Mitsubishi ASX News

Mitsubishi fully details the hybrid ASX successor which may never see Australian shores.

Mitsubishi has revealed its next new small SUV model, the Grandis, which will sit above the ASX but below the Outlander in its international line-up, offering both mild and full hybrid drivetrain options.

After 15 years on sale the current Mitsubishi ASX is headed for retirement.Mitsubishi Australia has been searching for a replacement for its ageing small SUV, and has found it in the form of the new ASX available in Europe that is based on the Renault Captur.The writing was on the wall of the current ASX with changes to Australian Design Rules (ADRs) from March 1 this year meant it needed expensive upgrades to its auto emergency braking technology. The sums didn’t add up and the Captur-based alternative became the go-to option.The same issues has resulted in the ending of the current Eclipse Cross compact SUV, and Pajero Sport off-roader.Production has already wound up, but Mitsubishi has secured enough stock to see the brand through most of 2025 according to Mitsubishi Australia boss Shaun Westcott.The new ASX is going to spearhead a massive range overhaul for Mitsubishi as part of its Momentum 2030 plan, said Westcott.“We have a lot of good product coming, there are a number of significant new models and products in that plan. So we are actually quite excited about the next couple of years.”“The new Mitsubishi ASX blends thoroughly modern design and a dynamic driving experience to the next generation of ASX customers,” said Westcott.“We look forward to sharing more details of this intriguing new SUV as we move closer to its market launch in 2025,” he said.The update brings significant upgrades to the fast-selling small SUV.Mitsubishi Australia hasn’t confirmed the model line-up, but in Europe the vehicle comes with the choice of hybrid, mild hybrid or petrol power.The hybrid variant uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors — one for the alternator-starter and the other to drive the wheels — to make 143kW and drink about 4.7L/100km.Importantly, emissions are about 106 grams of CO2 every km, which is well below the threshold set by the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) that came into effect this year.The NVES will penalise carmakers $100 for every gram of CO2, per vehicle, a car emits over a certain threshold. This threshold lowers every year until 2030.Its hybrid set-up is likely to bring improved responsiveness and polish to its performance compared to the 2.0-litre unit found in the current versions. Fuel use is a massive drop from the current model’s claimed 7.6L/100km.The mild-hybrid version uses a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine with a small electric motor to power the started motor and some electric systems. It drinks 5.9L/100km and emits 134g/km of CO2 and is unlikely to be a long term solution to NVES.The other option is a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 91kW, drinks 5.9L/100km and emits 134g/km of CO2.It’ll also have improved in-car tech and safety equipment and thoroughly modern styling compared to the outgoing version.It is unlikely the European-sourced and hybrid-powered ASX will remain the same price leader the current ASX has been in the company’s showrooms.Westcott said the brand’s products are more than just a sticker price with the total value Mitsubishi provides in its products an important factor.“So part of the strategy we have is to demonstrate the value that you get in our product,” said Westcott.“We want to definitely make sure that people understand that we are a value for money brand, and that value is more than just price."That’s the quality of the build, the quality of the products, the reliability of the products and that’s where we are going to focus," he said.Westcott also pointed to the brand’s 10-year warranty and capped price servicing program and that it has the second largest dealer network in the country, which adds value and reassurance for customers.

The car industry is based on constant model renewal. Cycles have been getting shorter and shorter, with the main industry settling on between six and eight years as the norm. 

It’s no secret that the success of the Chinese carmakers in Australia has been built, largely, on cut-price tactics.

Mitsubishi has spent a lot of energy talking about its ‘Momentum 2030’ business plan, with a pivot to more profitable markets such as the United States. Talk is all well and good but the only way for a carmaker to turn its fortunes around is with new, exciting and relevant products. 

Mitsubishi’s ASX has been a smash hit in Australia for more than a decade and at one point was the most popular small SUV on sale.

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of new-model releases. Lately, product cycles have been getting ever shorter with China in particular’s immense speed of design, development and production eschewing traditional carmakers' usual six, seven or eight-year model replacements.But that doesn’t mean everyone wants the latest and greatest and, in Australia, there remains a huge appetite for familiar nameplates like the Mazda CX-3, MG3 and Nissan Patrol despite fresher models being available in the same class. In fact, until this year, the now nine-year-old Toyota HiLux has dominated sales charts. It’s taken the ‘T6.2’ Ford Ranger over a year to usurp Toyota’s ute despite its much newer cabin, more powerful engines and fresher tech. Even still, the Ranger held a slim 210 sale margin over the HiLux in May. It’s a little easier to imagine how ute buyers – those after a dependable, rugged vehicle with less concern for the latest and greatest – might be less interested in buying the newest model.Though the media expected the CX-30 to become Mazda’s new entry-level SUV, the plan all along was to sell them side by side. At 10 years old, the CX-3 is no spring chicken any more yet with 1300 sales in may it remains firmly ahead of the Yaris Cross and Hyundai Venue in the light SUV class. It is, amazingly, still more popular than the CX-30 (1010 sales in May) as well. Entry-level Pure leads the way as a first-car option that is bigger than a Mazda2 but not unwieldy. Safety features like AEB and collision warning feature and the CX-3 is a known quantity for both reliability and parts availability. MG is finally replacing the MG3 as it celebrates its 13th year on sale – such age is very rare in cars from China. In its final 31 days in dealerships as a ‘new’ model, 1077 MG3s were registered. This puts it leagues ahead of the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris. The same vintage Mitsubishi ASX may not be quite as popular as a CX-3 (842 sales in May) though like the others in this list, the ASX is having a bumper year of over 5000 sales – up nearly 30 per cent on 2023. Nissan sold 622 Patrol off-roaders last month for 3274 year-to-date. That may be less than half of Toyota’s LandCruiser 300 Series volume but when you consider the basic design is 14 years old (and therefore cost is long since amortised), Nissan is doing very well. Like ASX, the Patrol’s sales are up for 2024 as well, by an impressive 46.3 per cent. Put that down to demand for the new rough-and-tumble Warrior model. We couldn’t write this article and ignore the oldest car on sale today in Australia. Celebrating its 40th year in production and continuing to sell incredibly is the 70 Series LandCruiser range. An iconic vehicle for Australians who buy more of these things than any other nation – mining fleet is a huge part but a renewed popularity with the off-road crowd helps, too.Toyota’s old fourby may not get another ANCAP test any time soon but the new four-cylinder turbo-diesel will extend its sales life further as emissions regulations take hold. There were 1096 sales of the LandCruiser 70 Series in May for a total of 5030 this year, not including Troop Carrier body styles. Its enduring popularity is unlikely to end soon, either, with the new downsized diesel carrying the ageing Toyota into its next decade of sales.

Mitsubishi Australia is diversifying its powertrain offerings and growing its range to maintain its place as a volume seller in the competitive Australian market.Along with its signature plug-in hybrid powertrain and existing petrol and diesel offerings, Mitsubishi promises to add both Tesla-rivalling electric cars and regular hybrids to fight Toyota by 2030 in response to Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). The brand announced its plans, in line with the global Momentum 2030 movement, at a dealer conference at a time when new Chinese brands are on an astronomical rise in Australia with growing line-ups stacked with affordable hybrid and electric cars. Mitsubishi will roll its new powertrains out on existing nameplates, including the new Pajero Sport and revised Outlander. It also looks like the brand is adding new models such as the Delica pictured at the far back of the image and a sub-ASX SUV. The change has come about after Australia was reclassified as a ‘core’ Mitsubishi market by the Japanese brand. “We will offer not only battery electrics but also plug-in hybrids and hybrids, and introduce appropriate products that will meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) set by the Australian government,” said Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President and CEO Takao Kato. Local CEO Shaun Westcott, added: “ is at a key point in its history, and today’s announcements confirm Mitsubishi Motors’ commitment to this market, via a strong product pathway to the end of the decade. “This includes delivering advanced powertrain technologies and a wider product choice, every model endowed with a unique spirit of adventure.” What new models are in the Momentum 2030 teaser?Mitsubishi has not confirmed any model names, details or whether the cars in the ‘Momentum 20230’ teaser will come to Australia. The brand also promised “new or completely refreshed products in multiple market segments,” so let’s have a guess at what’s coming up. Here are our thoughts, from left to right. On the left appears to be a selection of all-new SUV products. Mitsubishi has said electric cars will happen; these could come to fruition as a ute or as a mid-size SUV, given the brand’s access to the Nissan Ariya underpinnings. The front most left car appears to be a sub-ASX coupe-style SUV which has been rumoured as a plug-in hybrid to take the reins from the Mirage sedan, by US sources.Behind it is likely the ASX replacement we’ve all been waiting for. Given Mitsubishi has hinted at a hybrid model in the mix, this small SUV could be a rival for the Corolla Cross and Nissan Qashqai – potentially twinned with the Renault Symbioz. The two centre models are the most obscure, though right down the back is quite clearly the Delica D:5 off-road van. In front of it could be the new Pajero Sport ‘PPV’ but equally the rebirth of the iconic three-row Pajero. Both were hinted at in Mitsubishi’s mid-term plan and Nissan is set to unveil the Pajero’s expected sibling, the Patrol, before March 2025. The three right models are updated or tweaked existing vehicles. The Triton is earmarked for electrification – be that hybrid, plug-in for full EV, or more than one – in the near future. We’re expecting the front right model will be revealed in 2025 as a rugged off-road-focused version of the Outlander family SUV. Further back is a more conventional Outlander. The car debuted in 2021 so come 2025 – four years later – a facelift is due. Mitsubishi could roll out a strong hybrid version of its mid-size SUV alongside a facelift, though it’s safe to expect revisions to suspension, the plug-in hybrid system and in-car technology. Whether Mitsubishi’s updated plan is enough to keep dealers excited remains to be seen. The new Triton is off to a strong start up 12 per cent year-on-year despite a lack of entry models. The Outlander is also performing well finding 2500 buyers in May and up 17.3 per cent.

We’ve become desensitised to ubiquitous ‘Made in China’ stickers on all manner of household products but there’s something about a whole car that incites extra scrutiny.