The distinction between a good car and a so-so one often times lie in the way it drives, more than what gizmos and tech it might have. Tuning then plays a very important part, and it's one Mitsubishi Motors paid extra attention to when it comes to the Xforce.

"Basically, how Mitsubishi Motors tune the suspension for ASEAN is based on what kind of roads and customer behaviour we encounter. In that sense the road surface in ASEAN is rather rough compared to, for example, Japan, so we need to be prepared for that," said Hiroshi Nagaoka, Executive Vice President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).

"Not just undulation, but also big potholes. We need to make the suspension very soft. Also, considering flood and water on the roads, its better to have higher ground clearance. These two are very important points," Nagaoka continued.

Also read: Ready for Malaysia, will the Mitsubishi Xforce be CBU or CKD here?

In that sense, the dimensions of the Xforce showcases its capabilities. 222 mm of ground clearance is considerably more than its nearest rival, the Honda HR-V's 196 mm.

"On the highway, if its too much softer suspension, it's not too good. Balancing soft suspension and stability on the highways are the key for the ASEAN market," explained Nagaoka, who overlooks MMC's engineering division as well.

Making their car the most comfortable in class would make sense for Mitsubishi, drawing on decades of experience from rally. The Xpander is testament to that, which bids well for the Xforce.

Also read: Mitsubishi Xforce won't match the HR-V's hybrid / turbo power, but it's likely the most comfortable