The Mitsubishi ASX, or Outlander Sport as it’s known in North America, is one of the oldest compact SUVs in the market. It was launched in 2010, facelifted in 2015 and refreshed again for the 2020MY.
The makeover has brought it in line, visually, with some of the company’s newer products, like the Eclipse Cross. The front and rear ends have been redesigned and the overall impression is that of a new vehicle.
Also Watch: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Does The Unthinkable, Goes Off-Roading
Step inside, however, and you will find the same aging layout, with a few nips and tucks. The 8-inch infotainment system from Rockford Fosgate is all-new, relatively quick to respond and easy to operate, and comes with TomTom navigation in higher trim levels. You get the same storage spaces and boot capacity, which can be described as okay, as well as decent legroom for adult passengers on the rear bench. Taller occupants will struggle for headroom, though.
Leather and some soft-touch plastics that are supposed to give it a more upmarket feel won’t fool anyone, and neither will the rather bumpy ride and not enough feedback coming through the steering wheel. Even the 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated petrol four that’s hooked up to a 5-speed manual or a CVT, with FWD or AWD, feels outdated and needs to be worked out to take full advantage of its 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW).
On the plus side, you get a rather modern exterior styling and generous equipment. Mitsubishi hasn’t disclosed its pricing just yet, but AutoTrader estimates it to start at under £21,000 ($26,726/€23,471) in the UK and go up to £26,000 ($33,089/€29,060), or about the same as the Nissan Qashqai, which can be had from £20,000 ($25,453/€22,354).