When Mitsubishi first launched the Xforce, I was skeptical; it almost seemed like the brand was out of touch. Here was an established carmaker that thought that launching a crossover at a price point of P 1.3 million (GLS) up to almost P 1.7 million (GT) without any hybrid options was a good idea. It would have been okay had it been at least powered by a reasonably powerful engine, but no, it was equipped with the same engine from the Xpander.
My humble predictions of it would not become a top seller has come to fruition; it’s been on the market for a while now, but I barely see any on the road. To address this, Mitsubishi just launched a new variant of the Xforce: the GLX. It now serves as the entry-level model, and with a price point of just P 1,119,000, I had to find out if it was any good, or just a desperate attempt to claw back sales.
The idea of the base model has largely been forgotten by most automakers, knowing that the market would rather spend a little more for the mid-variant or splurge on the top-end. We’re used to seeing base variants be stripped of any “extras” inside and out, but I’m happy to report that the Xforce GLX doesn’t feel that way at all. Its exterior is largely the same as the higher variants, with key differences being the size and style of the rims. I have to say that the Xforce has always been a good-looking (in a spaceship type of way) crossover, and the GLX doesn’t look like the forgotten sibling from the outside, which is good.
Inside is where a lot of the budget saving comes into view, but not in a negative way. At first glance, everything looks to be in place because the truth is Mitsubishi really put effort into what was removed and what was kept in the GLX. You do lose a lot of buttons on the steering wheel, but it still gets controls for the instrument cluster, audio, and phone. The cluster itself is mostly analog, which I consider a plus, and it has a small digital screen in the middle that shows vehicle information. The head unit is big enough, measuring in at 8 inches, and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Next is the climate control system, which remains the same, and it has an electronic handbrake and auto-hold function.
What impressed me the most are the subtle features kept by the brand; apart from the phone connectivity, they still kept the automatic headlights, wipers, and side mirrors. Even the addition of Type-C charging ports shows that the brand considered its customers’ needs really well. Rear passengers are often forgotten in the base model class, yet the GLX has charging ports, rear air conditioning vents, and a center armrest with cupholders for people in the back. I also have to mention my favorite convenience features: the center console box has a cooling function for drinks, there’s a storage tray underneath the front passenger seat, and a small air conditioning vent located below the steering wheel column to cool, uhm… the nether regions of your body.
I also have to point out the build quality, which is much better than I was expecting at this price range. I’m used to rattling or squeaking panels, but the Xforce GLX had none; it felt really solid inside. Space is also in abundance for both passengers and cargo, with the flexibility of folding second row seats.
Powering the Xforce GLX is the same engine and transmission as the GLS and GT variants: a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that makes 105 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. The front wheels are driven by a CVT transmission. Safety-wise, there are no ADAS features, but it does come with a very clear reverse camera. What surprised me was that, despite being a base variant, the GLX has airbags also found in the front seats for both driver and passenger.
The Xforce shares the same platform as the bigger 7-seater Xpander, but instead comes as a 5-seater crossover, which is probably why the engine was retained. The big difference is the transmission; while the Xpander uses an ancient 4-speed, the Xforce’s CVT completely transforms the experience in a good way.
105 horsepower might sound paltry in today’s world, but the CVT is tuned well that the Xforce doesn’t feel underpowered. I’m not gonna say it feels fast—nope, far from it—but the power feels adequate for its size and use case. It also helps that while there is no manual mode, in place of the Overdrive button there’s the DS or Drive Sport function. If you press it, the transmission “kicks down” and holds the revs longer, allowing for better performance during overtaking or uphill climbs. I have to point out, though, that the CVT does suffer from a slight rubber band feel under initial acceleration.
Handling the Xforce is a breeze; the visibility is top-notch, and the driving position is one of the best I’ve experienced in a crossover. The steering is light and numb, but it’s perfect for the Metro Manila commute where steering inputs are infinite. I mentioned that the Xforce GLX feels well built, and that’s also apparent when driving; the whole car feels like it was built for developing country roads, and it doesn’t feel like it’s going to disintegrate after driving over potholes and terrible roads.
Lastly, fuel economy: now the Xforce isn’t electrified at all, and some might say that’s a deal-breaker, but in its pricing bracket there actually aren’t many crossovers this size and with this much equipment that are also hybrids or EVs. Nonetheless, in city driving the Xforce can do 8 km/L in very heavy traffic; on the highway I was able to hit 16 km/L cruising at 100 kph, which is more than decent.
I only have one gripe with the Xforce and Mitsubishi in general: for some reason, their head units or the USB ports are incredibly glitchy. The initial wired connection through Android Auto is fine and seamless. It’s when you turn the car up after the initial pairing that the system doesn’t work well; for some reason, it doesn’t immediately detect your phone, and I’ve been forced to turn it on and off two times to get the car to recognize my phone. Maybe you could say maybe it’s my phone? But it only happened in the Xforce and previously the Destinator I reviewed. It’s definitely annoying and shouldn’t be happening at all.
In totality, though, as much as I didn’t like the Xforce when it first came out, it was made up for by this GLX variant. It feels like a car that was well thought out; you don’t feel short-changed driving the GLX. Anybody would say it’s a complete car for everyday driving, and the best part is it’s insanely affordable.
Words and Photos by Pablo Salapantan
Why do people always look at the price? As much as pricing matters, people should also keep in mind that they get what they pay for.
ReplyDeleteThis is the reality here and likely elsewhere, there is a market for those who prioritizes budget over everything else. Nothing wrong if there is a tight budget to meet. Case in point, Wigo, G4, Xpresso, Raize, etc, are very basic point A to B cars and yet it sold well. In chat groups, we can see quality issues reported that came in its first year of ownership. This is where we get what we paid for.
ReplyDeleteXForce GLX seem like a bang-for-the-buck car option. The higher 2 variants seem hard to sell until a HEV option comes out.
ReplyDeletePricing is good. I hope this gets a hybrid variant and be assembled in the Philippines, should make the price a bit more competitive to the Kicks.
ReplyDelete