Road test: Mitsubishi ASX
Mitsubishi has a strong reputation for 4x4s but the ASX takes it into the new territory of crossovers. This brings the ASX into contention with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, so the Mitsubishi has a lot to contend with. It’s undoubtedly a decent looking car, with some of the family looks of the Lancer, though without that model’s aggression. There’s a choice of engines and two- and four-wheel drive, so Mitsubishi cannot quite shake off its penchant for all-wheel drive.
There’s a straight choice between petrol or diesel with the ASX, with only one engine choice for either type of fuel. Due to its low entry-price, the 1.6-litre petrol is set to be the big seller of the ASX range. It comes with 115bhp, which takes the two-wheel drive-only petrol model from 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds. It gets through the five-speed manual gearbox without fuss and the gear change is one of the smoothest Mitsubishi has yet built. The petrol engine does a decent job but it needs a few revs to give its best, though motorways are dispatched with a fair degree of refinement. A better bet is the 147bhp 1.8-litre turbodiesel, though this is the more expensive choice. It comes in two- and four-wheel drive versions, offering 0-62mph in 9.7- and 10.0 seconds respectively. Both feel spritely and the turbodiesel engine pulls hard from low revs all the way to its red line. However, there’s an uncultured edge to the ASX’s diesel engine that discourages working it too hard, even if its six-speed manual gearbox is good to use.
Read the full Mitsubishi ASX road test
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