During its 11 years in the local market, nearly 10 000 ASX models have found homes in South Africa, making it safe to assume that Mitsubishi considers this an important model within its line-up, which is probably why the Japanese brand continuously updates its crossover. The addition of the entry-level ES variants to the local line-up early in 2022 is an attempt to provide a more attainable price point within the ASX range, and we recently received one on a test to see what it has to offer.
Styling
Through many updates and facelifts, Mitsubishi has managed to keep the ASX looking fresh and modern from an aesthetic perspective. The base model ES vehicles retain the LED headlight, LED foglight and LED taillamps from the LS models, but can be distinguished by their smaller 16-inch alloy wheels.
Interior and space
Inside the ASX, a familiar interior awaits, with the prevalence of cheap-felling plastics along with cloth-covered seats, a simple analogue instrument cluster with a small digitised information screen in the centre and some nice creature comforts such as cruise control, keyless start and a USB port. From an infotainment perspective, Mitsubishi has sourced a Sony touchscreen system that offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The system is sub-par in 2022, and despite the functionality, its resolution is relatively poor, as is the standard audio system.
When it comes to practicality, the ASX offers 406-litres of boot space which expands to 1 206-litres with the rear seats folded flat. The rear quarters also offer a good deal of space, offering seating for three occupants, with good head and leg room.
Performance and driving impression
Our week with the ASX included roughly 600km of mixed cycle driving, allowing us to experience the product off-road, on the freeway, in an urban environment and indeed, through some load-shedding-fuelled traffic during the daily commute. The powertrain in our press unit was the familiar 110kW/197Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The seemingly outdated powertrain acquits itself reasonably well though, offering a light clutch action, easy shifts and just about enough power and torque so as to not make the drive a frustrating experience.
We found the ASX best when cruising just below the national limit, where the ride is acceptable, the cabin intrusion average and the engine not overworking, spinning at around 3 500r/min. In the stop/start commute scenario, we found ourselves wanting an automatic after 3 hours a day of depressing the clutch and self-shifting. We also headed to a local off-road route to grab some photographs, where the 195mm of ground clearance allowed us to tackle one of the more basic trails, however, we would recommend that light-off-roading be the limit for a front-wheel drive crossover like the ASX.
Safety
The ASX range was tested by the ANCAP assessment programme in 2014 where it achieved the maximum 5-Star rating, with a total score of 34.13 out of a possible 37 points. This rating is nearing a decade old though, and our ES-spec press unit only comes with 3 airbags, although traction, stability control, ABS and ISOFIX child seat anchor points are also standard.
Fuel consumption
The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with the 5-speed manual gearbox yields reasonable fuel returns, with our weeklong drive resulting in a figure of 8.3 L/100km, not quite the 7.5 L/100km that the brand claims, but certainly better than key rivals from two up and coming Chinese manufacturers.
Pricing
The list price for the ASX 2.0 ES at the time of writing was R371 995, leaving it in the firing line of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Haval Jolion, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen T-Cross and Renault Duster to name a few. The ASX range comes with a comprehensive 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 3-year/60 000km service plan.
Verdict
When viewed in isolation, the base model ASX is a reasonably good proposition, but when viewing it amongst its newer and more sophisticated peers, the Mitsubishi comes across as antiquated and something that only a die-hard fan of the brand would consider now in 2022.
