Uber-hatch for active urbanites

Mitsubishi hopes the ASX will boost its thin passenger car lineup. Photo / Supplied

Mitsubishi NZ is bucking the trend for slow sales recovery. Its passenger and light commercial sales were up 53 per cent to the end of July, largely on the back of the Outlander and Triton.

But its passenger car line-up is looking a little thin. Hence its excitement over the ASX - pitched as an uber-hatch rather than a soft-roading SUV - aimed at active urbanites, not back-block adventurers.

What's new?
An all-new body sits on the same platform as the Outlander, though it's shorter and lower. The petrol engine's similar to the Lancer's but the diesel is a new, a high-pressure common-rail unit developed in-house by Mitsubishi.

The cabin addresses several Outlander criticisms with soft-touch materials, better sound deadening and a steering wheel with adjustable reach and tilt.

The company line
The ASX hit its predicted monthly sales in the 10 days before the marketing campaign began last week. No wonder Mitsi execs are looking happy.

Head of sales and marketing strategy Daniel Cook says Mitsubishi is in a growth phase, with the ASX aimed at compact SUV and hatch buyers - growth segments in New Zealand.

Mitsubishi expects the petrol variants to sell best pending the eventual arrival of a diesel auto. It also expects 75 per cent of buyers will opt for the two-wheel drive version.

What we say
The 2.0-litre petrol with 112kW and 200Nm delivered to the front or all four wheels via a six-speed CVT auto may top sales, but the variable geometry turbo diesel is the better engine - its 112kW and 305Nm transmitted via a six-speed manual, with 250Nm on tap anywhere from 1500 to 4000rpm.

The cabin's smart; the "soft touch" materials up front imparting a subtly classier air than the bigger Outlander. Shame the rear seats still get hard plastics with the high window line blocking the view out for shorter kids.

Still, base specification is good with seven airbags, ESP, ABS brakes, cruise control and more for the $35,490 2WD LS, while the Sport adds keyless start, alloy wheels, auto air con, auto lights and auto wipers, hands-free Bluetooth, reverse warning sensors and more from $38,990.

On the road
The suspension proved compliant even on rougher back roads, and the car felt confident and well planted in either two or four-wheel drive, its composure uncorrupted by the body roll you expect from a vehicle with such a high-riding stance. The ASX isn't the quietest car on the road, but Mitsi's clearly got the message, and the cabin's noticeably less noisy than the Outlander or recent Lancers.

The diesel's our pick, despite the lack of auto transmission. It pulls strongly at real-world speeds, notwithstanding a 75kg increase in weight over the petrol, yet it's frugal on fuel, easily returning 5.8l/100km on our briskly-driven hilly back-road launch route, 0.3l/100km better than claimed.

Mind you, the petrol's pleasant enough and well matched to this CVT auto. Our launch drive returned an 8.9l/100 average for the four-paw auto, 0.8 above its claimed consumption.

Why you'll buy one?
You like the compact footprint combined with a high-riding stance and more cabin space than your old Lancer or Corolla hatch; the five-star crash test rating looks good, too.

Why you won't?
You want either car-like dynamics or true off-road ability; it's not big enough and the cabin's still too noisy.