The SUW Advance hatchback was designed with accommodation for five adults and high fuel economy as its highest priorities. Externally, it measured , wide, and high, while suicide doors at the rear and no central vertical pillar allowed easier entry and egress. The car was powered by a GDI-HEV hybrid electric powertrain; a 1.5-litre internal combustion engine using gasoline direct injection and an array of lithium ion batteries, mated to a continuously variable transmission. With a lightweight body and a drag coefficient of 0.28, Mitsubishi claimed it to be capable of .
