The not-so-small small SUV
The Mitsubishi ASX is a medium SUV playing at being a small SUV. As Damien O’Carroll points out, that makes it remarkably good value for money.
Mitsubishi has become something of a specialist at squeezing the absolute maximum life possible out of a car or platform by incrementally improving it over its life, while simultaneously adding more equipment and charging less money.
The Lancer was a masterclass in that technique, consistently getting cheaper over the last decade of its life while also offering more. And now the ASX has taken over its mantle.
So you’re saying its old, but with lots of new stuff jammed into it?
You say that like it’s a bad thing. But that’s pretty much exactly what the ASX is.
The ASX has been with us for a decade now, originally launching in Japan (as the RVR) in February 2010, but its platform stretches back further than that to 2005, when it debuted as the ‘‘Project Global’’ platform used by Mitsubishi, Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot, Citroen and Proton.
Apart from Mitsubishi every other manufacturer in that alliance has retired the platform (well, Dodge and Fiat still use it under the ancient and wheezy Dodge Journey/Fiat Fremont people mover) and, arguably, Mitsubishi was actually the only one to ever make a decent car on it, while it was certainly the only one to make a truly excellent car on it – Lancer Evolution X anyone?
Does that mean there are shades of Evo X in the ASX?
Oh dear lord, no. Don’t be silly. No, the ASX is every inch the small commuter SUV Mitsubishi pitches it as, with its unique selling point being the fact that, despite being pushed and priced as a compact SUV, it is actually closer in size to a medium one – with the same wheelbase as the Outlander, the ASX is a good 100 to
Mitsubishi ASX VRX
Base price: $41,990
Powertrain and economy: 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder, 125kW/226Nm, continuously variable transmission, FWD, Combined economy 7.9 litres per 100km, CO 181g/km (source:
2
RightCar)
Vital statistics: 4365mm long, 1640mm high, 2670mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 393 litres, 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 tyres.
We like: New face looks great, high levels of standard equipment, spacious and comfortable for a ‘small’ SUV.
We don’t like: Engine a bit lethargic, the usual CVT complaints, that silly fake vent...