Tim Robson road tests and reviews the new Mitsubishi ASX with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.
The Mitsubishi ASX small SUV has been a mainstay of the local Mitsubishi lineup since 2010, and the range underwent a minor update in late 2016 for the 2017 model year.
The five-seat, four-door SUV competes in the same segment of the new car market as the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V, with the three cars representing the most popular vehicles in the burgeoning sector.
With the recent purchase of Mitsubishi by the Nissan Renault Alliance, the ASX is likely to soldier on in largely the same form until at least 2019, when it’s likely to be replaced by a vehicle that will share a platform and engines across all three brands.
Price and features
The ASX is available in five models across two grades. The entry level LS comes in both FWD petrol and AWD diesel form, as does the XLS.
The (RRP) price range extends from $25,000 to $37,000 (Mitsubishi doesn’t quote an across-the-board drive away price).
The base LS petrol has the option of a six-speed manual transmission for a price of $25,000 or a CVT for $27,000, while the $31,500 FWD XLS is continuously variable transmission (CVT) only.
At the top of the price list, the $32,500 AWD LS and $37,000 XLS diesels come with a traditional six-speed automatic option only.
The LS models are equipped with climate control air conditioning, reversing camera with parking sensors, keyless entry, a 6.1-inch multimedia screen with Bluetooth (no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though it offers ‘iPod control’), while our interior photos show manual seats with cloth trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.