Mitsubishi ASX

At the very mention of the Mitsubishi name, most of us will almost instantly have Lancer Evolution on the mind, the legendary rally icon, which was once invincibly roaring through WRC scene. It is no wonder that it’s the first association, since one could get a car with the supercar performances for a relatively affordable price. At the same time it was a sovereign ruler of gravel and snow covered roads. The more serious people will think of Galant as well, a neat limo, which has lasted more than four decades through nine generations. The ones with adventurous spirit, turned to nature, will find the first association in very successful off-road vehicles, primarily in legendary Pajero (Montero or Shogun in some markets), seven-time consecutive winner of the Dakar Rally (2001-2007), or let’s say, compact SUV by the name of Outlander.

Recently, the car manufacturer from Tokyo has offered the smallest off-roader in its portfolio – a pure-bred crossover, ASX.

Origins
The ASX (Active Sports Crossover) is somewhat controversial model regarding its very origin. Although it is known here (and Australia) under this name, it is listed in the USA as Outlander Sport, while in its homeland is called RVR (do not mix with RVR, a compact MPV, which had been produced since 1991 to 2002, in some regions known as Space Runner). Either way, it is a classic crossover, belonging to the same class as very popular Nissan Qashqai. It features the now familiar corporate look of the front fascia, so that the nose has been borrowed from the aforementioned Lancer Evolution.

In other words, the front section is dominated by the massive trapezoidal grille, which is skillfully “complemented” by the also aggressive light clusters and discreet bumper. Is that “assimilation” successful or not is a matter of taste and personal preference, but it is certain that the “buttocks” could be more dynamic though, to keep pace with the aggressive nose.

Room for Improvement
The situation in the cockpit is almost similar. The overall impression of quality materials and a good level of finishing, and we must admit, rich trim package (missing only the navigation system), is spoiled only by a fairly high seating position. Even in its lowest position, the seat is almost too high, even for a driver of average height, which consequently affects the feet position on the pedals, and, of course, the overall impression of the ergonomics (people taller than 1.9 m will constantly touch the roof or B pillar). This may have advantages during off road driving or tight city parking, but in the long run, it is pretty tiresome.

As for the instrumentation, it has largely been seen in the Lancer – it is nothing spectacular, but pretty clear and very informative, while the depth-adjustable multifunctional steering wheel is “borrowed” from the Outlander. In the highest Instyle trim package you will be accompanied by the Rockford premium audio system with 710 W, even nine speakers and a hard disc drive with the capacity of 40 GB.

There is enough room for your knees in the rear seats just as necessary, since a lot of space is “spent” in the front for the massive instrument panel, while a quite roomy trunk for a vehicle of this category with 442 l (1219 l) is positioned behind the rear seats.

Overall, the impression of the interior is quite good, spoiled only by a few small details.

“The Diamond” Under the Hood
A real revelation lies under the hood of the ASX, in the form of a new 1.8 DI-D MIVEC engine tagged 4N13, the first turbo diesel with variable valve timing in a passenger vehicle (engine series 4N1). With the help of the turbocharger variable geometry and high pressure common-rail system (2000 bar), 1.8 unit releases 150 hp at 4,000 rpm, while maximum torque of 300 Nm is available in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 rpm. One can not only realize the vivacity of ASX through the numbers, but it is necessary to emphasize that this unit is very refined and above all extremely frugal. With your foot easy on the gas pedal and activated AS&G system (Auto Stop & Go), the average fuel consumption can be reduced to the level of 4.0 l of euro diesel, believe it or not. It is significantly contributed by a very good 6-speed manual transmission with moderate gear ratios, which also provides a compromise between flexibility and explosiveness.

On the road, the ASX boasts pretty safe behavior, despite the impression that it has relatively soft suspension in order to cope with catastrophic roads such as ours. Due a bit heavier “nose” and 4WD, the ASX has a tendency to understeer, but the information sent by the wheels to the steering wheel, though not great, are sufficient enough to “announce” a situation in time.

And Off-Road…
Along the diesel engine, Mitsubishi delivers its own 4WD. More precisely, it is FWD with the possibility of automatic activation of the rear wheels in case of wheel spinning. In addition, the selector provides LOCK mode, which performs constant distribution in a fixed ratio, and is designed for the toughest terrains.

Of course, this system is not omnipotent because it features only differential lock, not a gear reducer, but even with the summer tires, the ASX managed to pull through the mud, when it seemed that we might have to call a tractor for help.

The only thing that one should have on mind during an off-road adventure is a relatively low clearance and exceptionally high approach angle because the aggressive “nose” is dropping almost vertically in front of the wheels.

Summary
All things considered, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that the ASX is a very complete car. It is not easy to find a single serious flaw, not even for a price of 22,490 euros that you have to pay for a base model with the diesel engine, Inform trim package, and the 2WD, i.e. 31,990 euros for top 4WD model that was on our test (Navigation system included).

However, when read between the lines, i.e. when you include the emotion effect into the mere addition of pros and cons, the Mitsubishi unexpectedly falls short, bearing in mind the rich heritage. In other words, as if the complete model remained incomplete – the design is not a real hit, nor the interior is something that would impress a fastidious customer. Everything is there, but nothing that would help it jumps from the “market gloom”. In fact, the brightest point lies just under the hood, but unfortunately is not a direct way into the hearts of potential owners nowadays. It is a pity, because the ASX has something to offer… But never mind, we wait for the restyling!