ANOTHER crossover is on the way as Mitsubishi sets out to steal some of the action from Nissan and its class leading Qashqai.
The Japanese car maker famed for its Evo muscle machines and Shogun off-roaders is going more mainstream with a multi-purpose five seater called the ASX.
In Mitsubishi-speak that stands for Active Sport Crossover and it’s got all the right credentials to match the new breed of cars which can be anything from family hatch to 4x4.
At a glance the ASX could be mistaken for a Qashqai clone and Mitsubishi is making no secret that it set the British-built Nissan as the benchmark for its newcomer.
It’s big and bulbous but that’s what appears to make crossovers tick – and the Qashqai is the pick of the bunch outselling most rivals by at least four to one.
The ASX goes on sale on July 1 as a 1.8-litre diesel and priced from £18,549 it’s slightly cheaper than a comparable Qashqai.
The Mitsubishi is also slightly bigger inside, can carry more luggage, has better fuel economy and lower emissions.
Apart from that the similarities are uncanny.
However, the ASX is breaking new ground for Mitsubishi by being its first model built specifically with low CO2 emissions in mind – a policy the company is calling Intelligent Motion.
The 1.8-litre direct injection diesel is rated at 145g/km and come September Mitsubishi will be introducing an even leaner 1.6-litre petrol engine emitting 138g/km which is cleaner than all the current batch of crossovers.
The 1.6 will be the entry level model for the ASX range and will be priced from £14,999.
All models in the three trim line up feature air conditioning, keyless entry, electronic stability and a hill start device plus energy saving features such as regenerative braking, LED tail lamps, low rolling resistance tyres and a stop/start function.
Mid-range models priced from £16,799 have extra kit including automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and privacy glass while the top trim comes in at £18,799 and includes sat nav, leather seats, a reversing camera and full iPod connectivity.
Most versions will be front wheel drive but a 4x4 set up will be available on the diesels priced from £20,049.
Inside the ASX is clean and functional. Mitsubishi is breaking away from stark plastic trims and using soft touch materials with different textures – but the finish is still on the dark side.
There’s also a fully adjustable steering wheel which can be set for rake and reach – a feature Mitsubishi is only just adopting.
On the road there is nothing untoward about the handling although the suspension is a touch soft on undulating surfaces. Power delivery from the 148bhp diesel is adequate with a 0 to 60 time of 9.7 seconds and a claimed maximum of 124mph.
The diesel is home grown by Mitsubishi and is the first to feature variable valve timing normally found only on petrol engines.
That all helps efficiency and with a low compression ratio it’s highly economical averaging 51.4mpg as a six speed front wheel drive model. The 4x4 is slightly thirstier at 49.6mpg – but not to be sneezed for a car of this size.
The ASX has its underpinnings based on the larger Outlander and although it is some 14-inches shorter the wheelbase is the same, creating big car space inside.
With Mitsubishi’s sharply styled front and a near vertical double grille the ASX has plenty of road presence from the front but from the rear it is a near Qashqai doppelganger.
Nevertheless, imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery and with Nissan’s track record in the crossover market, Mitsubishi could be on to something with the ASX.