Making its left-hand drive (LHD) market debut, the Mitsubishi Xforce was just launched in Vietnam. The Three Diamonds brand sees the socialist republic as a key market with the Mitsubishi Xpander crowned the country’s most popular car of 2023.

Unlike the Xpander which is locally assembled (CKD) there, the Vietnamese-spec Xforce is fully imported (CBU) from Indonesia and is offered with 4 variants, 2 more than in the archipelago. Prices of the VN-spec Xforce are as follows:

• GLX – VND 620 million (~RM 118k)
• Exceed – VND 660 million (~126k)
• Premium – VND 699 million (~RM 133k)
• Ultimate – To be announced later

Deliveries are planned to begin in March while prices for the top-of-the-range Ultimate variant will be announced much later with deliveries to commence in June.

Vietnam is a significant market for the Xforce as it was at the 2022 Vietnam Motor Show where the XFC Concept that previewed much of the production Xforce’s design made its debut. The Xforce will be competing against the Hyundai Creta which is Vietnam’s most popular compact crossover in 2023.

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

All 4 variants of the Vietnamese Xforce are powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre MIVEC 4-cylinder petrol engine (105 PS/141 Nm) that is hooked to a CVT-type automatic transmission that sends power to the front (FWD).

Also read: Triton-rivalling numbers, we asked if the Mitsubishi Xforce will be offered with AWD - this is their answer

It has the highest ground clearance in its class (222 mm) and the smallest turning radius in its segment (5.2 m). Standard features on the Vietnam-spec Xforce include LED headlights, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and Active Yaw Control (AYC).

Meanwhile, the higher variants offer the following features:

• 4 drive modes (Normal, Wet, Gravel, Mud)
• Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
• Leather upholstery
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit
• 8-inch digital driver display
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Yamaha Premium Dynamic Sound audio system with 8 speakers

One important feature that makes its debut on the Xforce is the Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing (MMSS) ADAS suite which is offered on the two highest variants of the B-segment SUV in Vietnam. In Indonesia where the Xforce made its debut, ADAS is never offered even on the highest variant. MMSS comprises:

• Blind-spot warning (BSW)
• Lead car departure notification (LCDN)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA)
• Active cruise control (ACC)
• Forward collision mitigation (FCM)

Also read: No ADAS? Mitsubishi Xforce to add feature in the future and previews one at GIIAS 2023

Closer to home, the Mitsubishi Xforce will be making its way to Malaysia but no timeline is given. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) currently only offers two models – the pre-facelift Mitsubishi Xpander with a 4-speed automatic transmission and the Mitsubishi Triton.

Both models have been fairly popular here and helped push Mitsubishi as the third non-Malaysian brand in 2022. So, will the Xforce stir up the Malaysian B-segment SUV competition?

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