BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A MITSUBISHI ASX FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/2B3lXKD

The Mitsubishi ASX is the compact crossover that you probably left off your shortlist. Does the latest improved version deserve your attention? Jonathan Crouch reports.

Market and Model

Pricing starts at just over £20,000 - perhaps a little more than you might have expected to pay for a small SUV, but few contenders in the class are quite as large inside as this one and almost none of them can offer an engine as large as 2.0-litres in size, so if you're doing sector comparisons, make sure you're comparing apples with apples.

That base price applies to the entry-level 'Dynamic' variant, which comes only with manual gearbox and 2WD. Alternatively, there's plusher 'Exceed'-spec, which comes in either manual 2WD guise or as a 4WD automatic. 'Dynamic' trim gets you 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto levelling, an SDA infotainment system with a reversing camera, heated front seats, cruise control, automatic air conditioning and a Keyless Operation System. 'Exceed'-spec adds a panoramic glass roof with black roof rails, leather upholstery with an electric driver's seat, a TomTom navigation system, Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert,black roof rails and LED front fog lights. Across the range, two fresh colours make an appearance - Red Diamond and Oak Brown.

Cost of Ownership

You wouldn't expect a 2.0-litre petrol engine in a car of this class to be especially clean and economic and this one isn't. The quoted NEDC-rated combined cycle figures see the manual front-driven model managing up to 40.4mpg, with the auto 4WD variant managing up to 38.7mpg. WLTP-rated CO2 emissions vary between 171 and 185g/km. Helping this car in its quest for reasonable efficiency is a whole package of so-called 'Intelligent Motion' features, including low rolling resistance tyres, a high efficiency alternator, an intelligent battery sensor and regenerative braking that claims back energy that would otherwise be lost when you brake.

Something you might be encouraged by as a potential buyer is the decently long five year warranty - though that's slightly spoiled by the brand's insistence on limiting it to 62,500 miles. As you'd expect in this day and age, there's a 12-year anti-perforation warranty. And three years of pan-European roadside assistance and homestart are included in the price. You can keep maintenance costs down by purchasing a decent value pre-paid servicing pack which takes care of the cost of garage visits for three years or 36,000 miles.

Summary

Mitsubishi reckons that ASX buyers most appreciate this car's simplicity, reliability, comfort and price. It also gives you a gutsier 2.0-litre engine than would normally be fitted to a small SUV of this sort, which might be of interest for those who might perhaps want to tow a small caravan. Others will appreciate the fact that there's almost as much rear seat room and boot space as you'd get from a Qashqai-class SUV from the next class up.

Yes, there are more dynamic and efficient choices you could make in this sector, but get yourself the right deal on this Mitsubishi and it could still make a practical choice if you like the restyled look.

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