The Mitsubishi ASX is the new crossover from Mitsubishi and as well as sitting alongside the Mitsubishi Outlander, it is also built on the same platform.
It sounds like a fair deal, so the Mitsubishi ASX is offered with the choice of a 4WD transmission or as a 2WD version, where only the front wheels are driven. In comparison with its stablemate, the 2WD Mitsubishi ASX is slightly shorter than the Mitsubishi Outlander and weighs some 300kg less, and is a good start in reducing fuel consumption.
Mitsubishi has used Electric Power Steering in the ASX as it reduces engine loads and represents a further aid to fuel economy, when compared to hydraulic systems.
Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have developed this all-new engine and claim that it is the first diesel engine to have variable valve timing, more usually associated with petrol units.
In comparison with the 2.0DiD engine used in the Mitsubishi Lancer and with the same 6-speed, manual gearbox, the smaller unit produces 150PS at 4,000rpm, which is 10PS more than the 2.0-litre unit. The 1.8 is the only engine offered with the 4WD system, which incidentally, adds around 2mpg to the relative fuel consumption figures of the 2WD version. In 2WD format the Diesel Mitsubishi ASX has a 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds and can then go on to a top speed of 124mph, where legal, making it the quickest off the mark and with the highest top speed of the range. The alternative is a 1.6 petrol engine, mated to a 5-speed manual 'box. It also offers 116PS at 6,000rpm and 154Nm at 4,000rpm.
All of which have helped the Mitsubishi ASX to a 5-star rating from the EuroNCAP safety tests.
The Mitsubishi ASX 3 adds fully automatic air-conditioning, a keyless start button, cruise control, heated front seats, privacy glass, secondary audio controls on the steering wheel, automatic lights and wipers and Bluetooth plus some cosmetic touches in the form of a leather-clad steering wheel and gear knob and exterior chrome trims. The top-of-the-range Mitsubishi ASX 4 comes with leather upholstery and a Kenwood entertainment system with iPod control, satellite navigation and a reversing camera.
The Mitsubishi ASX (Active Smart Crossover) is aimed at buyers looking for something between a Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and an Outlander. Initially it’s rather hard to tell the ASX apart from an Outlander. Based on the same platform as the Lancer & Outlander, the ASX is essentially just a smaller Outlander. It’s available with either a 1.8-litre turbo diesel engine which manages 110kW (@ 4000 rpm) 300Nm of torque (@ 2000rpm) or a 2.0-litre petrol engine (same as the one currently found in the Lancer) which generates 110 kW (@ 6000 rpm) and 197 Nm of torque (@ 4200 rpm).
Lack of automatic transmission will do doubt limit sales of ASX diesels with Mitsubishi predicting 90 percent of buyers will go for a petrol variant.
ASX is expected to potentially cannibalize only a small percentage of Outlander sales but have a reasonable affect on Lancer Sportback. Fuel economy ranges from 7.7L/100km (combined city/highway cycle ADR 81/01) for the five-speed manual 2WD 2.0-litre petrol (7.9 for CVT) to 8.1L/100km for the 4WD CVT petrol and a remarkably good 5.8L/100km for the diesel 4WD six-speed manual. If you can drive a manual, ASX diesel makes perfect sense.
Safety is paramount as expected from Mitsubishi. How does Active Stability Control, Active Traction Control, Hill Start Assist system, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, Emergency Stop signal System, and seven airbags (dual front, front side, side curtain and driver kneebag) sound?
Overall the Mitsubishi ASX is a surprisingly good package.
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