Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 4WD 2013 review

The Mitsubishi ASX (for Active Sports Crossover) is either a compact SUV or a crossover depending on its mechanical specifications. When it comes with 2WD it’s effectively a hatchback with good interior space and better than average ground clearance. Add 4WD and you get some reasonable ability off sealed surfaces.

The cute looking little ASX plays in the small SUV market, the fastest growing of all areas in the Australian sales race. Midway through 2012 the ASX was facelifted, with new bumpers front and rear as well as changes to the foglight surrounds and a revised shape to what Mitsubishi calls the ‘jetfighter grille’.

Value

The model range includes the ASX 2.0-litre petrol 2WD five-door wagon from $25,990 (manual) and $28,240 (CVT); the ASX Aspire 2.0-litre petrol 2WD five-door wagon from $28,990 (manual) and $31,240 (CVT); the ASX Aspire 2.0-litre petrol 4WD five-door wagon from $34,990 (CVT); and the ASX Aspire 1.8-litre turbo-diesel 4WD five-door wagon from $34,990 (manual).

Audio systems have been upgraded on all models and even the entry level ASX now has i-Pod / iPhone compatibility.

Design

The newly introduced Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 4WD petrol we road tested came with 17-inch alloy wheels, chromed exhaust tip, front foglamps. Inside, the Aspire 4WD has heated leather-trimmed front seats as well as power adjusted driver’s seat, along with leather-look door trim and privacy glass.

Its panoramic glass roof wasn’t a lot of use to us in the heat of a Gold Coast summer’s day, but was delightful in the evening. Though this is a relatively small vehicle, there’s good interior space with plenty of rear leg and headroom, though the former does suffer if the front seat travellers insist on having their seats all the way back.

The dash layout is as before but has been brightened by some chrome details that break up the black plastic effect of the superseded ASX. The 6.1-inch full-colour LCD screen that’s used in the upmarket Aspire models is rather too low in the centre stacker for our liking.

There is an excellent reversing camera display on the screen and reference markings make reverse parking into tight spots really simple. The rear seat has an easy to use 60/40 split to enable a much larger cargo area, which you expect in this type of wagon. The boot volume is 426 litres when the rear seatback is upright and 1193 litres with the backs folded.

Technology

Mitsubishi ASX comes with the choice of two engines, a 2.0-litre petrol unit and a sophisticated 1.8-litre direct-injection turbo-diesel. The front-wheel drive Mitsubishi ASX has the option of either five-speed manual or CVT automatic. The 4WD petrol is only available with CVT while the diesel only comes with the six-speed manual.

Safety

Safety features across the entire ASX range include ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, stability and traction control and front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags.

Automatic lights and wipers add to the safety of a vehicle that’s already well equipped in this way.

Driving

Mitsubishi has changed the settings of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) to make it sound and feel a little more like a conventional automatic transmission. This may make it slightly less efficient, but we do prefer the new sounds of the latest CVT to the somewhat frantic ones that previously emanated when the engine and transmission were working hard.

Performance in what is a relatively heavy AWD vehicle powered by a petrol engine is better regarded as adequate rather than sparkling. Fuel consumption isn’t too bad, something that’s aided by the efficiency of the CVT.

Typically an ASX will use about seven to nine litres per hundred kilometres of petrol on country trips, and nine to eleven litres in heavy-duty suburban and city driving.