Mitsubishi ASX 220 DI-D AWD 150 CV Kaiteki, road test (Exterior design, interior and boot)

We continue with the road test of the Mitsubishi ASX, a very important SUV for the Japanese brand and one that really has good arguments to be an interesting purchase. We have tested the most powerful diesel engine, also paired with the automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, although as we saw in the first part, the all-wheel drive is very dispensable in this type of vehicle.

Now in the second part of the test we have to analyse the design, especially the exterior which underwent a tune-up in the middle of last year, and the unit we tested was one of the first after the restyling. We will also analyse the interior design (very spacious) and the boot.

Exterior design

Externally the ASX MY2015 is updated with small changes, subtle but sufficient to keep the ASX up to date. The first thing we notice at the front is the new grille design and the LED daytime running lights integrated next to the front fog lights.

The lower body is protected but with plastic, that is, suitable for tracks and areas of little difficulty.

On the side, the 18-inch wheels of our unit stand out, and in this restyling a new exterior colour and new designs for the alloy wheels appear. While at the rear little changes, although it is a design that does not show the passage of time much.

Interior design and habitability

The interior design is very Japanese, that is, simple without great fanfare or large lines, but at least you can sense that over the years the design will remain the same. In the centre console area is the navigator and just below the climate control. While the instrumentation is simple but complete, especially the on-board computer.

The driving position is very comfortable, slightly elevated as is usual in SUVs and with good visibility, especially thanks to its large mirrors. Our unit, the top of the range, incorporated leather upholstery, though micro-perforated.

The rear seats are spacious, especially the legroom and headroom, while the rear centre seat is less comfortable as it has a harder backrest (where the rear armrest is located) and the central tunnel is slightly raised, thus reducing foot space.

Note the panoramic roof, which lets a lot of light into the interior, but, it must be said, could not be opened.

Storage spaces and boot

In terms of storage spaces there is a clear difference between the front and rear seats: at the front there are generous door pockets, several compartments in the central tunnel and a medium-sized glovebox.

But at the rear they have forgotten to include any kind of storage in the doors, not even for a small bottle, and there is only a cup holder located in the rear armrest.

The boot has a capacity of 416 litres with a very regular shape, which makes it very usable, but it also hides a compartment under the boot floor that adds another 26 litres and is very practical for storing small objects so they are not loose in the boot.

In the third part of the test we will analyse the equipment, including the safety features standard on an ASX. We will also look at prices and our personal opinion of the car.

Photos | Test team, R. Rodriguez

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverMitsubishi ASX8 versions · from 25,250 €