Mitsubishi joins price hikers

MITSUBISHI has become the latest brand to increase its prices on the back of the weak Australian currency, joining Holden, which lifted most of its prices from November, and Toyota and Ford, which as we reported last week have both announced extensive price hikes to become effective from January 1.

Combined with Mazda, which has also flagged it is likely to lift prices soon, the move will make most models from Australia’s top five automotive brands more expensive from next month “Imminent price increases mean now is the time to buy,” says Mazda Australia managing director Doug Dickson.

Subaru Liberty and Mitsubishi Colt.

Meantime, Subaru increased the prices of some Liberty variants by between $500 and $1000 (and dropped Heritage prices by $1500 and $2000), as well as most Outback prices by $500 in late October, when it also introduced MY09 upgrades, including electronic stability control as standard across the range.

Hyundai has similarly upgraded its i30 range and progressively increased the prices of all variants over the last two months, meaning most of Australia’s 10 best-selling car brands have now announced price increases.

At Mitsubishi, whose market share has fallen from 6.2 to 6.0 per cent so far this year and now lies within 1500 vehicle sales of Nissan, which has out-sold a fading Honda this year to be Australia’s sixth best selling brand, the price increases affect almost all models.

Mitsubishi’s Colt light-car range is up $300 across the board, meaning the entry-level ES increases by two per cent, from $14,990 to $15,290, and the Ralliart rises by 1.2 per cent, from $24,990 to $25,290.

Mitsubishi’s all-new Lancer sedan and newly-released hatch range increases by $500 across the board, with baseline four and five-door pricing rising by 2.4 per cent, from $20,990 to $21,490, the Ralliart variants increasing from $42,490 to $42,990, and the Evo sedan’s base price rising from $59,490 to $59,990.

The Grandis people-mover is now $600 more expensive, spelling a $40,590 starting price (up 1.5 per cent), while the Outlander compact SUV’s entry-level price is up by $400 or 1.3 per cent, from $31,490 to $31,890. All other Outlander variants are up by $500.

Mitsubishi’s Express van prices are also up by $400, or 1.7 per cent on the base SWB (now $23,990), but the biggest price rises have been reserved for the Triton utility.

The Triton workhorse is up $500 or 2.5 per cent in entry-level 2WD guise (the 2.4 GL single-cab is now $20,490) and $800 or 2.6 per cent in entry-level 4x4 form, making the 2.5 GLX single-cab $31,490, with the biggest price hike reserved for the top-shelf GLX-R 3.5 dual-cab – up $2750 or 6.5 per cent, from $42,240 to $44,990.

Audi and Citroen also lifted prices in December, with the French maker discontinuing a number of models and rasing petrol C5 prices by between $2000 and $2750 (see separate story) and Audi revising prices for its entire A3 small hatch range.

The entry-level A3 1.6 Attraction three-door rises by $1450 or 4.3 per cent, from $33,950 to $35,400, and while the A3 2.0 TDI five-door is actually down by $600 or 1.2 per cent (from $48,500 to $47,900), the flagship A3 2.0 TFSI Ambition quattro five-door is now $1650 or 3.2 per cent pricier – up from $51,550 to $53,200.

Read more:

Ford increases prices too

Toyota hikes prices

Subaru sharpens swansong Liberty, Outback