By Otsile Kadiege

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recently debuted its all-new Xforce compact SUV at the 2023 GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. The all-new Mitsubishi Xforce is a five-seater compact SUV which is based on the concept “Best-suited buddy for an exciting life.”

Exterior design

Mitsubishi adopted the Silky & Solid design concept which further accentuates the design language and styling known to modern Mitsubishi cars. Highlights include a Dynamic Shield front face which comprises a large grille with horizontal slats that’s flanked by LED daytime running lights which combine an L-shape with slitted accents.

In profile, the Xforce features sculpted fenders, it’s shod with 18-inch alloy wheels and has a ground clearance of 222 mm. At the rear, Mitsubishi adopted the same T-shaped design up front for the LED taillights.

Interior design and technology

Inside, the versatile cabin of the new Xforce is unmistakably modern thanks to new tech and use of unique materials. On the tech front, the Xforce has a 12.3-inch Smartphone-link Display Audio and an 8-inch digital driver display. Mitsubishi collaborated with Yamaha Corporation, for the first time, to develop a new Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium sound system. The system is comprised of eight speakers, with front tweeters on the A-pillars on both sides, woofers in the front doors, and coaxial two-way speakers in the rear doors.

Another first for the new Xforce is mélange fabric which is used for the padding of the instrument panel. Other interior highlights include a wireless charger, 40:20:40 split, USB A and C type ports for the front and rear seats, drink holders which are able to accommodate a total of 21 600mL plastic bottles in the door trims, floor console, and other places, and a console box with drink cooler that uses the cool air from the air conditioning to chill drinks.

Powertrain

The Mitsubishi Xforce is powered by a 1.5L DOHC 16-valve MIVEC engine that’s paired to a CVT gearbox. The automaker is mum on the power and torque figures.

In a bid to achieve the road handling of an SUV, the 2WD Xforce utilizes Mitsubishi Motors’ four-wheel control technology. The four drive modes of Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud are said to allow the car to deal with a range of road conditions by integrating Active Yaw Control (AYC) that adjusts the driving force on the front left and right wheels to improve controllability, traction control that controls tire skidding, engine control, and power steering control.

Availability

The all-new model will be built at Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (Bekasi, West Java) and will be first rolled out in Indonesia, with launches planned for other ASEAN countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.