Mitsubishi ASX (2010-2021) Review

The Mitsubishi ASX is a mid-size crossover that’s great value for money when used but as a new car lags some way behind its fresher rivals

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Well equipped
  • Attractive styling
  • Proven four-wheel drive system
  • Depreciates quickly
  • Interior trim is low-rent
  • Inefficient engines

Mitsubishi ASX prices from £10,500  Finance from £279.17 per month

The ASX was among the first mid-size crossovers on the market but over the ensuing nine years it’s fallen substantially behind newer rivals such as the Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq and Peugeot 3008.

The fact that it has been around for so long means there are lots of used ASXs out there at attractive prices. The 1.6 petrol and diesel engines dominate but there’s a 1.8 diesel, too, and even a 2.2 diesel with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. The problem with all of them is that they’re outclassed by newer engines, being down on performance, low on economy and high on emissions.

Facelifted models from 2016-onwards look reasonably attractive with their wheel arch extensions but the devil is in the detail with the door handles feeling flimsy and the doors themselves light and tinny.

Inside, the centre console was redesigned but otherwise the infographics look dated and the trim materials are disappointing with lots of hard plastic on display. All that said, the ASX feels like a car that can stand up to punishment.

The ASX would be fun to drive were it not for its vague steering that transmits little of the road surface, and stiff suspension that gives a firm and inconsistent ride. It bounces over uneven surfaces, too, and leans heavily in corners.

 

It was originally sold as a rival to the Nissan Qashqai but inside, it's actually no bigger than the considerably smaller Mazda CX-3. This means there’s not much space in the back, although headroom is good, and even fewer storage solutions around the cabin.

The boot is small and poorly shaped with lots of wheel arch intrusion to impede the loading of bulky items. At least the back seat can be split and folded but even then total load space is only 1193 litres, less than the CX-3 can muster.

Really, the ASX’s strengths lie in its low prices as a used car, its good equipment levels and, and as long as you aren't a high-mileage driver, its long, five-year warranty.

 

Key facts

Warranty 5-years
Boot size 416 litres
Width 1810mm
Length 4365mm
Height 1640mm
Tax (min to max) £170 to £530 in the first year; £145-£160 from the second year depending on whether registered before or after 1 April 2017.

Best Mitsubishi ASX for...

Best for Economy – Mitsubishi ASX 1.6 DiD 2WD

Auto Express tested this engine and got a reasonable 44.6mpg compared with its claimed 61.4mpg.

Best for Families – Mitsubishi ASX 1.6 DiD 3

This mid-spec diesel version is now only available as a used car but has lots of impressive features including climate control, a digital radio, bright xenon headlights and a reversing camera, yet a year-old example is around £17,000, or £4000 less than it cost new.

One to Avoid – Mitsubishi ASX 2.2 auto AWD

Expensive, and inefficient, you'd be better off considering a used Mitsubishi Outlander, which is larger and better value.

History

2010: Model launched with diesel and petrol engines, and in two and four-wheel drive.
2013: New 2.2 four-wheel drive automatic joins the range.
2016: Revised ASX launched. Features new styling, shark fin antenna, new trim names (ASX 2-5).
2018: Range cut back to Juro and Black 1.6 petrols, and ASX 4 1.6 diesel. No less than six safety recalls announced for parking brake, exhaust pipe, wiper motor, tailgate, foot brake and water ingress.
2019: Recall launched for ECU overheating and door latch mechanism

Understanding Mitsubishi ASX names

Engine 1.6

The number is the size of the engine in litres, so in this example it’s a 1.6-litre engine, which is typical for a car of the ASX’s size.

Trim 4 Diesel

4 Diesel tells you this model has four-wheel drive and a diesel engine. Other versions aren't quite so transparent with earlier models having trim names ranging from 2 to 5, while today, new petrol versions are called either Juro or Black.

Gearbox Auto

This tells you the car has an automatic gearbox. Manual versions, the most common type, have no identifying name.

Drive AWD

Most ASXs are front-wheel drive but in this example, 4WD tells you all four wheels can be powered as you choose. The 1.6 diesel is offered in 2WD and 4WD forms but the 2.2 diesel is 4WD only.

Mitsubishi ASX Engines

1.6, 2.0, 1.6 DiD, 1.8 DiD, 2.2 DiD

The ASX was launched in 2010 with a choice of 1.6 petrol and 1.8-litre diesel engines. Four-wheel drive was an option with the diesel.

In 2013, a 2.2-litre diesel with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive joined the range. In 2016, a 1.6 Peugeot designed and built diesel engine, available with two and four-wheel drive, arrived to replace the 1.8 diesel. Insufficient sound deadening in the cabin means it’s quite noisy. It’s reasonably quick, though.

In 2018 the range settled on a choice of 1.6 petrol and diesel engines, both manuals, and the 2.2 diesel with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. The 1.6 petrol is quite slow while the 2.2’s running gear comes at the expense of performance and economy.

However, in summer 2019 these engines will be dropped and replaced by a new 2.0-litre petrol engine.

For the best economy, choose the diesel engines, which in any case are the only ones paired with optional four-wheel drive. When comparing the economy figures of the current engines with those of the older ones, remember that they have been tested to the new WLTP standard and are less flattering but more accurate.

 

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

1.6

Petrol

37.7 (WLTP) -48.7mpg

117hp

0-62mph: 11.4-12.2s

114mph

2.0 (new from 2019)

Petrol

tbc

tbc

0-62mph: tbc

tbc

1.6 DiD

Diesel Diesel

48.7 (WLTP) – 61.4mpg

114hp

0-62mph: 11.2-11.5s

111mph

1.8 DiD

Diesel

49.6-55.4-

150hp

0-62mph: 9.8 - 10.3s

115mph

2.2 DiD 4WD auto

Diesel

48.7mpg

150hp

0-62mph: 10.8s

118mph

Mitsubishi ASX Trims

2, 3, 4 & 5, Juro, Black and 4 Diesel

The ASX was launched in 2010 in three trims called, simply, 2, 3 and 4. Standard equipment included alloy wheels, air conditioning, Automatic Stop & Go, Active Stability Control and Traction Control, aux-in jack, keyless entry, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, dual stage front side and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, tilt and telescopic steering column.

ASX 3 was more luxurious and had features including climate control, heated seats and privacy glass. ASX 4 brought leather seats, a sat nav and a reversing camera.

The ASX was refreshed in 2016 when, along with new interior trim and styling tweaks, it gained Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC), and Hill Start Assist. ASX 3 added xenon super-wide’ headlights and a digital radio.

ASX 4 got four-wheel drive as standard and a panoramic sunroof. A new, ASX 5 edition got Nappa leather seats along with heated rear seats.

In 2018, the range was updated once more with Juro now being the only trim level and featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, privacy glass, front fog lamps, and keyless entry and go with start/stop button. It also has climate control air conditioning, Grand Luxe upholstery with front seat heaters, cruise control, Mitsubishi Motors’ Smartphone Link Display Audio (SDA) with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility, and a reverse camera. 

The same year, the special Black Edition arrived with black alloy wheels and other colour-coded details.

In summer 2019 a facelifted ASX arrived with just one engine and a new 8.0-inch touchscreen entertainment system. Higher spec versions have a sat nav offering real-time traffic data.

 

Mitsubishi ASX Reliability and warranty

Mitsubishi’s warranty is five years, which is two years longer than most car makers offer. However, it’s capped at 62,500 miles, in accordance with the car’s 12,500-mile service intervals.

Mitsubishis are generally reliable cars as the ASX’s tough Shogun and Outlander sister models prove. This claim isn't supported by the latest Auto Express Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, where the model doesn't feature at all. But its absence is probably owing to the low number of cars sold.

Used Mitsubishi ASX

The ASX depreciates at the same rate as most other cars, being worth around 40% of its new price after three years. More expensive, higher-spec versions fare worse, being worth around 35%. For used car buyers this is all good news since it means low prices.

There are currently 13 Mitsubishi ASXs available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £10,500 to £15,999 for nearly-new models. Monthly finance payments start from £279.17 per month.