Driven: Mitsubishi updates ASX compact SUV range

MITSUBISHI has refreshed its best-selling ASX small SUV range less than a year after its last update, introducing a new mid-level variant, mildly updating styling and spec, and raising the price of the range-topping XLS variants by $500.

As part of the update, all variants gain Mitsubishi’s smartphone link display audio with DAB+ digital radio, as well as two USB ports and a mobile phone tray with removable padded liner.

New acoustic absorption materials have been included to reduce cabin noise, while other interior changes include a geometric-design, silver finish for the centre console panel, soft knee rests, new armrest with a larger centre console box and a newly-designed automatic transmission shift lever.

Exterior changes include a mildly revised front end design with integrated LED daytime running lights and fog lamp lower bezel, as well as a new rear bumper and tailgate design.

The range still kicks off with the five-speed manual, front-wheel-drive LS from $25,000 plus on-roads, while optioning the continuously-variable transmission adds $2000 to the asking price.

A new variant called the LS ADAS has been added, based on the front-drive petrol LS and priced from $28,500 plus on-roads.

It adds a number of features including forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, auto high beam, electro-chromatic rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers and dusk sensing headlamps.

The most expensive LS variant is the all-wheel-drive 2.2-litre diesel version, which comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and is priced from $32,500.

Topping the range is the pair of XLS variants, which have both risen by $500 to $32,000 and $37,500 for the front-drive petrol and all-wheel-drive diesel, respectively.

The XLS now gets the forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning and auto high beam from the LS ADAS as standard.

Through the first eight months of 2017, the ASX is topping the small SUV segment for sales with 12,259 units moved, representing a 4.9 per cent increase on the 11,686 sold to the same point last year.

It leads other volume sellers such as the Mazda CX-3 (11,931), Nissan Qashqai (9166), Honda HR-V (7992) and Subaru XV (5599).

The ASX missed out on the 2016 small SUV sales crown by just 208 sales, recording 18,126 compared to the CX-3’s 18,334.

2017 Mitsubishi ASX pricing*

LS petrol 2WD	$25,000
LS petrol 2WD (a)	$27,000
LS diesel 4WD (a)	$32,500
LS ADAS petrol 2WD (a)	$28,500
XLS petrol 2WD (a)	$32,000
XLS diesel 4WD (a)	$37,500

*Excludes on-road costs