The biggest news this week must be the global debut of the Mitsubishi Xforce. It’s a new nameplate, one that builds on the success of the Mitsubishi Xpander, the 7-seater SUV-esque MPV that’s strong enough to challenge the Toyota Avanza / Veloz’s dominance in Indonesia, the region’s toughest market for MPVs.

Due to be launched in Malaysia in 2024, the Mitsubishi Xforce is a spiritual successor to the long-discontinued Mitsubishi ASX. Not to be confused with the Renault Captur-based ASX for Europe, our ASX replacement is a genuine Mitsubishi Motors-developed product.

When it’s launched in Malaysia in 2024, the Mitsubishi Xforce will rival the entry 1.5S variant of the naturally aspirated Honda HR-V, which makes 121 PS / 145 Nm, and is priced from RM 115,900.

Why are we being so specific, focusing only on the entry 1.5S HR-V variant? It’s because the Mitsubishi Xforce has only one engine option – a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated DOHC MIVEC 4-cylinder.

The HR-V has three engine options, including a 181 PS / 240 Nm 1.5-litre turbo and a two-motor 1.5-litre hybrid that makes 131 PS (motor), 107 PS (engine) / 253 Nm.

Obviously the Xforce will be outgunned by Honda’s firepower, and Mitsubishi knows this. But what can they do? Unlike Honda or Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors has to make do with a much smaller budget, and its powertrain development is focused on plug-in hybrids and diesels.

The Mitsubishi Xpander’s 4A91 1.5-litre naturally aspirated MIVEC (paired to a CVT-type automatic) is the only option available for the XForce’s price point. It makes 105 PS / 141 Nm - same as the Xpander.

But the Xpander didn’t outsell the Honda BR-V or Toyota Avanza / Veloz by whining like a child and making excuses that it is being outgunned.  

Mitsubishi’s strongest selling point is ride comfort. It’s not a very sexy thing to communicate but it’s an attribute that Mitsubishi owners can testify to be true, and it’s worth their money.

Mitsubishi might not be racing on the World Rally stage with their Lancer Evolutions or flying over sand dunes on the Paris Dakar Rally in their Pajeros anymore, but sit down and think for a moment – where do you think their grandmasters of long stroke suspension to tackle rough terrains have gone post-retirement from rallying?

It is not a coincidence that all recent Mitsubishi cars have a very strong rally car-style suspension tuning – soft, long stroke travel, but with a very well controlled damping.

From the humble Xpander to the go-anywhere Triton 4x4, there is a very distinct Mitsubishi ride-and-handling DNA.

If you’ve experienced driving a rally car, you will know that rally cars ride very softly, softer than you would normally expect from high-powered cars. The reason is simple – you can’t fight nature’s rough terrain by using stiff suspensions. Unlike track cars, rally cars go fast by using long stroke soft suspensions, with very well controlled damping to keep body roll in check.

Mitsubishi Motors have yet to let us have a go in the Xforce, but the word ‘comfort’ is mentioned no less than 19 times in press release.

The people at Mitsubishi wants to impress upon us that they genuinely understand how bad road conditions in our part of the world can be, and that the Xforce’s suspension is tuned specifically for the ASEAN region.

The company’s R&D centre in Okazaki has a section that replicates Southeast Asian road conditions.

“Having repeated testing in Japan on a course that mirrored the road conditions of the ASEAN region as well as undertaking thorough tuning on actual roads in the ASEAN region, the all-new Xforce ensures a comfortable ride even on rough or undulating roads. In the front, steering feel and straight-line stability are improved by optimizing the caster trail and quickening the steering gear ratio, while in the rear, steering stability is enhanced by optimizing the suspension bushings and the shock absorber cylinder size,” said the company, which is a very boring way to say “We know your roads, we drove on them a lot, we’ve studied them, our solution is the best, so please take a ride in one.”

The combination of 18-inch wheels and flash flood-fording Subaru XV-rivalling 222 mm ground clearance is also highly unusual for this segment. For comparison, the Honda HR-V is offered either with 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, but ground clearance is between 196 mm and 183 mm.

Contributing to overall cabin comfort is a set of Yamaha sound system and snug fit seats that Mitsubishi Motors say “...provide both support and comfort, thereby preventing lateral body movement in situations such as lane changes and on rough roads, while enabling passengers to relax comfortably even in traffic jams.”

How much of this is marketing talk and how much of this is true? We will find out next year.