Mitsubishi flexes its cross-over muscle

Out on the road and ASX is an easy rider - and you'll love the aircon on a hot day.

The prettied-up ASX nicely blends golf tan with chic Armani and three days of shaveless shadow and it's right up there with the likes of Hyundai iX35, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashai, Peugeot 408 and Citroen C4 Aircross in the looks department.

A role for everyone

As a multi-tasker it would do equally well as a mum's taxi, dad's commuter choice, family recreational vehicle, singles play car or young professional status symbol.

Almost room for the kitchen sink.

Attractive cosmetics include handsome 16- or 17-inch alloys (depending on model), rear mud guard, roof rails, front fog lamps, body colour door handles and mirrors, plus a rear spoiler with high-mounted brake lights.

Standard specification levels are high and get better as you move up from the GL five-speed manuals to the GLX with six-speed CVT transmission. Driver aids include rear park distance control, heated rear widow, headlamp washers, fold-away mirrors, dusk-sensing headlights with rain sensors, comfortable, fully adjustable electronic driver's seat that changes from cloth to leather on the flagship model (and comes with bum and back warming heaters).

Safe, my mate... and everyone else

Occupant safety is high on the list of Mitsubishi's list of priorities and the ASX has a host of airbags and comes equipped with ABS, EBD and BA as well as traction and stability control systems, hill start assist, collapsible steering column and side impact protection bars all of which played a role in its EuroNCAP five star safety rating.

One of the safer vehickles around - there's no stinting on this aspect of the design.

The build quality is solid and the ASX feels well screwed and glued together. The living quarters are particularly pleasant and the cabin feels both airy and spacious, with much credit going to a large electronic panoramic roof.

The aircon works like a bomb, as we discovered to our delight on a lengthy day trip to the winelands during a particularly hot spell. Also impressive is an integrated central panel that houses the audio system with Bluetooth and USB port. More expensive luxuries include MP3 player and iPod port and even a 9 speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system, hands free voice control and a multi-function steering wheel with audio and cruise control settings.

Easy rider

Out on the road the comfortable seating and high-ride steering position makes cruising a pleasure and I reckon I could easily cruise from Cape Town to Addo Elephant Park in the ASX in a day without requiring a back massage after the journey.

With 110kW and 197Nm underfoot Mitsubishi reckons it will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.6 and 11.5 seconds.

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The combination of two-litre fuel-injected power and smooth five-speed manual shift gives the ASX a pleasantly sporty willingness to trot. With 110kW and 197Nm underfoot Mitsubishi reckons it will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.6 and 11.5 seconds. Claimed fuel consumption ranges between 7.6 and 7.5 litres/100km.

For a high rider the ADX handles with confidence and only if pushed quite hard does it lean through the corners. The steering has a pleasantly solid feel to it and the ride is firm without being bouncy. The engine has a pleasant gravel tone that appeals to me but some might find a tad intrusive.

The build quality is solid and the ASX feels well put together.

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It is quite expensive and its luggage space is not too generous, but other than that there is very little not to like about the ASX.

The models and prices are:

Mitsubishi ASX 2.0 GL five-speed manual - R279,900
Mitsubishi ASX 2.0 GLX five-speed manual - R304,900
Mitsubishi ASX 2.0 GLS with automatic transmission - R334,900

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