• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links
  • A-Z

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Latest Mitsubishi ASX – Road Test

13th July 2020

The 2020 model year Mitsubishi ASX Exceed petrol auto 4WD…

…By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency).

The latest third-generation Mitsubishi ASX is now better able to take on rivals than the immediately preceding products with its bolder styling, well revised and updated interior and cutting edge convenient technology.

For 2020, Mitsubishi fitted a more powerful 150 hp 2.0 litre petrol engine and choice of five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with a welcome return to an all-wheel-drive derivative, bringing it into line with the rest of the company’s models.

Interestingly, depending on which set of emission test figures are used, the ASX Auto has widely different pollution outputs but the Auto is definitely two insurance groups lower than the 2WD manual.

They are much better equipped than before and available in Dynamic or Exceed trim levels with 18-inch alloys on both and new Red Diamond and Oak Brown colours. Exceed higher trim standard features are eight-way electric driver’s seat, cruise control, full length sunroof, TomTom in-car navigation, dynamic grip assistance controls, reversing and blind spot warning systems, powered mirrors and windows, sophisticated infotainment systems, LED lights, and ISO-Fix anchor points.

Essentially, Mitsubishi has changed the look of the ASX front and rear while keeping the central section much as before, and this means it has the latest LED rear, side, dip and main beam light clusters.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Our test car was the higher level Exceed version priced at £27,280 with 4WD and automatic box, and it’s a good combination delivering a smooth and untroubled performance from the 2.0 litre four cylinder engine, if lacking in outright power and sportiness. There are up/down gear shift paddles on the column for convenience and it’s a quick and responsive box with very low noise levels.

I thought the steering wheel was overly chunky and did not impart a lot of feedback when pressing on, but the car turned well in town and I liked the reach and rake adjustable column.

Secondary controls on stalks were partly hidden by the thick spokes carrying the infotainment or cruising controls, but they all worked well when you did need them.

Some secondary switches on the lower central console and lower edge of the fascia were well marked and the 4WD/ 4WD Lock button was just ahead of the autobox’s selector lever on the console. You could easily move through the settings and into a manual position with the lever, then use the paddles to go up or down the ratios.

A conventional handbrake was strong, the footbrake had good feedback and assistance and warning lights on the instruments display kept you informed about grip and loss of traction. I liked the small but clear instruments display.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The ASX has a wheelbase of 2.67 m (8.76 ft) and the ride is good, slightly firm over less than smooth roads but never uncomfortable. It’s helped by some very deep and enveloping heated seats infront and nicely supporting offset split back seat with a central drop-down armrest-cum-drinks holder. In fact, it has a lot of space for drinks throughout and its deep door bins and console trays are well up to their family role swallowing odds and ends.

Access is good for anyone and the boot-floor is low and wide but not long, plus the luggage compartment has a quickly removed self-lifting parcel shelf over a flat floor under which is the emergency inflation kit, but no spare wheel & tyre, which is something I dislike.

Once inside the car, space is good but not overly generous if you have four/ five tall people. It’s a compromise to take a 6 ft (1.83 m) front seat occupant and a similar height rear seat passenger but the headroom is fairly good and elbow-room adequate. The long sunroof adds to the impression of space.

It feels good to ride high and survey traffic around with low window waistline and good sight-lines to the front, more restricted to the back and the reversing camera is almost a necessity as are the rear sensors, but strangely there were no front sensors.

VERDICT

The latest Mitsubishi ASX with its 2.0 litre petrol engine and 4WD transmission is probably the best so far and whilst it’s not the most sporting of SUVs its styling inside and out together with modern creature comforts make it an attractive proposition against rivals in this sector. It puts up a good argument.

For: Quiet and smooth, good gearchanges, easy mode selection, simple clear instruments and big infotainment display, attractive styling and interior with comfortable seats.

Against: Average performance & economy, some blindspots, indifferent ride, high emissions and tax costs.

Mini Milestones and Wheels-Alive Tech. Spec. in Brief:

Mitsubishi ASX Exceed petrol 6 speed auto 4WD

Price: £27,280 (excluding metallic paint and mats)

Mechanical: 150 hp four cylinder 2.0 petrol, six speed auto, 4WD

Performance: 118 mph, 0–62 mph 12.2 seconds, mpg on test 35 mpg.

Emissions: CO2 185 g/km.

Tax costs: BiK company car tax 37%, VED road tax £870 First Year, £150 Standard Rate

Insurance Group: 23

Warranty: Five years/62,500 miles

Sizes: L 4.37 m (14.34 ft), W 1.81 m (5.94 ft), H 1.64 m (5.38 ft), boot space 406 to 1,193 litres (14.34 to 42.13 cu.ft), five doors/five seats.

Save Post as PDF

Categories: Road Tests, Robin Roberts Tags: five door SUV, SUV

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us
A-ZPlease visit the A-Z page for listings by make, model, year etc. and an advanced search form.

Recent Posts

Updated Peugeot 3008 SUV – Road Test

SMMT Budget response, plus top ten new car sellers in Britain in February

Latest Citroën C3 – Road Test

Aston Martin’s St Athan plant will be vital in the company’s future

Bargain Basement Bimmer – Part One of a three part series about enjoying a modern classic Z3

Classic Clubs Series – No. 4 – The MG Owners Club

Ford Focus mild hybrid – Road Test

Fiat 500X Sport SUV – Road Test

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Popular Tags

4WD SUV 4x4 4x4 SUV Audi Austin Beaulieu BMW Book review British Motor Museum City car Compact SUV Convertible Coupé crossover Electric Electric Cars electric vehicle estate Estate car five door estate five door hatchback Ford four door saloon hatchback Honda hot hatchback Hybrid Hybrid SUV Kia large SUV luxury SUV Mazda MG mid-size SUV Mini Mitsubishi MPV news News round-up Nissan People carrier PHEV Pick-up plug-in hybrid saloon seven seater MPV Seven seater SUV Skoda sports sports car Sports saloon sporty hatchback supercar Supermini SUV Suzuki The Motor Ombudsman three door hatchback Tyres Volkswagen
All Tags ››

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Please share our website

Copyright © 2021 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive