One car with three names, a compact in the middle and a Southeast Asian specialist, plus the Renault and Foxtron cars that have joined the line.
The Mitsubishi ASX, Eclipse Cross and Xforce make up the brand's small SUV line. The ASX began in 2010 as the RVR, the Eclipse Cross arrived in October 2017, and the Xforce followed in 2023. The newest ASX and Eclipse Cross in Europe are based on Renault models.
The same small Mitsubishi crossover is called the RVR in Japan, the ASX in most of the world and the Outlander Sport in the United States. Then, since 2023, a different model, the Xforce, has also worn the Outlander Sport name in the Americas, Africa and New Zealand. Anyone shopping for a small Mitsubishi SUV has to know which is which.
Three models carry the job. The ASX arrived in 2010, the Eclipse Cross slotted above it from 2017, and the Xforce arrived in 2023 as a Southeast Asian specialist. The newest ASX and Eclipse Cross for Europe are based on Renault models.
Mitsubishi ASX generations: from RVR to Captur twin
ASX stands for Active Sports Crossover. When it appeared it sat below the Outlander in Mitsubishi's SUV line-up, and it stayed there until the Eclipse Cross filled the gap between them in 2017. The first generation used the GS platform it shared closely with the Lancer and Outlander.
The Japanese market got it first, on 17 February 2010, as the RVR. That name is used only in Japan, South Korea and Canada. Most markets say ASX, while the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia use Outlander Sport, and Puerto Rico uses both. The design was previewed by the Concept-cX shown at the Frankfurt show and then the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007. It took the platform of the longer Outlander and cut the seating to five, a sign that Mitsubishi meant to return to smaller, fuel-efficient cars after years of larger, truck-based ones.
The European ASX showed at Geneva in March 2010 and the North American Outlander Sport at the New York show the same year. Between 2012 and 2015 Outlander Sport production started at Mitsubishi's Illinois plant for North America and several export markets. As of 2022 the ASX is built in Japan for the world and in China for the Chinese market.
A run of facelifts, 2012 to 2019
The first facelift reached the United States in April 2012, with a reshaped trapezoid grille, a new rear bumper and grey rocker panels, while the roof racks disappeared. The 2015 model, on sale in mid-2014, added LED daytime running lamps, a new 17-inch wheel and roof racks again. A mid-2015 update, known as the 2015.5, made 18-inch wheels standard and brought black wheel-arch surrounds, a chrome tailgate finish and a new steering wheel.
The second facelift, shown at the Los Angeles show in November 2015, introduced the Dynamic Shield front design and new alloy wheels, and reached Europe at the Paris show in September 2016. A third was revealed before the Geneva show in February 2019 with a revised Dynamic Shield, new 18-inch wheels and a redesigned infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an eight-inch touchscreen.
In the United States that update replaced the LE trim of the Outlander Sport with an SP. The ES and SE kept the 148 hp 2.0-litre four, the SP and GT took a 166 hp 2.4-litre, and the 2.0 could now also be had with all-wheel drive.
Engines and markets
Japanese cars used the 1.8-litre 4B10 with a manual or an INVECS-III continuously variable transmission. North America, Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia took the larger 4B11 2.0-litre and 4B12 2.4-litre from the 2015 model year, while Europe used a new 1.6-litre 4A92, and a 1.8-litre turbo-diesel in Europe and Australia. For the 2015 model year the diesel switched to PSA's DV6C engine. The CIS market was offered 1.6-litre (117 hp), 1.8-litre (140 hp) and 2.0-litre (150 hp) petrols.
In Indonesia the Outlander Sport launched on 10 July 2012 in GLX, GLS and PX grades, assembled from Japanese knock-down kits at Krama Yudha Ratu Motor's plant in Pulo Gadung, Jakarta, until 2018. Malaysia received the ASX in November 2010 as a fully imported 2.0-litre CVT, and from February 2014 sold locally assembled two- and four-wheel-drive versions.
The second-generation ASX
In 2016 Mitsubishi executives said an in-house successor would arrive in 2019, previewed by the electric eX Concept, but that car was never released. Instead a teaser in early 2022 showed a second-generation ASX for Europe based on the Renault Captur II. The car was shown in September 2022 and put on sale in March 2023, with petrol, mild-hybrid, full-hybrid and plug-in versions. A facelift followed on 23 April 2024, only about a year after launch, as the Captur II had been on sale for five years. Australia gets this version from 2025.
In August 2026 Mitsubishi added a battery-electric SUV called the ASX VR-e in Australia and New Zealand. It is a right-hand-drive version of the Foxtron Bria, made by Taiwanese company Foxtron.
One small Mitsubishi crossover has three names, and the Outlander Sport name now covers two cars.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: the compact in the middle
The Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover that slots between the RVR, ASX or Outlander Sport and the Outlander. The first generation has been built since October 2017. Its name comes from the Eclipse sports car, a different machine, and unlike that car it is not assembled in the United States. Mitsubishi closed its Diamond-Star plant in Normal, Illinois in February 2016 and sold it to Rivian in January 2017, so the SUV comes from Japan, China and Brazil.
The XR-PHEV concept of 2013 and the XR-PHEV II of 2015 pointed the way, and the production car appeared at the 87th Geneva show in March 2017. Diesel followed in June 2019 and a plug-in hybrid in December 2020, though the diesel was not sold in North America. Japan, Australia and North America saw it from early 2018, Japan on 1 March, and Mexico in February 2019 in GLX, GLS and Limited trims. Indonesia revealed it on 9 July 2019 and launched it on 18 July at the Gaikindo show in a single Ultimate grade with a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine. It ended there in March 2022.
Engines and trims
The turbocharged 1.5-litre 4B40 is Mitsubishi's newest in-house engine, with dual-port injection and MIVEC valve timing. It makes 148, 152 or 161 hp depending on the region, with torque fixed at 184 lb ft (250 Nm) from 1800 to 3500 rpm. North American cars use the middle output, while Australian ones have the lowest, 148 hp (110 kW). It works with a CVT that simulates eight ratios. A 2.0-litre four with a six-ratio CVT is also offered, a six-speed manual is available on some front-drive cars, and the 2.4-litre four serves as the petrol half of the PHEV. The 2.2-litre 4N14 diesel makes 175 hp and 280 lb ft (380 Nm) with an eight-speed automatic.
For the 2020 model year in the United States the base ES gained sixteen-inch alloy wheels, all trims became available with front-wheel drive, and the SE and SEL added forward collision mitigation. In Canada every Eclipse Cross has S-AWC four-wheel drive and a towing capacity of 907 kg (2,000 lb), across ES, SE, SEL and GT trims. A facelift revealed in October 2020 went on sale in February 2021 for the 2022 model year in North America, adding an LE trim between ES and SE.
Safety, publicity and racing
The Eclipse Cross has ventilated front brake discs and solid ones at the rear. Euro NCAP gave it five stars in 2017, while Latin NCAP awarded four stars for adult occupants and three for toddlers in 2019 for the basic Japan-built car with three airbags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated 2018 to 2023 models good for crashworthiness, though the updated moderate overlap and side impact tests introduced for 2022 and 2023 produced poor ratings.
Mitsubishi sponsored an ABC special on the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 and showed the car on Good Morning America that day. A rally-raid version entered the 2019 Dakar Rally with Cristina Gutierrez Herrero, and the model has competed in Stock Car Brasil since 2025.
The second-generation Eclipse Cross
Since 2025 the second generation has been sold exclusively in Europe as a battery-electric car based on the Renault Scenic E-Tech.
Mitsubishi Xforce: a small SUV built for Southeast Asia
The Xforce is a B-segment subcompact SUV that Mitsubishi has built since 2023. It was first shown as the XFC Concept in Ho Chi Minh City on 19 October 2022 and then at the Vietnam Motor Show on 26 October. The production car was unveiled at the 30th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show on 10 August 2023.
It sits on the same platform as the Xpander MPV and carries the latest evolution of the Dynamic Shield front. Mitsubishi says it tuned the Xforce for comfort on Southeast Asian roads, using a larger caster trail and a quicker gear ratio in the front suspension and bigger-diameter rear shock absorbers. Active Yaw Control is standard, and drivers pick from Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud modes depending on variant, with Wet a first for a Mitsubishi.
Production began in October 2023 at the MMKI plant in Cikarang, West Java, and the first customer cars were handed over on 19 November 2023. Exports to neighbouring ASEAN countries started on 11 February 2024, followed by South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Where the Xforce sells
Vietnam launched the Xforce on 10 January 2024 in four trims, GLX, Exceed, Premium and Ultimate. Costa Rica started in April 2024 as the Outlander Sport in GLS, GLS+ and GT trims, Egypt followed on 10 June 2024, and Brunei received a single variant with driver-assistance features on 12 July. The Philippines launched it on 28 June 2024 with GLS and GT trims, and added a GLX in June 2026. Mexico began selling the Outlander Sport in August 2024 in SE and SE Plus form.
Thailand launched it on 20 March 2025 with a hybrid powertrain, built by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, in Ignite, Ultimate and Ultimate X trims. South Africa started selling it as the Outlander Sport on 27 January 2025 in GL, GLS, Aspire and Exceed forms. Taiwan unveiled it on 3 November 2025, built by China Motor Corporation, with sales starting on 30 December. Malaysia launched a locally assembled car from Pekan, Pahang on 8 April 2026 in Urban and Ultimate trims. Morocco's launch by Auto Hall came on 30 September 2026, and New Zealand saw an Outlander Sport HEV unveiled on 12 May 2026.
In Indonesia the Xforce comes in Exceed and Ultimate trims with a CVT only. An Ultimate with Diamond Sense variant in November 2024 added driver-assistance systems, a two-tone exterior, front and rear mono cameras and two extra airbags, and a hybrid flagship arrived in July 2026.
The Xforce won a Good Design Award 2023 from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion and the gold award for Best Transportation Design at the 2023 VMARK Vietnam Design Award.
| Model | Class | Debut | Platform | Built | Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASX, first generation | Subcompact crossover | February 2010 | GS, shared with Lancer and Outlander | Japan, China, Illinois 2012 to 2015 | RVR, ASX, Outlander Sport |
| ASX, second generation | Subcompact crossover | March 2023, Europe | Renault Captur II | Renault-based | ASX |
| Eclipse Cross | Compact crossover | October 2017 | Second generation on the Renault Scenic E-Tech | Japan, China, Brazil | Eclipse Cross |
| Xforce | B-segment SUV | August 2023 | Xpander platform | Cikarang, Pekan, Thailand, Taiwan | Xforce, Outlander Sport |
Where the line stands
Recent developments show the direction. The ASX VR-e brings a Foxtron-built electric SUV to Australia and New Zealand under an old name. The Xforce has gained hybrid versions in Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand. And the Eclipse Cross has become a European-only electric car on a Renault platform, leaving the first generation as the car sold elsewhere.
For a buyer the name matters more than usual. An Outlander Sport in the United States is an ASX. An Outlander Sport in Mexico, Costa Rica, Egypt or South Africa is an Xforce. A car marked RVR is an ASX in Japan, South Korea and Canada.
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