.

It’s an SUV designed less for Instagram and more for everyday survival, floods, broken roads, heavy rain, long commutes and family duty.

That doesn’t make it revolutionary. It makes it purposeful.

And sometimes, in a crowded market chasing attention, purpose is exactly what stands out.

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