Mitsubishi ASX

First, let's refresh the memory. A few years ago, Mitsubishi faced a difficult decision: to leave the European market or not? Current offerings did not match demand in Europe. However, promising new models would appear in a few years' time, so the manufacturer decided to continue anyway. In the meantime, it wanted to keep existing customers happy by working with Renault. For as long as it lasts, Mitsubishi is therefore offering its own versions of existing models from Renault.

For example, the Renault Captur is being offered by Mitsubishi under the name "ASX". However, until now, the only difference between the two cars was in the logo and warranty terms. And that will change from model year 2024 onwards! From now on, the ASX will have its own front, making the car look truly different from the Captur. Mitsubishi's house style, called"Dynamic Shield", gives the ASX a different character from the Captur, giving it a real choice. Also new are 18-inch rims, whose pattern matches the car so that the overall look is enhanced. Finally, the ASX can be fitted with black mirrors and door sills, making the shape look better. In short: the ASX now has more character!

The upholstery in the interior has also been changed to achieve its own character. As the ASX remains the same car in the base, the space has remained the same. For a car of this size, the interior space is and remains excellent (including in the rear!).

Safety

As indicated earlier, Mitsubishi and Renault are required by the European Union to equip the ASX and Captur with the latest generation of safety features. Therefore, the ASX now watches with the driver and warns if the driver is speeding, driving too close to another car or crossing the lines on the road surface without indicating.

Because the cooperating manufacturers were at it anyway, existing systems have been made more accurate. For example, "lane keeping aid" now determines the position within the lane not only by the markings on the road, but also by the edge of the asphalt. In this way, it functions better on provincial roads. Should an accident occur, the ASX will hold the brakes to prevent the car from rolling over and being in a second accident. When reversing, the electronics will warn of cross traffic. Finally, the ASX will warn when opening the doors if an object approaches from behind. Should it all be too much of a good thing: by creating your own "safety profile", one or more features can be switched off at the touch of a button.

Equipment

All these safety features required a major intervention in the electrical system, which is why the infotainment system could also be replaced. The screen is now larger (10.4 inches), the audio system is provided by Harman Kardon and the options have been expanded. The Harman Kardon audio system has clear sound and plenty of spaciousness, but is certainly not a "high end audio system".

When the top-end version is chosen, the system is based on Android Automotive. Then Google Maps and Google's smart assistant are available in the car. The latter can also be used to control basic functions such as the climate control.

Android in the car offers more features, but also raises privacy concerns. The system cannot be switched off, at most its functionality can be limited by not agreeing to the terms and conditions so that it collects less data. Alternatively, simpler versions of the ASX can be chosen, as they still use Mitsubishi's own infotainment system. Of course, it is always possible to use one's own phone with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (Android Automotive will continue to collect data in the background, by the way).

Engine: 1.3 DI-T Mild hybrid

As before, the ASX is available with conventional petrol engines and as a hybrid. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has been discontinued as there was too little demand for it.

First, the 1.3-litre petrol engine with automatic transmission was driven (note that it produces more power than the manual version and is therefore not comparable). This is a mild-hybrid and that means the contribution of the electric motor is much lower than in a full hybrid. Despite this, the "1.3 DI-T" managed to surprise positively with a natural feel (way the power increases with engine speed) and plenty of smoothness (thanks to the electric motor's assistance).

The automatic generally does its job imperceptibly and thus properly. However, when driving slowly on a route with many differences in altitude, the automatic occasionally has trouble selecting. To save fuel, a high gear is selected at first, then the car drops in speed and the electronics select a lower gear. This happens sporadically and is easily avoided by activating the sport mode in such situations.

An unpleasant surprise came at the end of the test drive: consumption of 6.3 litres per 100 km and that is really too much for a modern car of this size and performance. The mild hybrid therefore seems cheap to buy, but may end up being more expensive in use than the full hybrid.

Engine: 1.6 hybrid

The "1.6 Hybrid" consists of one petrol and two electric motors. This complex setup was chosen to achieve a more harmonious interplay and it appears to work in practice, especially with the new software for the 2024 model year. It is hardly noticeable when which motor is active, neither in the performance nor by ear. The performance of the 145-hp powertrain is more than adequate, while consumption on a trickier route than with the 1.3 DI-T was an exemplary 4 litres per 100 km. Moreover, the full hybrid is significantly quieter and smoother than the mild hybrid.

Handling

The ASX, while higher than a standard hatchback, is not as tall as an SUV. The ASX is therefore more stable than an SUV, but not as dynamic or stable as a hatchback. To approximate the handling characteristics of a traditional low car, the ASX has been fitted with new shock absorbers, different tyres and revised fine-tuning for the 2024 model year.

In daily traffic and on good road surfaces, there is little noticeable difference. On poor road surfaces and with a more dynamic driving style, the difference is actually noticeable. The driving characteristics were tailored to the greatest common denominator to appeal to the widest possible target group. When more is required, the ASX now also manages to convince with a (slightly) more refined suspension and better communication with the driver. More character, in other words!

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi ASX has been updated for model year 2024. This was done out of necessity, as the European Union has new requirements for car safety features from 2024. However, Mitsubishi has made more than just the necessary changes. The top trim has a new infotainment system, which is based on Android Automotive and therefore offers all the capabilities of Android in the car.

The engines have not been tweaked. The 1.3 DI-T performs well and offers above-average smoothness thanks to mild-hybrid technology. Consumption, however, is high. The 1.6 Hybrid therefore remains the favourite with a fine balance between comfort, performance and consumption. Thanks to minor adjustments to the suspension, handling has been improved, with the ASX showing more character when driving dynamically.

In addition to functional changes, the ASX can better distinguish itself thanks to new fabrics in the interior and a completely new front end. This is why the ASX is now more than a copy of the Renault Captur. The ASX has its own character to serve its own target audience.