Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

Mitsubishi ASX 4 2.2l Diesel 4WD – Driven and Reviewed

September 5, 2014 by benharrington 6 Comments

mitsubishi asx 4 side

Mitsubishi ASX 4

It took me a while to realise where I’d seen the basic shape of the Mitsubishi ASX before, and then the Yen dropped. That prominent nose, disproportionately small rear end and minimal glass-housing aren’t a million miles away from the Range Rover Evoque – high praise indeed, also the Dodge Calibre – high praise……er……not-so-much. I can’t help but like the Mitsubishi ASX’s gaping trapezoidal nose and I’m under no illusion as to why; in a range that offers the likes of the Outlander and the Mirage, the ASX (Active Sports Crossover……..erm – ASC?) is the only ‘car’ in Mitsubishi‘s fleet that bears any resemblance at all to the sadly missed Lancer Evo – a car I always found appealing, even if it was in a brutish kind of way.

mitsubishi asx 4 frontThe Mitsubishi ASX  is unashamedly a crossover, competing with the likes of the Qashqai and the Yeti, so it obviously comes complete with the compulsory elevated ride height and chunky wheels, and this only add to its appeal. Keeping glazing to a minimum also does a great job of keeping the whole look of the ASX compact – less like a minibus. It’s only really the rear-end of the Mitsubishi ASX that lets the car down. Look on Mitsubishi’s own website and you’ll not find one picture of the ASX’s rump, and that’s because the car’s designers seem to have run out of either imagination or inclination when they got to this point. I appreciate that the slightly snubbed silhouette is due to Japan’s length based tax system, but they don’t tax pretty cars more than plain ones. It’s a shame really because the competition in this sector is fierce and I’m inclined to think that looks are a major deciding factor for crossover buyers. So to put such effort into 90% of the Mitsubishi ASX and then leave the rear as some kind of afterthought doesn’t do it justice.

mitsubishi asx 4 rearIt’s a similar story inside the range-topping ASX 4; there’s many nice touches, with decent materials and some obvious thought put into the design, but they’re sadly let down by certain elements that are as confusing as they are annoying. Buttons and switch gear are haphazard in their placement, drinks are strictly forbidden in one of the cup-holders and the most tactile place in the whole car – the steering wheel, is made of a grade of plastic that develops a palpable tackiness after prolonged contact with human skin; If you’re going to use a pleasant, soft-touch material anywhere, it’s a good idea to start with the steering wheel. The theme continues throughout the Mitsubishi ASX cabin; there’s a fashionable ‘Stop/Start’ button, but this means that you can’t wind down windows or listen to the Kenwood multi-media unit without the engine running, and even with it working, the Kenwood unit stubbornly refused to play music from my iPhone.

mitsubishi asx 4 boot

442 Litres of boot space

Room inside the Mitsubishi ASX is more generous than you’d warrant, with plenty of space for five proper adults and a boot which I’m sure would suffice for anyone using it for the usual shopping/dog carrying trips. Visibility is excellent, thanks to the relatively short overhangs and lofty driving position, and parking is made even more simple thanks to the reversing camera which comes standard in the ASX 4. Another peculiarity within the whole ASX range though, is the unavailability of front or rear parking sensors which are glaringly absent on the options list. It may not be the most colossal car in the world, but parking any vehicle can only be aided by sensors – it may seem a small issue but it’s a strange omission that could ultimately sway potential buyers towards the opposition as they’ve grown accustomed to what is a commonly available feature these days, and they really don’t want to risk damaging their new pride and joy.

mitsubishi asx 4 badgeASX 4s all have selectable 4WD, ASX 2s are all driven by their front wheels, and in-between, there’s the ASX 3 – this might seem confusing but Mitsubishi always use numbers to identify their differently specced models. If  geography or lifestyle dictates that your ASX simply must be a 4×4, it’s Diesel only with a choice of a 1.8l 16V, or the 2.2l 16V unit we have on test here. The differences in performance between the two are negligible (118mph vs 115mph, 10.8s vs 10.6s 0-62mph in 2.2l and 1.8l respectively), where the 2.2l comes into its own is in terms of torque available (360Nm vs 300Nm), so if your ASX would be used as a towing vehicle, or if you must have an auto ‘box, I’d be tempted to plump for the larger engine. On the other hand, if you’re just after something with 4WD capabilities to guarantee that you’ll get to the top of the hill you live on in mid-January, I’d go for the 1.8 – it’s cheaper to run, cheaper to buy and is possibly a little more refined than this slightly gruff 2.2l.

mitsubishi asx 4 dialsOf course, if it’s just the looks and safety aspects of a crossover that floats your boat, there’s plenty of 2WD models available in both petrol and Diesel guises – they might not get you up the Eiger but they represent a big financial saving and are still generous in terms of standard kit.

mitsubishi asx 4 noseThis 2.2l Diesel might not be the most cutting edge power-plant in the world, a fact highlighted by its lack of stop-start technology, but the automatic gearbox that it’s mated to is fairly sweet around town, and shifts through its ratios with the minimum of fuss. Considering it’s relatively small wheelbase, it’s odd that the Mitsubishi ASX possibly feels most settled when it’s eating up motorway miles. The ride that can feel a little firm over our typically scarred roads just seems to iron out any imperfections on the motorway, and you’d be surprised at how relaxing a long distance trip can be.

mitsubishi asx 4 rear and sideThe ASX is a slightly strange fish that should be given merit for standing out from the crowd. It does many things well, but unfortunately seems to do almost as many things wrong, and with no apparent reason. The problem with this is – the crossover sector is one of the most competitive in today’s market, and there’s plenty of alternatives that either look, or drive better than the ASX, and a few that do both.

By Ben Harrington

Specifications; Mitsubishi ASX 4, Engine – 2.2l DOHC Diesel, Transmission – 6 speed Auto, Layout – Front Engine, 4WD, Power – 147bhp, Acceleration – 0-62mph – 10.8s, Maximum Speed – 118mph, Torque – 360Nm, Economy – 48.7mpg combined, Emissions – 153g/km CO2, Price – £24,649

For full details, go to: www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk

Filed Under: Crossover, Road Test Tagged With: compact crossover, crossover, outlander sport, qashqai, rvr, SUV, yeti

Comments

  1. autowire says

    September 9, 2014 at 5:36 am

    I am sure this car has good driving dynamics but inferior cabin quality and even lack of optional extras leave more to be desired.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Devolution - Why the Mitsubishi Evo is doomed - Driving Torque says:
    February 2, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    […] not even an unreliable source at Mitsubishi and I can categorically confirm that the Evo bloodline as we know it is breathing its last, for the […]

    Reply
  2. Mitsubishi L200 Trojan - Driven and Reviewed - Driving Torque says:
    February 3, 2015 at 12:29 am

    […] of builders and farmers, pickups have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent times with the Mitsubishi L200 always at the forefront. A particular genre of pickup has become commonplace on our roads and […]

    Reply
  3. Mitsubishi Shogun LWB DI-DC SG4, Driven and Reviewed - Driving Torque says:
    February 3, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    […] therefore fair to say that Mitsubishi know a thing or two about screwing a 4wd system together and, perhaps more importantly, getting it […]

    Reply
  4. Mitsubishi Outlander GX5 Automatic - Driven and Reviewed - Driving Torque says:
    February 4, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    […] Mitsubishi Outlander is only available with a 2.2l oil-burner (unless you opt for PHEV). This could be looked […]

    Reply
  5. Mitsubishi Asx 4 2014 | Cars-Electric.com says:
    June 7, 2017 at 8:27 pm

    […] Mitsubishi Asx 4 2.2L Diesel 4Wd Review – Driving Torque pertaining to Mitsubishi Asx 4 2014 Size: 800 X 600 | Source: i0.wp.com […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Managed to get a first drive of the Hyundai i20N a Managed to get a first drive of the Hyundai i20N at Millbrook yesterday. I wasn’t sure anything could get close to the Fiesta ST in real hot-hatch terms, but then, this…… #hyundai #i20n #carsofinstagram
We’ve spent the last week in the company of the We’ve spent the last week in the company of the @bmw X5 M50i. Hugely powerful yet surprisingly economical 😲 #bmw #x5 #mpower #carsofinstagram
I’ve had worse weeks……. #porsche #boxster #b I’ve had worse weeks……. #porsche #boxster #boxster25years #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben HarringtonFollow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

Ben Harrington
DrivingTorqueBen Harrington@DrivingTorque·
18 May

https://buff.ly/3MgBS7H #kia #ceed #sportswagon #review #roadtest #wagon

Reply on Twitter 1526997309602537472Retweet on Twitter 1526997309602537472Like on Twitter 1526997309602537472Twitter 1526997309602537472
Retweet on TwitterBen Harrington Retweeted
steveberry62Steve Berry@steveberry62·
15 May

Visited Glamis Castle today in the @mazdaukpr CX30. A lovely drive North that was made even better by the Mazda’s comfort and ride. 50+ MPG, too. A perfect day.

3
Reply on Twitter 1525887958045302785Retweet on Twitter 15258879580453027852Like on Twitter 152588795804530278511Twitter 1525887958045302785
Retweet on TwitterBen Harrington Retweeted
YTimesMotoringAndy Harris@YTimesMotoring·
12 May

The new Range Rover Sport has been unveiled.

All you need to know:

https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/New-Range-Rover-Sport-Revealed

@LandRover_UK @LandRoverUKPR

Reply on Twitter 1524707382131105795Retweet on Twitter 15247073821311057955Like on Twitter 15247073821311057956Twitter 1524707382131105795
DrivingTorqueBen Harrington@DrivingTorque·
12 May

https://buff.ly/3KGDRkx #bmw #x5 #msport #review

Reply on Twitter 1524708718167969793Retweet on Twitter 15247087181679697931Like on Twitter 1524708718167969793Twitter 1524708718167969793
DrivingTorqueBen Harrington@DrivingTorque·
9 May

https://buff.ly/38IdKMY #porsche #boxster #718 #25years #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1523742352338264064Retweet on Twitter 1523742352338264064Like on Twitter 15237423523382640641Twitter 1523742352338264064
Load More...

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com