Mitsubishi ASX to become a teen

Australia's most popular small SUV has received its third major update in a decade, extending the life of the venerable Mitsubishi ASX by at least three years.

On sale now and already being backed by a multi-million-dollar TVC campaign, the MY20 Mitsubishi ASX range brings significant design, safety, multimedia and powertrain upgrades, followed in December by two new Lancer-channeling MR and GSR variants.

“The ASX plays an important role for Mitsubishi in the market,” said Mitsubishi Australia CEO John Signoriello. “It is the best in its segment and this is because we’re listening to our customers and continuing to develop the vehicle to meet market demands.”

Signoriello confirmed an all-new ASX is “in the works” but wouldn’t say when it will be released. The company’s senior product strategy manager Owen Thompson was more forthcoming, saying “You don’t do a facelift as significant as this if it doesn’t have a lot more time left in it."

We understand the biggest ever update for the original ASX, which was previewed by the Concept-cX at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show and launched globally in 2010, will take it out to 2022, when Mitsubishi's third biggest seller globally will be almost 13 years old.

A second-generation ASX was believed to be ready to go when Nissan took control of Mitsubishi in 2016, but was sent back to the drawing board and redesigned on the same CMF alliance platform that underpins everything from the Renault Clio, Megane, Captur, Kadjar and Koleos to the Nissan JUKE, QASHQAI and X-TRAIL.

The next Mitsubishi ASX will now follow the bigger new 2021 Outlander based on the same platform and previewed by the Engelberg Tourer concept. As we've reported, it will be smaller to position it further below the mid-size Eclipse Cross, the last vehicle to be based on the ancient Mitsubishi GS platform that dates back to 2005.

Defying its age, the Mitsubishi ASX has remained Australia’s top-selling compact SUV every year of the past decade since its launch, except in 2016 when the Mazda CX-3 arrived and excluding larger models like the Nissan Dualis and Hyundai ix35.

To October this year, thanks in part to a 40 per cent fleet sales mix, ASX sales are up 7.4 per cent to 17,688, easily eclipsing the CX-3 and Hyundai Kona, making the pint-size SUV Mitsubishi Australia's second best-seller behind the Triton ute and helping the Japanese brand solidify fourth on the local sales chart behind Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai.

But with newer rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Kona, Kia Seltos, MG ZS and HS, Renault Kadjar, Skoda Karoq, SsangYong Tivoli and Toyota C-HR, it remains to be seen whether the latest XD-series ASX bows out on top of its game.

As we’ve reported, the 2020 Mitsubishi ASX facelift brings a new ‘dynamic shield’ front-end design that’s new from the A-pillars forward and comprises new-look LED headlights across the range, plus a new bonnet and front bumper with black and chrome grille.

Also new for the MY20 ASX are a larger 8.0-inch (up from 7.0-inch) touch-screen infotainment system and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard across the range.

As per North America’s ASX, there’s also a bigger 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, in this case reserved for the top-shelf Exceed and new GSR variants.

The new entry-level ES-based MR and mid-range LS-based GSR variants take their names from Mitsubishi’s discontinued Lancer, for which the ASX has become a de facto replacement.

Thompson said the new MR and GSR variants are designed to attract a younger male audience to the ASX.

“Traditionally there have been three key demographics for ASX – young females, young couples with maybe one child, and older empty nesters,” he said.

“But with the 2020 model year, we are trying to pitch it more to younger males who might have bought the [Lancer] GSR… getting that demographic is what we want to do.”

Signoriello said the MR and GSR variant names, which could also appear on other SUVs including the Eclipse Cross and Outlander, were requested by Mitsubishi Australia following the success of the limited-edition ASX Black Edition earlier this year and the company’s stronger influence within Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

“We do have an influence with MMC,” he said. “We get listened to more often nowadays.”

Likewise, Thompson said the 2.4-litre engine’s fitment to right-hand drive models also comes as result of the ASX’s popularity in Australia, one of the model’s biggest markets with about 20,000 annual sales.

“The big thing for us with this ASX was about putting the 2.4 in,” he said.

“The States already had the 2.4 in their market, and we were able to persuade them to do the same for our car. After that, the re-engineering to do that was relatively easy to do.”

Matched only with a CVT auto in the MR and GSR, the bigger engine produces 123kW of power and 222Nm of torque – 13kW and 25Nm more than the 110kW/197Nm 2.0-litre MIVEC unit previously standard across the range.

Fuel consumption is 0.3L/100km higher than the CVT-equipped 2.0-litre engine, at 7.9L/100km.

However, unlike in the US market, Mitsubishi Australia won’t release all-wheel drive or diesel versions of the ASX, which were discontinued here in 2018.

Thompson said AWD was a key differentiator between ASX and Eclipse Cross, which rides on the same wheelbase but is slightly larger and more expensive, priced from $29,990.

“They’re similarly sized but they’re differently pitched into the market,” he said. “The Eclipse Cross is the more premium offering, with a turbocharged engine and AWD separating them.”

The entry-level, volume-selling MY20 Mitsubishi ASX ES goes up by $500 to $23,990 plus on-road costs ($24,990 drive-away), and a CVT costs $2000 more than the base five-speed manual.

New equipment at base level includes AEB, LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, new fabric seat trim and the larger 8.0-inch multimedia touch-screen. The latter continues to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and DAB digital radio.

Also remaining standard at base level are seven airbags, reversing camera, stability/traction control, hill start assist, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED brake, tail and reverse lamps, rear spoiler with LED stop lamp, leather wrapped steering wheel, single-zone climate control, cruise control and power-folding door mirrors.

For an extra $2500, the ASX ES CVT ADAS safety pack is aimed at fleet buyers and adds lane departure warning, lane change assist, blind-spot warning, reverse parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, auto high beam, front fog lights and auto headlights and wipers.

First released in 2017, the ADAS pack previously included Forward Collision Mitigation (AEB), which is now standard across the range, and there is still no lane-keeping function.

Next up is the ASX MR ($27,490 plus ORCs), which on top of ES kit adds a black grille, alloy wheels and mirrors, fog lights, red stitched leather trim for the steering wheel, gear shifter and park brake handle, keyless entry/start, aluminium pedals and privacy glass.

Based on the mid-range ASX LS ($28,490 plus ORCs), the new GSR scores the larger engine, a six-speed sports mode with paddle shifters for the CVT, a rear roof spoiler, microsuede and fake leather seat trim with red stitching, black headlining and six-speaker audio.

This is in addition to standard LS features including push-button starting, roof rails, privacy glass and chromed interior door handles.

Topping the range at $32,990 plus ORCs ($2000 more than before) is the ASX Exceed, which gains TomTom embedded sat-nav and new fabrics and trim.

Carryover extras include a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium audio system, panoramic sunroof, leather appointed seat trim, four-way powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, two-tone alloys, ‘dark argent’ grille and auto headlight levelling.

Exterior paint colours include White, Starlight, Sterling silver, Black, Lightning blue, Titanium and new Red diamond (MR only) and Sunshine orange (GSR and Exceed only).

Three genuine accessory packs are also available, including the $1699 Adventure kit, $999 Protection pack and $2199 Style set, comprising everything from roof racks to bonnet/headlight and tailgate protectors, nudge bar, cargo liner, scuff plates, weather shield, front/rear skid plates and carpet maps.

The MY20 ASX ES, LS and Exceed are available in showrooms now, and the MR and GSR will follow in December. All models come with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, five-year/unlimited-km warranty and capped-price service with roadside assist for $199 per 15,000km.

How much does the 2020 Mitsubishi ASX cost?
ES 2.0 manual – $23,990 ($24,990 drive-away)
ES 2.0 CVT – $25,990 (26,740 drive-away)
MR 2.0 CVT – $27,490 ($28,240 drive-away)
LS 2.0 CVT – $28,490 ($30,240 drive-away)
GSR 2.4 CVT – $30,490 ($32,240 drive-away)
Exceed 2.4 CVT – $32,990 ($35,740 drive-away)
* Prices exclude on-road costs