• Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating
• Plenty of airbags on board
• Stability control and safety systems too

There’s not much to worry about when investigating Mitsubishi ASX safety. It has scored the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP tests so provides a high level of crash protection.

It comes with up to seven airbags including driver’s knee airbag, electronic stability system, hill start assist that keeps the brakes on while you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator to pull away uphill, plus emergency stop signal that flashes the hazard warning lights when the brakes are pressed hard to warn following traffic.

Pedestrian safety is provided by plastic front wings, double bulge bonnet and an energy-absorbing front bumper.

• Compact exterior, spacious interior
• Boot space good, too
• Decent amount of storage throughout

Interior space in the Mitsubishi ASX is one of its fortes. While it’s not a huge car on the outside, the cabin offers a generous amount of space for the driver and passengers, plus the boot is a decent size, too.

The boot is bigger than your typical family hatchback at 419 litres, which increases to 1,193 litres with the rear seats folded down. It’s easy to access, thanks to a wide tailgate and a boot floor level with the loading lip. This also means that when the rear seats are folded, a completely flat load area is possible. The back seats spilt on a 60/40 basis for further flexibility, and there is a through-load ski hatch.

The boot floor lifts up to reveal an extra 30 litres of storage space. Up front there are several storage areas including in door pockets that can take a 500ml bottle, large glovebox and central console with storage area and cup holders, as well as extra storage beneath the front arm rest.