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2020 Mitsubishi ASX pricing and features

Australia’s favourite small SUV is the enduring Mitsubishi ASX, and it’s getting another makeover for 2020

23 Oct 2019, 12:00 am

Tim Robson

David Bonnici

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Australia's best selling small SUV to get facelift for 2020
Now available, with new 'Sport' variants arriving in December
New more powerful engine added to the range

Australia’s best-selling small SUV, the Mitsubishi ASX, will go into its tenth successive year on sale in 2020 with a new look, new technology and a new, more powerful, 2.4-litre petrol engine option.

The 2020 ASX range will also introduce new ‘sport’ variants called the MR and GSR, which gain more athletic-looking interior and exterior trim.

The higher-spec GSR will come with a rear spoiler, and paddle shifters for more hands on gearing of the new 123kW/222Nm 2.4-litre engine that will also be available in the range-topping Exceed.

Coupled with the standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) the new engine produces 12 percent more power and 13 percent more torque than the 110kW/197Nm 2.0-litre engine carried over from the outgoing model into all but GSR and Exceed variants.

New tech includes a bigger 8.0-inch touchscreen with improved smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and digital radio (DAB+). The Exceed also gains a Rockford premium audio system and TomTom navigation that can connect to the internet via your phone for real-time city traffic updates… which kind of sounds a lot like what apps like Google Maps or Wayz already do. Anyway…

MOREMitsubishi ASX versus Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

The move to a larger screen has also meant a redesign for the centre console and dash array, though the basic layout carries over from the 2019 model.

It also claims that the range-topping models will include a TomTom-sourced satellite navigation system that can connect to the internet via your phone for real-time city traffic updates… which kind of sounds a lot like what apps like Google Maps or Wazyz already do. Anyway…

MOREWhy the heck does Australia love the Mitsubishi ASX so much?

Autonomous emergency braking, which Mitsubishi calls Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), is now standard across the ASX range rather with the optional ADAS package. The FCM system detects obstructions ahead and issues a visual and audible alert when there is a danger of a collision, automatically applying the brakes to either avoid a collision or reduce the impact.

The auto-dimming electrochromatic rear-view mirror that was part of the ADAS pack is also now standard.

The $2500 ADAS pack is still optional with entry-level ASX ES and brings lane departure warning, auto high beam, reversing sensors, blind spot warning, lane change assist rear cross traffic alert, front fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, and dusk-sensing headlamps.

The 2020 reboot brings the ASX’s design language into line with stablemates like the Eclipse Cross and the Pajero Sport. Out back, LED taillights work with conventional turn indicators in the reconfigured tail lamps, while a new rear fascia and bumper design deletes a lot of chrome work and sharpens its visage.

The evergreen Mitsubishi ASX, which launched in 2010, was the clear leader in this year's small SUV sales race, ahead of newer rivals like Mazda’s CX-3, the Honda HR-V, Subaru’s XV and the Hyundai Kona.

The keys to the popularity of this car are price and size. At the base, the ASX costs less than the majority of its competitors aside from the entry-level CX-3 and Ford’s largely unloved EcoSport, while its luggage space compares well with most rivals.

The 2020 Mitsubishi ASX ES, LS and Exceed are now available in Mitsubishi showrooms. The MR and GSR variants go on sale in December, with pricing for both to be announced closer to launch.