Southern Destinations: May 09, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Tuesday May 9 2017 31
Driven
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 user-friendly.
That along with a revised lineup
– now there are only four
models – the ASX is destined
to be a strong competitor in the
mid-size sport utility vehicle market,
landing from just $36,690.
The test car was the VRX, twowheel-drive,
2-litre at $40,590.
Petrol-power 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).
MITSUBISHI ASX: Fresh look with a Mitsubishi family appearance.
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, twin-camshaft 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 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 six-step 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
• Price – Mitsubishi ASX VRX,
$40,590
• Dimensions – Length,
4355mm; width, 1810mm;
height, 1640mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheel-drive,
1998cc, 112kW, 200Nm,
continuously variable
automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 9.9sec
• Fuel usage – 7.4l/100km
usage results.
In the VRX variant, steering
wheel-mounted paddles provide
the driver with a manual sequential
function. They will lock the
transmission into six pre-set
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-wheel-drive 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.
The ASX is there for those
who want to be part of the SUV/
crossover experience, and it will
fulfil that role admirably.