Mitsubishi ASX ES 2018 Review

Despite the dirt-cheap price of $23,490 for the five-speed manual, nine out of 10 buyers will choose the automatic CVT model. But even at $25,490 the auto version of the Mitsubishi ASX ES still represents very good value.

For the price of a small hatchback, the Mitsubishi ASX ES gets classy 18-inch alloy wheels, seven-airbags, stability control, a rear cargo cover, two ISOFIX and three top tether child seat anchorage points, anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser, a very spiffy-looking seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, four-speaker stereo, reverse camera, dual USB ports and digital radio.

Other standard equipment like LED daytime running lights are a nice touch and automatic climate control and cruise control add convenience, as do electric folding mirrors and electric windows.

Compared to rivals such as the Toyota C-HR ($26,990), Honda HR-V ($24,990) and Hyundai Kona ($24,500), it’s more affordable and just as well-equipped.

There are a few features missing, however, such as adjustable rear seat vents and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is not standard. In a similar story to the Hyundai Tucson, it’ll cost you another $1500 for the safety pack (ADAS in Mitsi-speak), which adds autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane change assist, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors plus automatic wipers and headlights.

You cannot even option the safety pack if you buy the el-cheapo manual model at $23,490. Thus if the Mitsubishi ASX was tested by ANCAP today, the safety authority would not award it a five-star rating because there’s no AEB.

So as was the case with the latest Hyundai Tucson, its ANCAP rating is ‘grandfathered’. The ASX’s five-star ANCAP safety rating applies to when it tested back in 2014.

One of the reasons the ASX is so popular is because it’s well-equipped, cheap to buy and cheap to run. The latest versions offers relatively low service costs of $240 per year for the first three years, with one-year or 15,000km service intervals. It also gets four year’s roadside assist, a five-year/100,000km warranty. Note this is not as good as some rivals that offer five and seven-year warranties with unlimited kilometres.

The Mitsubishi ASX ES features a space-saver spare wheel.

It’s rare for a car brand to launch a new model grade – usually it’s the whole range – but that’s exactly what Mitsubishi has done with the ES, such are the stakes.
It’s been a while since I slung my torso into an ASX and this new entry-level model makes a decent first impression. The just updated Mazda CX-3 is cheaper and better looking but the Mitsubishi ASX is bigger and better equipped.

The cloth-covered seats are not lush but comfortable enough for most trips and there’s a decent amount of room for front and rear seat passengers – despite its designation as a small SUV.

Incidental storage up front is pretty good – the bottle holders in door pockets are decently sized, as are the twin cup holders behind the gear shifter (although they don’t have spring or rubber bladders to hold drinks in snug). The glovebox is large, which I like.

Okay, some dash plastics are a bit shite (with some justification, Mitsubishi will call them “durable”) but there are some soft-touch elements. The automatic gear stick looks about 20-years past its use-by date, however, it’s the neat steering wheel and nicely integrated seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system that attract the eye.

The steering wheel has cruise control and audio buttons which work as expected and the touchscreen is very good, with clear, sharp graphics and excellent Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Using Google Maps on Apple CarPlay, complete with real-time traffic was handy during our drive through Melbourne city and was able to re-route us when there was a big stack on the freeway.

The screen is faster to respond to taps than Subaru or Honda equivalents and is more seamlessly blended into the dashboard too. I enjoyed using it and the addition of digital radio was a plus – there’s so fewer ads than on FM radio!

The ASX’s rear seat room is pretty good and there’s all the child seat anchorage points you could want although the lack of rear seat air vents ain’t great.

The boot features a rubber nipple-type open button and boot space of 393 litres not too bad for this size of vehicle, expanding to 1143 litres with the 60:40 rear seats folded down.

Overall I reckon the spacious and practical interior is one of the best in its class, second only to the HR-V.

In a word: inoffensive. The Mitsubishi ASX ES is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (110kW/197Nm) that’s best described as diligent and little else. It’s not very powerful but the automatic gearbox (a CVT or continuously variable transmission) makes the most of the meagre mumbo available.

It gets a little loud and coarse if you rev the bejesus out of it but in the city and the suburbs at nominal speeds the ASX motivates easily.

The gearbox isn’t too shabby (for a CVT) and the combo can be quite economical. The Mitsubishi ASX is officially rated to use around 7.6L/100km which isn’t too bad. The author managed 9.0L/100km, which involved three 10-100km/h acceleration blasts on country roads (it’s got a bit of zip) plus lots of freeway driving and smattering city and urban cruising.

The steering is light and suits the car’s intended purpose well. Ride comfort is also good and (high end loads aside) the cabin not too noisy with quiet conversation flowing easily on well-maintained freeways on city streets. It can get also get a little noisier on cruddy roads however, highlighting its ageing platform.

Controlling the car is easy but the handling is merely adequate. Although it comes with anti-lock brakes and stability control, the ASX never really feels accomplished. I wouldn’t want to swerve out the way of a roo at the last minute in one of these.

But overall, I was surprised with the Mitsubishi ASX ES. I was expecting a bucket of bolts given its bargain-basement price but the reality is that this vehicle will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of customers.

It’s currently the number one seller in its segment so it’s clearly doing something right.

The lack of AEB on manual models ain’t a good look and the jury is out on whether paying $1500 for the critical safety feature on automatic versions is a smart move.

Alas, I reckon a lot of buyers won’t add the safety pack because if you’re shopping at this end of town cost is your chief motivator. At the end of the day, it’s still probably going to be safer than a 10-year-old Lancer.

Offering impressive value for money, the Mitsubishi ASX ES will likely help keep the Mazda CX-3 at bay for the rest of 2018 – and maybe beyond. This SUV is definitely worth a look if you’re keen to buy an affordable SUV.

How much does the 2018 Mitsubishi ASX ES cost?
Price: $25,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 110kW/197Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic transmission
Fuel: 9.0L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 176g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2014 tested)

Also consider:
>> Honda HR-V (from $24,990 plus ORCs) /113356
>> Hyundai Kona (from $24,500 plus ORCs) /109363
>> Mazda CX-3 (from $23,990 drive-away) /114334