Mitsubishi ASX cars

The style of the car

The Mitsubishi ASX is a compact five-door SUV that’s about the same size as a family hatchback like a VW Golf, but with higher-riding SUV styling. It’s a rival for cars such as the Dacia Duster and Nissan Qashqai. An update in 2019 gave the ASX a completely new, more angular look at the front and smaller changes throughout the exterior and interior.

How it drives

With its light steering, high ride height and excellent visibility, the ASX is easy to drive. Soft suspension gives it a smooth ride on most roads although it doesn’t feel as well controlled through corners as some rivals and its interior isn’t as quiet at speed. Four-wheel drive models offer extra reassurance in slippery conditions and make good tow cars. The petrol and diesel engines are quiet and efficient and, while the standard manual gearbox is smooth and precise, the automatic is a great choice for city driving.

The interior

The five-seat ASX is spacious for such a compact car. There’s good headroom and legroom in the front and back, although some rivals are bigger cars overall and offer more of it. The boot is much larger than you get in most compact hatchbacks including the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra and will hold three large suitcases. Trim levels have changed over time but every ASX has air con and Bluetooth connectivity. High-spec models have features such as heated front seats, leather trim, sat nav and a panoramic roof.

Running costs and reliability

The ASX is well equipped and competitively priced compared with similar rivals, and four-wheel drive is a less expensive option than on some competitor cars, too.

The latest models are petrol-powered with an official fuel economy of 37.7 mpg from the latest 2.0-litre model. The older 1.6-litre models are more fuel-efficient, however, and should be capable of around 45mpg. The most fuel-efficient ASXs are the diesels, which can manage close to 60mpg, depending on the model.

The ASX costs less to buy than many of its rivals, but it’s not as fuel-efficient as some newer cars. Tax and insurance costs are a little higher than average and there’s no hybrid model available. Mitsubishi is well known for its rugged and reliable SUVs and the ASX is covered by its impressive five-year warranty from new. It features lots of safety equipment and was awarded the full five stars when tested by safety organisation Euro NCAP in 2011.

How it compares with similar cars

The ASX is Mitsubishi’s entry-level SUV and is smaller and costs less than both the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and the Mitsubishi Outlander. It’s a more cost-effective choice than the Nissan Qashqai and four-wheel drive versions are more capable off-road than the Peugeot 3008.