Bigger diesel for ASX

Mitsubishi will add a larger diesel engine to its ASX compact SUV line-up in Australia in July.

Matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, the 2.2 DiD engine from the new Outlander will bring a diesel-auto powertrain combination to the local ASX range for the first time.

Fitted to the pint-sized city-crossover, the bigger diesel should easily out-perform the same engine in the larger, heavier Outlander mid-sizer, as well as the 1.8-litre diesel already available in the ASX.

The ASX is currently available with a 110kW/300Nm 1.8-litre turbo-diesel matched exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive, in the range-topping Aspire ($34,990 plus on-road costs).

The ASX range opens at $25,990 with a front-drive petrol model powered by a 110kW/197Nm 2.0-litre MIVEC engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, with a six-speed CVT auto costing $28,240.

The same engine powers mid-range Aspire 2WD models ($28,990 manual, $31,240 CVT), while the top-shelf Aspire AWD petrol CVT costs the same as the Aspire AWD diesel manual ($34,990).

Displacing closer to the 2.3 litres than the 2.2 badge it wears, the Outlander’s 2268cc common-rail direct-injection four-cylinder turbo-diesel produces 110kW at 3500rpm (the same as the ASX’s 1.8, but 500rpm earlier) and a healthy 360Nm of torque between 1500 and 2750rpm – 60Nm more than the existing ASX diesel.

Combined with a more sophisticated six-speed torque converter automatic transmission and a 1485kg kerb weight, the ASX 2.2 DiD auto should be quicker, more efficient and cheaper than the Outlander diesel.

Priced from $40,990, the Outlander 2.2 DiD 4WD auto weighs up to 1610kg and consumes just 5.8L/100km.

The new diesel ASX flagship should also be the quickest and most efficient model in the compact SUV range, eclipsing the 1.8-litre oil-burner’s 5.9L/00km consumption figure and the quickest 2.0-litre petrol version’s 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.6 seconds.

Towing capacity should remain the same as the ASX 1.8 diesel manual (1400kg with a braked trailer, compared to 2000kg for the Outlander 2.2), and standard equipment will echo the rest of the ASX range, including twin front, side and curtain airbags and stability control.

The new ASX diesel flagship will be the latest in a flurry of diesel-powered small SUVs to arrive on Australia’s booming small SUV scene, which will be joined later this month by the first diesel-engined Nissan Dualis.

Besides the circa-$45,000 BMW X1 and Audi Q3 luxury SUVs, small soft-roaders already available with diesel power include the Skoda Yeti ($35,690), Volkswagen Tiguan ($35,990) and Hyundai ix35 (from $37,590), while the Ssangyong Korando and Mahindra XUV500 offer 2WD diesel models priced from under $30,000.

Despite its lack of a diesel engine option, however, the Dualis is already the nation’s most popular small SUV, easily out-selling the ix35, Subaru XV, ASX and Tiguan.

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