Should you buy one?

We’d find it quite difficult to recommend the Mitsubishi ASX. While the drastic 2019 facelift improved it in many of the areas it was lacking, such as interior materials and technology, it also introduced its own problems in the form of a generally unpleasant engine and gearbox lineup.

The 2.0-litre petrol unit feels a decade old. Certainly, it’s not up to scratch compared with the smooth, quiet and powerful turbocharged units you’ll find in rivals such as the Skoda Karoq, Nissan Qashqai or even Mitsubishi’s own Eclipse Cross. It’s made worse when paired with the automatic gearbox. Older engine and gearbox combinations – such as the 1.6 or 2.2-litre diesels on offer previously – are actually better, more powerful, and more efficient than the modern 2.0-litre.

When it comes to buying new, we’d keep things simple and opt for the five-speed manual transmission and two-wheel drive. As for trim levels, the two on offer are both generously equipped, and most buyers will be happy with the roster on offer from ‘Design’ specification – it has climate control, a reversing camera, heated seats, full LED lights and plenty more besides.

Unless you really value a built-in sat-nav, Dynamic specification seems rather pointless, though it’s worth noting you can’t have an automatic unless you opt for top-spec. For those carrying passengers in the back, the panoramic roof of Dynamic specification does impact headroom, and the leather interior isn’t of the highest quality – both items to note.

At least the ASX should be relatively painless to own. Mitsubishi has a good reputation for reliability, and with the underpinnings of the ASX being nearly a decade old, there’s plenty of time for all the kinks to have been worked out.

In reality, the Mitsubishi ASX simply has too many talented rivals to stand out. Recommending one over accomplished vehicles such as the Skoda Karoq or Honda HR-V is nearly impossible. That’s not forgetting the in-house competition – the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn’t much more expensive, and will prove far more rewarding to own.