The Star: April 06, 2017

The Star 35
Driven
FREE WEEKLY MAGAZINE
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.kiwi
Thursday April 6 2017
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
Mitsubishi gives
ASX a fresh face
• By Ross Kiddie
MITSUBISHI Motors New
Zealand has been busy over
the last 12 months.
A raft of facelifted
models has landed, a new
Outlander, Mirage and
ASX are now on dealers’
showroom floors. Each
has a significantly different
appearance, and I’ve covered
the changes in recent
evaluations.
The last in my schedule
to drive was the ASX, an
acronym for active smart
crossover, and while the
changes aren’t major they
certainly provide a fresher
exterior look, giving it
more of a Mitsubishi family
appearance.
The interior has
enhanced specification
features and a bit of tidy
up to make it more comfortable,
it also gets extra
technical gadgets to make it
more functional and userfriendly.
That along with a revised
line-up – now there are
only four models – the
ASX is destined to be a
strong competitor in the
mid-size sport utility vehicle
crossover market, landing
from just $36,690.
The test car was the
VRX, two-wheel-drive,
2-litre at $40,590. Petrolpower
will get you into
front-wheel drive only; if
you want four-wheel-drive
you are locked into the
2.3-litre diesel variants listing
at $41,990 and $45,990
(VRX).
The ASX follows in the
wheel tracks of the SUV
Outlander and takes on
board many of the elements
which have made
it so successful, albeit in a
smaller size.
In VRX specification the
level of fitment sits towards
high. For that money it
comes well equipped with
full leather trim and heated
front seats, dash-mounted
display screen with rear
view reversing camera,
keyless entry and ignition,
cruise control, comprehensive
trip computer, and all
the safety kit to earn it a
five-star Australasian New
Car Assessment Program
safety rating.
Under the bonnet lies
a 1998cc, 16-valve, twincamshaft
engine. It is
much the same unit which
powers Lancer and stands
out for its relatively high
power output (112kW)
and strength low down,
courtesy of a 200Nm
torque figure. Together
MITSUBISHI ASX: Fresh look with a Mitsubishi family
appearance.
the power and torque outputs
combine to provide
strong mid-range performance,
easily cutting out
a 120km/h from 80km/h
overtaking time in 6sec.
For the record, it will also
launch from a standstill to
100km/h in 9.9sec.
Just like the Lancer, the
ASX drives out of a sixstep
continuously variable
transmission. That’s no
surprise, Mitsubishi have
embraced CVT transmission
and it has worked well
with Outlander and Lancer.
In the ASX it is equally as
efficient, taking the load
off the engine and helping
promote respectable fuel
usage results.
• Price – Mitsubishi
ASX VRX, $40,590
• Dimensions – Length,
4355mm; width,
1810mm; height,
1640mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
1998cc, 112kW,
200Nm, continuously
variable automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 9.9sec
• Fuel usage –
7.4l/100km
In the VRX variant,
steering wheel-mounted
paddles provide the driver
with a manual sequential
function. They will lock the
transmission into six preset
gearing steps to provide
optimum performance
and engine braking on hill
descent.
Interaction between
the engine and gearbox is
constantly reactive, engine
response is crisp, yet it is
docile and ambles along
at city speeds working the
lower part of the rev band
to meet fuel efficiency
expectation.
According to Mitsubishi,
the ASX in two-wheeldrive
form will return a
combined cycle average
of 7.4-litres per 100km
(38mpg). My time with
the test car constantly
listed around 10l/100km
(28mpg) with a 7l/100km
(35mpg) figure available at
a constant 100km/h in the
tallest part of the gearing
(engine speed 1800rpm).
They are satisfactory figures
and don’t come at
the cost of engine performance.
The ASX feels lively
beneath the throttle and
will respond to accelerator
request instantly as the
power is gathered up by the
CVT belt.
I took the test car inland
between the two gorge
bridges. The piece of road
in-between provides a
good mix of corners, the
ASX isn’t bothered when
placed quickly into a bend,
the suspension soaks up
uneven road surfaces and
gravitational movement is
arrested smoothly.
When the ASX is presented
with a bit of a
handling challenge not
only does it cope capably,
it imparts a comfortable
in-cabin sensation for the
occupants. The seats are
well formed, especially the
rears which have had a
bit of an upgrade, also the
entire construction technique
doesn’t jeopardise
the SUV concept.
Space on board isn’t
overwhelming but it is
adequate, for three in the
rear it’s no squeeze, each
has just the right amount
of leg and shoulder room.
There’s also adequate luggage
space, easily enough
for a family holiday away,
or those golf bags and
trundlers.
I’m expecting Mitsubishi
will soon give the Lancer
a revamp. When I was
picking up the ASX I
couldn’t help but notice
the $26,990 price tag on a
new Lancer, which would
have to be one of the 2-litre
bargains in the small sedan
market.
That aside, the ASX is
there for those who want
to be part of the SUV
experience, and it will fulfil
that role well.
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313 LINCOLN RD ADDINGTON CHRISTCHURCH