Words by Surin Kumar. Photography by TJ & Co
Compact SUVs seem to be a trend that’s catching up
like wildfire, mainly among the female audience. I don’t see why not. These
cars are priced only slightly above the sedans, but pack the same amount of fun
and provide more legroom while not being as bulky as the regular SUVs. The ASX does look good, mainly because it has borrowed the looks of its handsome brother, the Lancer. Sharp and sporty, all fitted in a compact SUV
frame. In fact, it only seems a bit bigger than your regular sedans.
An aerodynamic front
grille with fog lamps and bolder lines add a sexy appeal to the ASX. Aligned
nicely below the fog lamps are the LED daylights - a personal favourite. However, it does lack the
aggression and masculinity portrayed by many other SUVs. Maybe it’s just me. As
sexy as it may be, the ASX wouldn’t really be the car that would make me go
“wow” at first sight.
Inside of the ASX is where most of its beauty lies. While looking just
about average in terms of size on the outside, there is actually ample space
inside for five adults to sit comfortably. The design isn’t exceptionally unique, but friendly and easy enough for
just about anyone to get used to. It boasts a sporty feel along with
comfortable leather seats and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with a
good range of adjustment. In short, it has better finishing than most of its
competitors that I’ve driven so far.
The cabin is light and airy, with a panoramic glass roof that will
definitely get your kids excited. The on-board computer keeps you driving
efficiently, providing all the information you need. Other features include keyless entry with push start, a reverse camera,
cruise control, GPS, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and a fully automatic air
conditioner. The interior is designed to keep everything tidy, just the sort
that neat freaks would love.
One thing I really love is the magnesium paddle shifters. Unlike other
paddle shifters I’ve tried, these shifters spelled fun on every change of gear.
I rarely had the ASX on auto, mainly because the paddle shifters were that fun
to use. Of course, this was also because the car was backed up by an enormous amount
of power that’s delivered on every shift.
When it comes to handling and performance, you can rarely doubt the
Mitsubishi. For a tall car, the ASX drives like your regular sedan - agile,
nimble and easy to squeeze through tight spaces. Under the hood rests a 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC engine, paired to an INVECS-III
CVT gearbox with six steps sports mode. It delivers about 148hp and 197Nm of
maximum torque, which you’ll enjoy if you’re in manual. However, on straight
roads, the car needs a slight amount of time to pick up, especially after
120km/h. The drive was extremely comfortable, so much that I unwarily went over
the speed limit on a few occasions. You might want to keep an eye on the speedometer
on that note. On paper, the ASX claims a top speed of 190 km/h, but luck and
opportunity didn’t coincide during my drive, so that’s a claim I’ll have to
forsake this time around.
It took me some time to get used to the steering because it felt overly
light and less responsive. It’s fine on urban streets but gave me doubts during
high speed manoeuvres. The ASX switches from 2WD to 4WD in just a push of a button, with two
options: auto for regular four wheel control and lock for the slippery tracks.
Other than that it also packs the Active Stability Control (ASC) function, dual
airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse camera, engine immobiliser, traction control and
Hill Start Assist (HSA) for your safety concerns.
For someone who wasn’t
initially “wow-ed” by the ASX at first, I really had trouble handing over the
key after my test drive period. I found myself so fond of the car and I was
already missing the car for a good two weeks upon returning it!
This is a car that
combines practicality, comfort, easy driving, excitement, fuel efficiency,
power, safety and technology all in perfect harmony with a price tag that most
could afford. I can’t think of any compact SUVS that’ll provide the bang for
your buck as the ASX does.
THE SPECS
Engine:
2.0-litre inline-4, DOHC MIVEC (4B11)
Horsepower: 150 hp
Torque: 197Nm
Transmission: INVECS-III CVT with 6-step Sports Mode
Fuel Consumption: 13.2km/l (combined)
Top Speed: 190km/h
Features: Panaromic glass roof, magnesium paddle shifs, keyless & push start entry,
auto rain and light sensors, automatic air-con, auto
retractable
Price (OTR with GST):
2WD: RM 117 499.67
4WD: RM 132 021.51
Desginer Edition: RM 135 026.19
