2024 Mitsubishi Xforce small SUV debuts, but will it replace the ASX in Australia as a Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona rival?

Mitsubishi has confirmed details of its new small SUV, about the size and style of what we'd expect from a second-generation ASX. But there's a catch - it's not the next ASX.

This is the 2024 Mitsubishi Xforce small SUV, and it's a relatively basic model designed for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region - consisting of Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia.

The Xforce comes with a list of features and specifications you'd probably expect from a small SUV, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission, a 12.3-inch multimedia display with phone mirroring, a Yamaha sound system and a drive mode selection for varying conditions.

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While it sounds perfect for first- or young-drivers in Australia at first, there's a major hurdle the Xforce would have to overcome - safety.

Mitsubishi's press release doesn't mention safety at all, suggesting it could have a very rudimentary suite of safety features. This is further implied by the fact that Mitsubishi Australia says it's unable to bring the model here in its current form.

For the Xforce to be able to replace the ASX here, it would need to be reengineered to meet strict Australian regulations.

This is the 2024 Mitsubishi Xforce small SUV, and it’s a relatively basic model designed for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

"This vehicle is the production version of the XFC small SUV concept shown earlier this year," a Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide early this month when the Xforce's design was officially confirmed for production.

"It has been developed for the ASEAN market, which has its own emissions and safety requirements that are currently behind the Australian regulations.

The Xforce comes with a list of features and specifications you’d probably expect from a small SUV.

"For Australia, our current focus remains on the existing ASX and Eclipse Cross in this highly competitive space, and we are exploring options with Japan on to which future direction we will take."

Though unconfirmed, the mention of future direction seems to essentially refer to two options - Mitsubishi Australia could bite the bullet and bring the Euro-market, Renault Captur-based ASX to Australia and market it alongside its slow-selling French sibling, or push to have the Xforce reengineered - likely at great cost - to be sold in Australia as a second-gen ASX.

For the Xforce to be able to replace the ASX here, it would need to be reengineered to meet strict Australian regulations.

What's clear is that despite the first-gen ASX likely having another couple of years under its belt in Australia, Mitsubishi Australia won't be able to sell a car initially created in 2010 forever.

Mitsubishi says the Xforce will also be sold in other regions, like Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, but Australia's off the cards for now.