Currently, the Mitsubishi Xforce is only available in two markets – Indonesia and Vietnam. Both countries are key to Mitsubishi Motors as the ASEAN market is where the Xforce is mainly developed for.

While Mitsubishi’s rival to the likes of the Honda HR-V and Proton X50 will be launched in Malaysia, there is no exact timeline for its arrival. However, based on this spyshot photo, it seems the Xforce’s local debut could be happening sooner; perhaps by the end of the year.

Shared by The Ajerul on their social media, a camouflaged Xforce was spotted on Malaysian roads. Only a single photo is taken, showing the rear ¾ so it is not so clear whether this sports ADAS which is offered on higher variants of the Vietnamese-spec Xforce.

Also read: Priced from equivalent of RM 118k, ADAS-equipped Mitsubishi Xforce launched in Vietnam

Though the Xforce’s production hub is in Indonesia where the SUV will be exported to markets in ASEAN, Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, it remains uncertain whether the Malaysian-spec model would be locally assembled (CKD) or imported from Indonesia (CBU).

However, the localised approach is not entirely ruled out. Takao Kato, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) told Malaysian media at the Xforce’s world debut at GIIAS 2023 that CKD production for the MY-spec is being studied.

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

"For the moment we have not decided yet. Right now we are studying which way would be better, either export or local production but in any case, we have already decided to sell in Malaysia," Kato said.

Of the two models Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia currently has in its stable, the Xpander is produced CKD in Pekan while the Triton is CBU Thailand. A CKD Xforce will be beneficial in terms of pricing if it were to challenge the HR-V.

The Xforce is built on the shortened platform of the Xpander and is powered by the same powertrain as the 7-seater crossover – a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre MIVEC 4-cylinder petrol unit (105 PS/141 Nm) paired with a CVT-type automatic.

Like most soft roaders in its class, the Xforce is solely front-wheel drive (FWD) but it has 4WD-like characteristics including a high ground clearance (222 mm) and Active Yaw Control (AYC). The latter was first introduced on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and used in various Mitsubishi 4WD models like the Triton and Outlander.

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