Mitsubishi is an All-SUV line-up with the exception of the Mirage city-car.
The range: ES (man or auto), MR, ES with ADAS, LS, GSR, and EXCEED.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) is the fancy name for the safety features. The bottom rungs of the ladder do not have these features.
We drove both the entry ES ($26,740 drive-away), and range-topping Exceed ($35,990 drive-away)
ASX Outside:
Exceed looks quite smart.
LED headlights include Auto-On/Auto-High-Beam. They sit in an angled facet in the façade, which connects to the driving-light array in the lower bumper.
Smart entry/start means the key need never leave your pocket. Lower models have the usual key fob entry.
Two-tone 18” wheels looks smart set against a deep metallic blue, or the retro 70’s metallic orange.
The side profile is handsome. It keeps the tidy look of the old model while looking up to date.
Outside, it is good news.
ASX Inside:
Front and centre is an 8” touch screen.
The command centre houses includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, inbuilt Navigation system and 9 Rockford Fosgate Premium speakers. The subwoofer 50L of space in the boot, with the other 8 speakers being a little more discrete.
Leather “appointed” seats in Exceed includes covering from a cow, with the remainder being man made.
The driver has powered adjustment, with both seats having heating. Neither has lumbar adjustment.
There is tilt/reach adjustment for the steering wheel, so the driver can get a comfortable place to sit for a few hours..
Rear seats fold flat 60/40. The boot goes from 735L to 1143L with gear stacked to the ceiling
There are 4 cup holders, 2 bottle holders, and the front doors have pockets.
Single zone Climate control seems a bit mean, and is behind the competition well and truely.
Interior design is aging, but adequate. especially around the dash and driver dials. Exceed’s large sunroof goes some way to making up for it.
ASX Saftey:
Mitsubishi makes much of the 5-star ANCAP rating. Ratings are valid for 6 years, and government buyers require a stamp no older than 3 years.
Features include:
- Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM) AKA AEB.
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Lane Change Assist (LCA)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Automatic High Beam (AHB)
- Emergency Stop Signal function (ESS)
- Emergency Brake Assist system (EBA)
- Hill Start Assist (HSA)
- Active Stability Control (ASC)
- Active Traction Control (ATC)
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Override System (BOS)
- Driver & front passenger SRS airbags
- Driver & front passenger side SRS airbags
- Curtain SRS airbags
- Driver knee airbag
- Front seat belt pretensioners
- Auto Locking Retractor (ALR) seatbelts on outboard 2nd row seats
- ISO-Fix child seat anchorage 2 Child restraint top tether 3 Child proof rear door locks
- Power window lock driver control – passenger windows
- Cruise control
- Electrochromatic rear view mirror
- Speed limit display
- Automatic dusk sensing headlights
- Speed sensitive intermittent windscreen wipers
- Automatic rain sensing wipers
- Intermittent rear wiper and washer
- Rear view camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Auto door lock
- Theft protection alarm
- Encrypted engine immobiliser
ASX The Drive:
Exceed and GSR models have a 2.4L addition. Previously, while other ASX models share a 110kw 2.0L engine.
Ground clearance is 204mm, so the front wheel driver SUV won’t be going too far afield.
Suspension is MacPherson strut at the front, and multi-link rear end.
The drive has changed little in the decade since launch, and front wheels scramble for traction on moist days.
Steering is very light, and brakes fairly sharp. Handling is adequate, but ASX is not a sport car so please don’t expect a Ferrari.
Parking is assisted by rear camera/sensors/cross traffic alert, but no front sensors. There is no steering assistance for lane monitor or Blind spot monitor. it is a warning only. You now need these features for full 5-Star Safety ratings.
The engine is noisy when pushed, and there is a little more road noise than I’d have liked.
The CVT feels old school. Newer CVTs simulate gears under harsh acceleration.
Conclusion:
Drive away pricing, and a 5 year warranty are reassuring, but one wonders why the 7 year Triton warranty wasn’t applied right across the brand.
Roadside assist is complimentary for the 1st year, with an extra year each of 2 years worth of capped price service, for a total of 3 years.
Is 10 years too long to have a model on sale? There are other SUVs like Patrol and Landcruiser which are similarly aged, but we have the same critique of them.
Price $35,990 Drive away
Update to ASX 2.0L v 2.4L:
2.0 (4B11)à 2.4 (4B12)
Power: 110kW @ 6000rpm à 123kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 197Nm @ 4200rpm à 222Nm @ 4100rpm
Econ (CVT): 7.6 l/100km à 7.9 l/100km
CO2 (CVT): 176 g/km à 186 g/km