TMW - We test the latest Mitsubish ASX5 Leather - A car thats better than so called remium cars.

The Mitsubishi ASX is a great car, and is probably the best car in it's range, it is good enough for the family, offers plenty of space and pricing that's now more competitive that ever, so why is not a better seller.

There are a selection of engines of engines available from two 1.6 litres, one petrol and one diesel and the car tested here, the 2.2 litre diesel automatic, the trim levels are a little confusing, with numbers and letters from ASX2-ASX3-ASX4 and ASX5, with pricing that starts at £16k and tips the scales at a whopping £27k, which takes it into more premium priced products.

Even the basic model comes reasonably well equipped, with our car coming with electric front drivers seat, Nav system, Heated seats front AND rear, leather upholstery, Climate and cruise control, and these are just some of the toys, of which i will list later, the exterior of the car has been updated with the new corporate look, and it is a huge leap forward for such a small change.

The car is a proper off road car, none of these "soft roaders", which is another big plus point for the car, you can select two wheel drive if on normal roads, but once you go into the muddy and rough stuff, the press of a button takes in into four wheel drive, the auto box can then be moved into manual mode with flappy paddles, which are available anytime.

The car comes with a rear view camera to aid reversing, the front comes with Emergency Stop Signal System, alerting you to anything too close in front of you, a great help whilst driving, the overall look of the exterior is of a capable and well resolved SUV, one that really should sell better than it does. 

The only downside to the engine is that it was a little course at higher revs and at motorway speeds, but it is more than capable to over take anything at said motorway speed, without any real issue or trouble, it is not as refined as other engines from other brands, but once you have the radio on and your tootling along, you really don't notice the noise - there is very little road noise intrusion either, which considering other cars in this class fail to get a grip of, Mitsubishi has.

 The ride is very good, the car grips to the road and sticks to the corners well, push it however, and it will try and give way, but you get used to what you can and can not get away with, and at that point it becomes a perfect car with near to perfect road manners, it even smooths out the ever increasing pot holes.

The car out performs other cars in the class from the Mokka X and Ateca, with really light steering, the car is the perfect town car, it is very easy to park as well.

The automatic on our car is very smooth and totally un-noticeable when it changes up or down at reasonable speeds, boot it and yes you can feel the change, it is a shame that the gearbox is limited to just 5 a speed, when most other brands are now heading towards 7 or 8 or in the case of Ford, 10 speed auto, but never the less this is acceptable, for this generation at least.

The interior of the car is simple and easy to understand, with a  lot of the functionality on the touchscreen you find everything close to hand and easy to operate, the other button, switchgear and dials that are not on the touchscreen, are all easy to reach and equally easy to operate, the movable arm rest houses a storage bin, and the car has a load of storage dotted all over the interior.

The steering wheel is a decent size, fits nicely in the hand with decent well weighted controls, the wheel has reach and height on all models, once you get your self sorted and comfortable utilising the four way electric seat, steering wheel and mirrors, you find that there is also loads of room for your feet with enough space to place your foot, rear space is also really good, with more than enough room for, even, the larger passenger, however that does impact on the boot space a little, but it still is large enough to take a family week shop, a few large suitcases or similar.

The 60/40 split rear seats at the back give significantly more space, although with the seats up you get over 440 litres of stowage room, and a nice tough is having these seats lay totally flat, which a large number of its competitors are not able to do.

Considering the seats are leather and the suspension is more tuned for a firmer ride, the seats are very comfortable and you fell well cossetted from the first time you get in, once sitting the dash display is simple and easy to understand, possible slightly on the small side, but you don't spend your journey looking at display, 

The dashboard is simple and sensibly arranged, with straightforward rotary controls for the air-conditioning and a high-stacked centre console that’s easy to see and reach. The digital display between the instrument dials is rather small and hard to read, but there’s plenty of foot space around the pedals, while all versions have a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and height.

All models are fitted with Blue tooth with a USB port for your iPod or phone charger, DAB is then added from ASX3 upwards, you would assume to keep costs under control, they all operate the same Touchscreen, but no, the lower models have a 6" version with a 7 " version from ASX4 upwards, this then adds Sat Nav, i found the sat nav to be a little "slow" with you getting to a junction before the system tells you where you need to go, which on an unknown road can be rather off putting, the system itself is not the best one available, in fact the Outlander PHEV we tested previous was better, and other brands have superior set ups too..

The dash looks the part, but its quality lacks a little, there are some hard scratch plastics, and lots of soft touch plastics with piano black flashes dotted about, the doors have red leather inserts which match the red leather upholstery, which is really striking and looks the part, the amount of glass, either from the Windscreen, doors or full length glass panoramic sunroof shows the interior up very well indeed, and to be honest, this car needs the glass roof to give it a more bright and visual appeal.

Pricing for the ASX is very good too, with the entry model costing :-

• £15,999 Mitsubishi ASX
• £20520 Vauxhall Mokka X
• £18,150  Seat Ateca
• £15,645 Ford Eco sport (terrible car)
• £29,150 Land Rover Discovery Sport
• £15,999 Suzuki SX-4 S-Cross

You should be able to do some good haggling and get a decent discount, especially after last months 20% new car sales decline, fixed price service packages should be available as well, keeping costs under control, however, you will find that the 2.2 litre Auto is a tad thirsty and service schedules are only 9000 miles :-

• Economy - Urban 50.4mpg
• Economy Extra Urban 60.1mpg
• Economy Combined 56.5mpg

Yes, you can buy the basic model for £16k, but we say that you should, if you can, put some extra money towards a model further up the range to get some decent kit and better engines, after all, this will be a purchase you keep for some while, so you might as well have a decent car, with better interiors too boot

The car we have has a number of decent options :-

• Leather Upholstery
• DAB Radio
• Blue tooth
• Satellite Navigation
• Rear View camera
• 18" Alloy Wheels
• Panoramic Glass Roof
• Privacy Glass
• All Round heated seats
• LED daytime running lights
• LED For lights
• Dusk Sensing Headlights
• Keyless start
• Auto Wipers
• Auto lights
• TPMS
• Electric Heated and operating/folding wing mirrors
• Emergency Stop Signal System
• Hill Start assist
• Brake Assist
• Climate Control
• Cruise Control
• Auto Stop & Go
• All round Electric Windows
• 4-Way Electric Drivers Seat

And this is just a small number of the options that are on the ASX5 Leather, once you have driven this car, going down the range is a hardship and something you really do not want to do.

OVERALL.

The ASX5 is a great car, beaten by only a handful of other cars, the model that we had was perfect, had the right amount of kit and options, drove very well, was reasonable quiet, handled very well, and apart from the slow Sat Nav and high fuel consumption you would be hard pressed to pick something over this, the price for the uber top model tops out at £23,489 which is knocking on the door of a Range Rover.

But as of today (going to press) there is a three year 0% APR and a £2,500 deposit allowance (Terms and conditions etc apply) this will make it more tempting, so what is stopping you from buying the ASX, as far as we are concerned, nothing, i would pick this over and above the majority of the competition, so go one, you know you wan to !

The Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP, a limited run of models which will start a range of Limited Editions.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK will launch its new SVP (Special Vehicle Projects) programme with the debut of the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP at the 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC, Birmingham April 25 - 27. 

Designed to provide Mitsubishi customers with exclusive, highly distinctive vehicles, Mitsubishi SVP models will be produced in small volumes with significant appearance changes and specific colour options. 

Inspired by the one-off Mitsubishi L200 Desert Warrior ‘Pre-runner’, that also features on the Mitsubishi Motors UK stand (Hall 4, stand 4G90), the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP will be limited to a production run of 250 with half available in Electric Blue metallic and the other half in Cosmos Black. 

Building on the generous specification of the highly-successful Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian Double Cab, the SVP version features a more aggressive and eye-catching look via revisions to the exterior and interior. 

Most noticeable are the additions of 17-inch bespoke black alloy wheels with BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres, shrouded by exclusive new wheel arch extensions, while the purposeful look is reinforced by an all-new grille and an exclusive black finish on the headlamp and tail lamp bezels, fog lamp surrounds, roof rails and rear bumper. 

Completing the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP’s unique exterior features are shark fin-inspired side steps, load bed illumination, puddle lamps, soft-opening tailgate damper and an SVP emblem on the tailgate. 

Inside, the limited-edition model has Barbarian-inspired ‘six-pack’ leather seats with suede-like ‘Alston’ inserts. Each vehicle’s individual limited edition number and the SVP logo are also stitched into the headrests. Front and rear foot-well mood lighting together with illuminated Barbarian door entry guards add to the special feel of the interior. 

Standard features of the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP also include rain and dusk sensors, keyless entry, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, Bi-Xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, cruise control and reversing camera. 

Power is provided by the proven and efficient 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine, which produces 180hp and 430Nm of torque, while the rotary-dial controlled Super Select 4WD system can be combined with a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel paddle shifters. 

The Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP is available to order now and is priced from £28,479 (excluding VAT) for both blue and black versions. 

One of the most outragious Mitsubishi Pick Ups has been developed for some outrageous challenges ahead.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK will showcase the one-off Mitsubishi L200 that has been built in conjunction with Top Gear magazine at the 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show, held at the NEC, Birmingham from April 25 - 27.

Developed in secret by the world’s biggest-selling enthusiast magazine and codenamed ‘Project Swarm’, the totally unique Mitsubishi L200 will take centre stage on the brand’s eye-catching stand (Hall 4, stand 4G90).

Fully exploring the potential of the Mitsubishi L200, ‘Project Swarm’ is built in the style of a ‘Pre-Runner’ off-road vehicle – specially modified production vehicles that are beefed-up to ‘pre-run’ stages of off-road desert racers.

Tom Ford, Associate Editor for Top Gear magazine, recently named as one of Top Gear America’s hosts, joined forces with renowned engineer Ralph Hosier of RH Engineering, best known for his work on National Geographic Channel show Supercar Megabuild, to transform his standard Mitsubishi L200 long-term test vehicle into one of the wildest Mitsubishi vehicles on the road.

While it still has the interior comfort of a production L200, enhanced by a set of bespoke Cobra racing seats, the Desert Warrior has been made even more capable thanks to a range of additions, including an external roll cage, heavily modified suspension, oversized wheels with self-inflating tyres, long range LED lights and some extra kit that will be needed to negotiate some of the world’s harshest terrain.

Top Gear is planning to use the Mitsubishi L200 Desert Warrior for a very special upcoming challenge which will feature in the magazine, and online, and detail many of the trucks additional features.

Commenting on his radical Mitsubishi L200, Tom Ford, said: “I’ve always had an obsession with ‘Pre-runners’ and this is my idea of the perfect desert truck. It’s a very serious truck but it’s got that little bit of theatre that makes me think it’s got something extra to it. It’s still an L200, but it has been made to be max-attack and it will not break. It’s exactly what I wanted – something that has the appearance of a Hot Wheels toy and is every bit as tough as it looks!”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “The Mitsubishi L200 is one of the most durable pick-up trucks available, but the Desert Warrior takes its toughness to a whole new level. In fact, its purposefulness and ruggedness has provided the inspiration for the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian SVP, the first limited edition model to be created by our new SVP (Special Vehicle Projects) programme.”

Mitsubishi in the UK has announced an to the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Juro.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has announced a series of revisions to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Juro – the high specification version of the nation’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle. 

Available to order now and priced from £33,499 after the Plug-in Car Grant, the new Juro benefits from an enhanced specification that heightens convenience, comfort and safety. 

Building on the high levels of standard equipment in the outgoing Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Juro, the 2017 version is now equipped with an Electronic Parking Brake with Brake Auto Hold, EV Priority Mode; Smartphone Link Display Audio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; DAB and a reversing camera. 

When the new EV switch is activated, EV Priority Mode allows the driver to operate the vehicle in EV mode without the engine starting, provided there is sufficient charge in the batteries, ensuring that the driver enjoys optimum efficiency with the minimum of fuss. When turned on, the new Brake Auto Hold function works to hold the vehicle in traffic or on an incline the same way a handbrake would, letting the driver release the footbrake. 

Connectivity and convenience is enhanced with the addition of the Smartphone Link Display Audio system which supports Apple CarPlay^*1, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone^*1 in the car. The driver can use Siri^*1 or the Smartphone Link Display Audio’s touch screen to receive directions optimised for traffic conditions, make and receive calls, access text messages, and listen to music, all in a way that allows them to stay focused on the road. Smartphone Link Display Audio also supports the Android Auto^TM*2 which provides voice-controlled operation of Google Maps^TM,^*2 Google Play^TM*2 music and other apps. Additional features include Bluetooth for hands-free calls and music streaming, AM/FM and DAB radio and the display of specific Outlander PHEV functions. 

Other highlights of the Juro’s impressive standard specification include cruise control, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, the Mitsubishi PHEV app, which allows pre-heating of the interior, and dual-zone climate control.  

The Juro’s upgrades complement the comprehensive 2017 model year revisions to all Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV variants. Incorporating improvements to the drivetrain, chassis and on-board technology, the new Outlander PHEV offers an improved class-leading pure electric range of 33 miles, CO₂ emissions of 41g/km – the lowest of any all-wheel drive vehicle – and an average weighted fuel consumption of 166 mpg. Its regenerative braking technology has also been enhanced for 2017 and its rapid charging time to 80% has been reduced to 25 minutes. The Outlander PHEV’s appearance is made even more distinctive with the availability of a new Cool Silver colour. 

Like other Outlander PHEV variants, the Juro is backed by a five year, 62,500-mile warranty. For an additional £500, customers can purchase the Mitsubishi Service Plan, which covers scheduled maintenance for the first three years. 

The first two months of the years see's internal sales from Mitsubishi dealers Outlander PHEW Sales at record levels.

Strong demand for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has seen Mitsubishi Motors in the UK notch up two consecutive months of record sales of pre-owned internal fleet vehicles.

Of the 717 pre-owned vehicles that Mitsubishi dealers have bought directly from the manufacturer’s UK division since the start of the year, nearly 45 per cent were the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, highlighting the unwavering popularity of the UK’s best-selling Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicle.

Such is the demand for pre-owned examples of the versatile all-wheel drive SUV, that 2017 YTD sales figures of used internal fleet vehicles represent an increase of over 43 per cent compared to the same period in 2016.

In addition to more and more motorists appreciating the significant benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the sales growth has been driven by Mitsubishi Motors in the UK’s focus on making its pre-owned vehicles even more appealing to retail customers, as well as the continued expansion of its dealer network.

Mitsubishi has recently introduced an enhanced, industry-leading Approved Used Programme and a strong 5.9% APR PCP* offer that allows drivers to own a pre-owned 2016 Outlander PHEV GX4H for £299 per month, plus deposit and final payment.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers the best pure EV range of any of its direct competitors, has the lowest emissions of any all-wheel drive vehicle and remains amongst the lowest-emitting vehicles in the plug-in hybrid segment. It is also the only AWD vehicle to utilise electric power to drive both front and rear wheels for superior traction both on and off the road even in pure electric mode. It is also the only Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle to offer rapid charging (up to 80% in approximately 25 minutes) and five-mode adjustable regenerative braking, which is controlled via the steering wheel paddles to further enhance the driving experience.

Mitsubishi continues it's expansion with yet another new dealership to sell its range of brilliant offroaders.

The latest addition to the fast-growing Mitsubishi UK dealer network has opened its doors in County Durham.

Croxdale Mitsubishi, located on the A167 around four miles outside the city centre, features a spacious seven-car showroom together with a 400 sq metre, state-of-the-art workshop that houses eight bays, an MOT bay and diagnostic lane.

An experienced team of eight — including four newcomers to the successful Croxdale automotive group — is managing the site.

Kevin Parkinson, Managing Director, said: “Mitsubishi has a fantastic reputation for producing quality vehicles, and it’s something we’re very excited to be a part of. From the Mirage right up to the award-winning L200, it’s a brand which is exciting and becoming increasingly popular here in the North East.”

It took four months for Croxdale Group to refurbish its showroom ready for Mitsubishi’s arrival and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Mr Parkinson added: “Our opening weekend was absolutely fantastic — busy from start to finish with people coming to have a look at the brand-new site, experience the Mitsubishi range and making aftersales bookings. 

General awareness is building that Croxdale is the new name for Mitsubishi in the North East. The local community are delighted to now have a local Mitsubishi dealer on their doorstep in Durham.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “I’m delighted that Croxdale Group has chosen to grow with Mitsubishi at what is a very exciting time for the brand. With their expertise, and the group already having an excellent reputation in the area, we know that the region’s new and existing Mitsubishi owners are in very safe hands.”

Mitsubishi celebrates its new updated range with many tempting offers and deals.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is providing car buyers with even more reason to consider its recently revised model line-up with the announcement of its latest 0% APR HP* and 5.9% APR representative* PCP offers.

0% APR HP* is available across the entire range, while for the majority of models there is also the option of the 5.9% APR representative* PCP package, which offers deposit contributions of up to £2,500. There is no need for a customer deposit with either finance solution.

Now capable of 166 mpg with CO₂ emissions of only 141g/km and an extended all-electric range of 33 miles, the multi-award-winning Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers a £2,500 deposit contribution when bought via the 5.9% APR representative* PCP finance package.

Selected versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander diesel, which was also updated for 2017 with extra equipment and revised interior detailing, are also available with a £2,500 deposit contribution on the same PCP package.

Recently voted ‘Best Pickup’ at the Carbuyer Awards 2017, the latest Mitsubishi L200 Series 5 attracts a £2,000 deposit contribution when customers opt for the 5.9% APR representative* PCP offer.

Now with new ‘Dynamic Shield’ front end styling and enhanced equipment, the 2017 Mitsubishi ASX is offered with a £1,500 deposit contribution on selected versions financed through the latest PCP offer.

Adding to the appeal of the legendary Mitsubishi Shogun is a £2,000 deposit contribution on all versions financed through a 5.9% APR representative* PCP finance package.

Finally, customers can experience the fun drive and generous specification of Mitsubishi’s Mirage Juro for a low monthly cost with the availability of a 0% APR representative* PCP offer.

All the offers run until March 29, 2017. There is no cash alternative to the finance deposit contributions.

Anyone buying a new Mitsubishi can also relax in the knowledge that it comes with a fully comprehensive five-year warranty package.

Notes:

All offers are subject to availability and while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply. Offers are for retail customers only and finance is subject to status. UK residence and 18+ only.

*All finance offers are supplied through Finance Mitsubishi, part of Lloyds Banking Group. The 0% APR Hire Purchase Finance plan requires no deposit and is over 36 months. The 0% APR representative PCP offer requires a minimum 20% deposit and is excluded from any Finance Deposit Contribution (FDC) offers. FDC offers can only be used towards a PCP (Personal Contract Plan) finance options through Finance Mitsubishi. Offers not available in conjunction with any other offers. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to one of our lenders. Mitsubishi Motors in the UK reserves the right to change these offers at any time. These offers are not available on the Channel Islands or Isle of Man. All finance plans, offers and FDCs are available until 29th March 2017.