Mitsubishi ASX 2012 Review

In an interesting move Mitsubishi has given its ASX crossover vehicle a softer look that it says will appeal to hatchback buyers more so than those on the hunt for an SUV.

The new ASX was showcased at the New York Auto Show earlier this year displaying a slight facelift and new grille and rolled into Mitsubishi Australian showrooms this month. 

Mitsubishi hopes the new look will boost ASX sales, which lag far behind its rivals the Hyundai ix35 and Nissan Dualis.

VALUE

The importer has used the rising value of the Aussie dollar to trim prices and at the same time increase equipment levels. The range now starts at just $25,990 (plus on roads) for the Mitsubishi ASX with a five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.

That’s a mouth watering tag for a vehicle with Japanese build quality and out of the ordinary styling. As well as the reduced prices it also has the added assurance of Mitsubishi’s five-year / 130,000-km warranty.

The newly introduced Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 2WD has 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exhaust, front foglamps, leather seat trim with heated front seats and power driver’s seat along with leather-look door trim and privacy glass.

DESIGN

The ASX still has the large grille look and seems sure to remain a major player in the small SUV market in Australia, the fastest growing of all areas in the sales race.

Modifications to the shape include new bumpers front and rear as well as changes to the foglight surrounds and a revised shape to the so-called jetfighter grille.

Inside, there are chromed accents and a new-design steering wheel with easier to use controls. Audio systems have been upgraded on all models. Even the entry level has iPod / iPhone compatibility. That in the 2WD and 4WD Aspire models has a 6.1-inch full colour touch screen and a rear view camera with parking reference lines.

There’s good interior space with plenty of rear leg and headroom. The boot is a good size with a volume of 426 litres when the rear seatback is upright and 1193 litres with the backs folded.

SAFETY

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

TECHNOLOGY

The Mitsubishi ASX (for Active Sports Crossover) is either a compact SUV or a crossover depending on its mechanical specifications. 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 six-speed manual.

Mechanical upgrades see fuel consumption and carbon output cut by about three to five per cent. The diesel engine is now best in class for official fuel efficiency, at 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. The petrol unit runs at 7.7 litres per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle.

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 on our introductory test drive organised by Mitsubishi out of Brisbane we must say we did prefer the new sounds to the somewhat frantic ones that can make other CVTs sound odd when worked hard. When it comes with 2WD it’s a hatchback with good interior space and better than average ground clearance. Add 4WD and you get some reasonable ability off sealed surfaces.