ASX hybrid off the menu... for now
Flashy new Mitsubishi ASX won’t have a hybrid option for a while, despite one being available overseasThe News
Hybrid sales might be swelling lately, but Mitsubishi isn’t feeling the pressure to electrify its just-launched second-gen ASX just yet. Even though there are petrol-electric versions in Europe –heavily based on the updated Renault Captur and built in Spain – those variants are still far from being locked in for Australian distribution.
The Key Details
- Mitsubishi Australia says hybrid models won’t be needed to keep the ASX compliant with emissions legislation until 2027
- Higher prices cited as primary reason for not offering an electrified variant(s)
The Finer Details
The all-new ASX is a radical departure from its predecessor in every regard bar its size and nameplate, but Australian buyers won’t have access to one piece of technology that could prove critical in the coming years: a hybrid powertrain.
That’s despite a proper full-hybrid option being available in Europe, however according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMAL), it’s an option that it can survive without for the time being.
“[Hybrid ASX] is not currently in our product plan,” MMAL product strategy manager of SUVs and electrification Tim Clarke said.
“We’re looking for a business case to make that possible.
“We’ve launched a product into the biggest wedge of the mainstream small SUV segment, so we’ll work with that and continue to improve the product throughout its lifecycle.”
However, while compliance with the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) won’t be a challenge for the ASX at launch, MMAL may find it challenging to stay on the correct side of the targets in coming years as they get screwed down tighter.
“The product that we have launching into the market is neutral on NVES, so it’s not in credit or in penalty for the first year,” Clarke said.
“Over the longer term we need to manage our portfolio to make sure we’re not exposed from that perspective, so we’ll keep looking at the business case.
[We need to] make sure that it’s cost-competitive and volume-competitive against who we consider its competitors are in the small SUV space.”
The Road Ahead
Constraining costs will indeed be a challenge. The new-generation ASX flips the script on the value-driven reputation of its predecessor, which for a long period, was the cheapest small SUV in the Australian market.
The new model exists as a semi-premium offering with a high-spec, three-model lineup spanning from $37,740 plus on-road costs to $46,490.
Adding a hybrid powertrain option to line-up will inevitably come with an associated premium – normally between $4000 and $5000 extra – which may make staying competitive with the likes of the entry-level Toyota Corolla Cross GX ($37,440) and Hyundai Kona hybrid ($36,700) a challenge for Mitsubishi’s product planners.
The company has some time to finesse its ASX strategy, though, and with internal combustion engines still accounting for 80 per cent of the small SUV segment (according to 2024 figures) the new ASX is still appealing to a broad church.
Related: 2026 Mitsubishi ASX priced for Australia
Related: First local details of 2025 Mitsubishi ASX revealed
Related: All-new Mitsubishi ASX here this year
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
