Mitsubishi ASX (2010 - 2021) 1.8 3 ClearTec 5d (2010/10) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Best looking car in it’s class in my opinion. Not flashy but looks like a much more expensive car to me than it actually is. Although it is let down a little by the interior. It probably says Family driver who likes a nice car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

It got a lot of positive comments from friends, family & neighbours.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No, I've owned one now and like a change. I also don't need the space anymore & don't do enough mileage to justify another diesel (DPF problems). Back to petrol for me (TSI).

What are you likely to buy next?

I've just bought a Leon FR 1.4 TSI. Still big enough for a pushchair in the boot and the engine is much better suited to my stop start commute to work. The TSI gives great performance and efficiency from a small petrol engine too.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£17,050

When did you buy the car?

February 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Reasonable deal: The dealer was not willing to haggle as it was a manager’s special and there were very few second hand ASX’s on the market at the time I was buying. I wanted the car however so ended up buying it my 3rd visit to the dealer. I was offered a very poor part-ex from Mitsubishi for my 3 year old 2.0L D4D Toyota Auris T-Spirit but managed to sell it back to Toyota instead for much more.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Needed a bigger car for baby paraphernalia.

What was the dealer like?

Franchise (Fair / Poor) Head Office Customer Service (Excellent): The initial sales rep I dealt with was friendly enough but it was all a little disorganised when it came to arranging a test drive. Collecting my car however was where service was poor. Some mistakes were made on the paperwork and the Insurance cover they provided was invalid. I noticed after driving off in the car and called the dealer but they took too long to sort so I ended up sorting out my own insurance. I complained to Mitsubishi head office in Cirencester (who on a more positive note provides excellent customer service) and I was given a free service to apologise.

What's it like to drive?

Overall I liked driving the ASX with the high seating position. The 150bhp diesel is almost faultless on the motorway with lots of low down power & torque (effortless overtaking in the upper gears). It is extremely efficient for it’s size (calculated at the pump). Expect to get well over 50mpg average on mixed journey long runs. The 6th gear could be a little more long legged for cruising at 70mph but I believe this is deliberate (higher revs needed to clear the DPF filter) N:B.The car efficiency decreases quickly as speeds exceed 55/60mph due to its shape & relatively high revs in 6th. Whilst the car is great in a straight line however it's not so good at driving round corners & I feel handling could have been better & the seats could have had better side support.

What's it like to park?

I personally did not have a problem parking the ASX. Some owners criticise rear visibility but I thought it was quite good and the wing mirrors have fantastic visibility with minimal blind spots. My girlfriend on the other hand did not like parking it as it was slightly bigger than what she drives at work. Then again she is a woman and finds parking any car difficult.

Have you had any problems with the car?

1 • The release bearing on the clutch needed replacing at 15k (caused clutch to slip). 2 • It needed a few ECU updates to improve the DPF regeneration process. (caused rising oil level as diesel was getting into the oil) 3 • It had a couple of recalls during the 19 months I owned it (Power steering harness & Alternator Replaced) 4 • It had the turbo replaced at 30k (I suspect the diesel in the oil did not help compounded by stop start engine technology) 5 • The car suffers from outer edge tyre wear due to a positive camber set up. (I had this adjusted) • Note the car was very new to the market when I bought and most of these teething problems have been resolved in the newer versions • Also note that Mitsubishi parts are very expensive (if you plan to keep after warranty expires).

What's most practical about your car?

It is a perfect size car for a family. The boot is a perfect width for push chairs / pram etc and it’s easy for loading too without any boot lip. Love the armrest and useful storage it provides. Good size glove box and door side pockets although lacks under-seat storage. It is very good in snow.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

• Bluetooth phone as standard. • USB music player as standard. • Heated seats (great for bad back sufferers). • Electric folding wing mirrors (Good size/ great visibility). • Cruise Control (a must for me).