Mitsubishi ASX Aspire manual 2013 review

Fighting for visibility in the compact SUV market is probably like making a speech in the Taiwanese parliament - you have to do some swinging while getting your message across.

Mitsubishi's little ASX has had a tweak to its face and features list but the punch from the drivetrain is unchanged. Mostly, that's not a bad thing, but the absence of an auto is hurting this competent all-rounder.

We're sampling the updated top-spec Aspire turbodiesel model with a six-speed manual.

Value

Explore the 2013 Mitsubishi ASX range

• Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 4WD 2013 review
• Mitsubishi ASX Aspire manual 2013 review
• Mitsubishi ASX 2013 review
• Mitsubishi ASX turbodiesel auto 2013 review
• Mitsubishi ASX Aspire 2013 review

The Aspire four-wheel drive flagship is priced from $34,990 and has plenty of features to go with that pricetag, which slots it in in the upper reaches of the price range for compact SUVs.

The top-spec ASX gets plenty of gear - a touchscreen controlled infotainment system, with USB and iPod access, Bluetooth phone and audio link, a reversing camera and parking sensors, 17in alloys and leather trim.

The front seats have heaters, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a fixed glass roof (with a solid cover and ambient lighting), keyless entry and go, a power-adjustable driver's seat, reach and rake adjustable leather steering wheel with phone and audio controls.

Sadly, the satellite navigation and a Rockford-Fosgate sound system upgrade are on the options list.

Technology

It's not exactly a cutting-edge drivetrain when you consider how long manual gearboxes have been around - the ASX flagship is available only as a six-speed manual, which no doubt erodes its appeal on showroom floor in this market that is addicted to two-pedal operations.

The nice manual gearbox is hooked up to a 1.8-litre turbodiesel that develops 110kW at 4000rpm and 300Nm at 2000rpm - it has common-rail direct-injection and it is a willing unit.

The combined fuel economy claim of 5.7 litres per 100km is well within reason - we averaged in the 8s during our most recent stint in the car but a fuel economy drive undertaken last year in a similar machine had sub-5s over 1000km of driving.

The ASX dwells in the soft-roader realm but it can run in front-wheel drive only (for slightly better economy) or automatic (but front-biased) 4WD, which sees most of the engine's outputs still heading for the front wheels but up to 50 per cent heading aft as required.

There's also a 4WD lock mode that - as the name suggests - locks in that 50/50 split for more demanding terrain.

Design

Based on the Concept cX from the 2007 Frankfurt motor show, the ASX didn't get all the funky styling cues but you can see where they wanted to go.

While it is not the prettiest soft-roader going around, it's not going to shame the rugrats at school pick-up to the point of parking around the corner either.

While it sits on the Outlander platform the overhangs are more abrupt, but boot and cabin space don't suffer - quite the contrary, it has good bootspace and comfort in both rows of seats wasn't an issue. The only concern was for adults in the back as there is limited rear headroom.

Safety

The ASX ranks five stars with NCAP and Mitsubishi says that's due in no small part to what the company calls its Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution body structure - basically a body structure that has impact beams and other structures to diffuse impact energy.

There's also no shortage of electronic assistance - dual front, front-side and curtain airbags, as well as one for the driver's knee, plus stability and traction control, a hill start system, anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency braking assistance.

Driving

The little ASX is a neat little machine, despite the lack of an auto. The manual is far from difficult when it comes to swapping cogs, and with 300Nm on offer you'll be starting off in second (unless it's uphill) and short-shifting to fourth or fifth.

Make the most of the outputs and you'll go close to the 5.7 combined cycle figure. The engine does need 1500rpm on board to keep the turbocharger force-feeding the engine, but it will get along at a better-than-good rate.

The update has also included a re-rating of the braked towing capacity to 1400kg. There's decent boot space - 416 litres says Mitsubishi, or 1109l with the seats down - and reasonable occupant space in the quiet cabin.

Ride quality is no issue either, although the ASX isn't as dynamically adept as some other SUVs - Ford's Kuga and the new Mazda CX-5 are two that spring to mind.

But the ASX is capable and gets the job done when the road surfaces . The lock function on the 4WD system gives more assurance and ability - certainly above the class average - on unsealed surfaces and it feels capable of more than what most will ask of it.