Mitsubishi has given its European take on the ASX SUV an overhaul.
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The new small SUV follows in the footsteps of the updated Renault Captur on which it's based, but has a new look on the outside that better differentiates it.
The grille in particular is unique to the ASX, with an angular motif that blends neatly with the Mitsubishi badge and plenty of gloss black.
Inside, the European ASX has a 10.4-inch touchscreen lifted from the Captur, but subs its 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster for a 7.0-inch unit, at least according to the Dutch consumer site.
Globally the updated Captur is available with six powertrains across three fuel types. These include two turbo-petrol engines, two 12V mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engines, a dual-fuel petrol-LPG engine, as well as a series-parallel hybrid powertrain referred to as the "E-Tech full hybrid". It's not clear if all will be offered on the Mitsubishi.
We've reached out to Mitsubishi Australia to see if the European model is a chance to replace the current ASX locally.
Mitsubishi was expected to make a decision about what will replace the ASX before the end of 2023, but has yet to make any announcements about Australia.
It was currently weighing a version of the Asian-focused Xforce upgraded to meet Australian standards, or a rebadged product from within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance – likely a take on the Renault Captur like the European ASX.
The current ASX, which accounted for almost 15 per cent of Mitsubishi sales in Australia during 2023, has been on sale locally since 2010. It's been treated to multiple styling and tech updates, but is now around five years beyond the point most vehicles would be replaced by a ground-up new car.
Were it to be discontinued, the Eclipse Cross (or its replacement, which is coming to some parts of the world) would be forced to serve as an entry point to the Mitsubishi SUV range locally.
If it's not going to bring a version of the Xforce to Australia, Mitsubishi may be forced to sell the rebadged Renault Captur as the ASX. The Captur is currently sold in Australia, so it meets local emissions and safety standards, and it's built in right-hand drive.
The challenges Mitusbishi faces with that approach are twofold, however.
The first is convincing its Alliance partner at Renault to build the rebadged Captur in right-hand drive for Australia in sufficient volumes; the second is selling it.
The Captur is a fundamentally different vehicle to the current ASX, competing at a different price point. Mitsubishi is inching upmarket with the Outlander SUV, which is bigger and more expensive than the car it replaces, and has done similar with the new Triton.
Mitsubishi has also been burned before with rebadged Renault products in Australia.
The Express van was a rebadged Renault Trafic introduced to Australia in 2020 by Mitsubishi, and discontinued in the middle of 2022. Shortly after launch, it was slapped with a zero-star ANCAP safety rating due to the absence of safety assist features now common in rivals.
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
