Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 2013 review

Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Reviews Mitsubishi ASX Mitsubishi ASX Reviews Mitsubishi ASX 2013 SUV Best SUV Cars Mitsubishi SUV Range Family Cars Car Reviews
EXPERT RATING
7.0

Likes

  • Finally a diesel auto
  • Improved grunt from new 2.2L
  • Roomier than expected

Dislikes

  • No more diesel manual
  • Slightly less efficient than old 1.8 manual
  • Visually unchanged
Neil Dowling
Contributing Journalist
8 Sep 2013
4 min read
0 Comments

I was standing at the pay-desk about to buy a pair of trendy orange-coloured jeans to propel me into 2013 when a shadow of reality told me I wasn't a trendy person. I left the jeans behind. Mistakes like this are very common and generally people come to their senses before pretending to be something they are clearly not.

Car makers bear no such guilt. They may present an SUV which has all the outward image of a rugged adventure machine to take you and the girl, the family, your mates or your dog, into the outdoor paradise that exists beyond suburbia.

In fact, that SUV is more likely a sedan with a boxy body and the off-road acumen of a Tour de France racing bike. It's pleasing to see that Mitsubishi offers a purposeful SUV that is as comfortable in the city as it is roaming forest trail. No pretence.

Value

The ASX 4WD Aspire 2.2 is the most expensive of the smallest Mitsubishi SUV range and though its $36,490 price tag is certainly not cheap, it is fair value given its versatility and low running costs. A base version saves $4500 but the Aspire is better value. A 1.8-litre diesel version is $34,990 and is almost as good.

The Aspire features include a big 7-inch colour touch screen with sat-nav, voice-activated audio and Bluetooth link, leather seats, smart-key operation, heated front seats with electric adjustment, 17-inch alloys and a full-length glass roof. There's a four-year capped-price service program that will cost $1245 for three years and the SUV has a strong 54 per cent resale value.

Design

Mitsubishi's best-looking SUV is so good that Peugeot 4008 and Citroen Aircross use it as the basis for their own models. Cabin design is restrained but shows good build quality. Soft-touch dash and upmarket trim lift this model and the glass roof is a real bonus. There's good rear-seat room for two adults - three at a pinch - and the split-fold seats fold almost flat, taking luggage space from 416 to 1109-litres. The cargo floor is quite high and hides a space-saver spare.

Technology 

Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the ASX uses the Outlander platform and drivetrain. Basically, the difference comes down to body shape and the Outlander's extra 350mm length allowing for seven seats.

The shared 110kW/360Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is naturally perkier in the 80kg lighter ASX and the six-speed auto (not CVT as in petrol models) meld to become a fun package. It claims 5.8L/100km, the same as the Outlander and only 0.1L/100km more than the ASX's alternative 1.8-litre diesel. The ASX is basically an on-demand 4WD though uniquely in compact SUVs, can be locked into 4WD at speeds up to around 100km/h. Steering is electric-assist and brakes are four-wheel discs.

Safety

No change from its competitors here. It gets a five-star crash rating, has seven airbags and the full complement of electronic chassis and brake aids. There's Isofix points on the two rear seats, a hill-holder, space-saver spare and the ability to change to constant AWD at virtually any speed if the road becomes slippery. There's also automatic headlights and wipers, a reverse camera and rear park sensors.

Driving

The seating position is high which gives the driver some confidence, especially when parking and picking a line through traffic. Typical of a diesel, there is some start-up lag and when accelerating quickly from a low speed.

It's not as bad as some rivals but remains annoying. Once awoken, the engine shows its best performance only around 2000-3000rpm and is at odds with the claim that a meaty 360Nm of torque is available from 1500rpm.

Paddle shifters are a nice touch but rarely used. Ride comfort is very good - same applies to the Outlander - though some occupants claimed the seats were too firm. In the dirt it requires momentum and low-tyre pressures to clear sandy traps. A better torque spread lower in the rev range would help here.

Read the full 2013 Mitsubishi ASX review

Mitsubishi ASX 2013: Aspire (4WD)

Engine Type Diesel Turbo 4, 2.3L
Fuel Type Diesel
Fuel Efficiency 5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $11,660 - $15,510
Safety Rating

Verdict

Surprisingly accomplished and frugal family SUV for people who occasionally escape the suburbs. Consider the 1.8-litre diesel version and save $1500.

Pricing Guides

$12,196
Based on 90 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$5,999
HIGHEST PRICE
$16,990
Neil Dowling
Contributing Journalist
GoAutoMedia Cars have been the corner stone to Neil’s passion, beginning at pre-school age, through school but then pushed sideways while he studied accounting. It was rekindled when he started contributing to magazines including Bushdriver and then when he started a motoring section in Perth’s The Western Mail. He was then appointed as a finance writer for the evening Daily News, supplemented by writing its motoring column. He moved to The Sunday Times as finance editor and after a nine-year term, finally drove back into motoring when in 1998 he was asked to rebrand and restyle the newspaper’s motoring section, expanding it over 12 years from a two-page section to a 36-page lift-out. In 2010 he was selected to join News Ltd’s national motoring group Carsguide and covered national and international events, launches, news conferences and Car of the Year awards until November 2014 when he moved into freelancing, working for GoAuto, The West Australian, Western 4WDriver magazine, Bauer Media and as an online content writer for one of Australia’s biggest car groups. He has involved himself in all aspects including motorsport where he has competed in everything from motocross to motorkhanas and rallies including Targa West and the ARC Forest Rally. He loves all facets of the car industry, from design, manufacture, testing, marketing and even business structures and believes cars are one of the few high-volume consumables to combine a very high degree of engineering enlivened with an even higher degree of emotion from its consumers.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$5,999
Lowest price, based on third party pricing data.
For more information on
2013 Mitsubishi ASX
See Pricing & Specs

Comments