Mitsubishi ASX review

We’re yet to receive confirmed prices for the facelifted ASX, but early reports suggest pricing should be similar to mainstream rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai. It’s worth remembering the pre-facelift ASX’s resale values look distinctly average next to the Seat Ateca, however.

Looking once again at the pre-facelift car as a guide, the ASX occupies higher insurance groups than most of its rivals. Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 12,500 miles and Mitsubishi offers fixed-price servicing packages, although these provide extra clarity but no big cost savings.

Like pricing, we’re also waiting for confirmed CO2 emissions. However, it’s unlikely they’ll dip below the 155g/km of the 1.6-litre petrol it replaces; the larger Outlander fitted with the 2.0-litre emits 171g/km with four-wheel drive and the same CVT gearbox. While that fact might not bother private buyers, it makes it a poor choice for those considering one as a company car.

Mitsubishi has a simple two-trim range for the ASX with no options from the factory available and only a few dealer fit accessories. Don’t worry, you can still pick from a range of colours, though.

Kicking off the range is Design trim, which offers much of the equipment most buyers will really need. It includes 18in wheels, LED lights, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera, climate control, heated front seats and cruise control.

Dynamic adds the option of an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, as well as some extra safety kit, but it’s otherwise not worth upgrading to. Although you might like the idea of the panoramic glass roof it comes with, taller buyers should be aware that it brings a compromise in head room, as our interior space section explains.

The ASX feels built to withstand tough treatment, with durable if not glamorous materials and a largely sturdy feel throughout. Mitsubishi as a brand finished a decent 5th (out of 31 manufacturers) in the 2018 What Car? Reliability Survey for new cars, although the ASX featured in the bottom quarter of the list, beating only the Nissan Qashqai and Range Rover Evoque in the family SUV class.

The ASX can’t match the seven-year warranty offered by Kia, but there is a five-year warranty with 62,500 miles of cover. Three-years pan-Europe breakdown assistance is also included and there’s a 12-year anti-perforation warranty. Extended warranties are available if you’re prepared to pay extra.

All versions come with anti-whiplash head restraints, front, side and curtain airbags and one for the driver’s knees, brake assist, stability control and an emergency-stop signal system.

However, the ASX isn’t available with automatic emergency braking (AEB), a key safety feature that’s standard on many rivals these days. Dynamic trim does get blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assistance, though.

Meanwhile, there’s a decent spread of security equipment – all versions get locking wheelnuts, a Thatcham-approved alarm and deadlocks.