Ford Escape vs Mitsubishi ASX

What's the difference?

We might have been excited to see the new generation Ford Ranger and Ford Everest models in 2022, but the real star of the show for the Blue Oval brand could well be this - its first electrified model to make it to Australia, the new Ford Escape PHEV.

If you’ve seen the letters PHEV before and not understood what it meant, don’t stress - you’re not alone. It stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. And what that means is that this car comes with a battery bank and electric motor, a port to plug it in and recharge it to drive on EV power only, and it also has a petrol engine to make sure you’re not stuck when you run out of charge.

I’ll run through all the details on the drivetrain below, but think of it this way - if you want a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid but want the possibility to drive on dedicated electric power for up to (and in excess of) 50 kilometres on a charge, this could be the right car for you…

For 15 years the Mitsubishi ASX has been one of the most popular SUVs in Australia. Well into its life cycle, it maintained strong sales thanks to keen pricing and a reputation for reliability.

The second-generation ASX is finally here, but it’s a very different proposition to the original.

For starters, the new model is a twin of French brand Renault’s Captur small SUV. That model is not currently sold here, so Mitsubishi has clear air, for now.

Secondly, it’s no longer cheap. Pricing puts this new model into the high-$30,000 section of the segment, but it also gains modern tech and specs.

Whether buyers care that the ASX has gone upmarket remains to be seen. But we attended the Australian launch to see if French flair has improved the ASX formula.