Don’t fix what’s not broken. It’s a common quote that should be heard more by politicians with their road projects but in the case of car brands, they see it as a challenge. Leaving things as is will lead to stagnation and so they improve their offerings, despite being already good.
This is the fate of the Mitsubishi XFORCE. The marquee’s first crossover in years offers a lot of value for money and has a lot of nice things going on. Aside from looking good, it’s a very capable crossover with practicality at the fore. Instead of looking at what else they can add, Mitsubishi opted to change the question – who else can enjoy this car?
There are now three variants of the Mitsubishi XFORCE. The GT still sits as the top trim at P 1,661,000, the GLS is now the mid variant for P 1,299,000, and the new entry model is the GLX at P 1,119,000. So, what’s new for Mitsubishi’s handsome crossover?
Do not expect a gutted-out entry-model with the XFORCE GLX. Mitsubishi tinkered with it well and ended up with a tasteful repackaging of their modern steed. It retains the same front face as its more expensive brothers thanks to the LED DRL, LED headlights, LED fog lights, and hexagonal design cues on key areas. The only difference is the slightly smaller 17-inch wheels (compared to the 18s of the GLS and GT) that have a gray finish.
The cabin flaunts the great job Mitsubishi did towards the price chase. Again, this isn’t a bare-bones model. Sure, they traded off the digital infotainment cluster for analog, there’s a small multi-info display, and a smaller touchscreen overall. These things are understandable.
What’s commendable in the cabin are the modern tech you still get. For starters the GLX still has Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Brake Hold which is a godsend for traffic in Metro Manila. The touchscreen retains Mitsubishi’s Avionics and is partnered with the Rear Camera and Rear Sensors. Backseat occupants will also enjoy the Rear Air Vents and charging points in USB-C and USB-A variety.
Safety was also not compromised. The GLX still gets Active Stability and Traction Control, Active Yaw Control, and Hill Start Assist making it formidable in many road situations.
You also get the versatile cargo space of the XFORCE. The seats still recline by a great margin, it can be folded 40/20/40, and the cargo area itself has 2 levels of flooring to accommodate more things.
Moving to the GLS, Mitsubishi once again put practicality over flair. They traded off the Yamaha Sound System for Leather Seats with Heat Guard, Cruise Control, and Multi-Around View Monitor which is new for the XFORCE. It also gets an additional Blind Spot Warning System and Rear Cross Traffic Alert for its safety; all while being priced less than when it was originally launched.
The GT also gets more toys. Up top is a panoramic sunroof with a solid cover, there’s an 8-way Power Adjustable Seat for the driver, a new Multi-Around View Monitor, and the Powered Tailgate at the back now has a Hands-Free function.
Mitsubishi also gave a few exclusive looks for the other trims. The GLS gets its Jet Black Mica all to itself, while the GLX has its unique Red Metallic shade.
Mitsubishi really upped the ante with the new XFORCE. They didn’t just take features out to make a new entry-level trim, but made sensible choices to make it enticing while still being practical. They also didn’t just leave the other variants and gave them new flair to give them even more value for the price. Overall, it’s a really balanced lineup that even Thanos would give a nod to.
Words by Vincent Villa
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