| Week at the Wheel | Mitsubishi ASX |

There's a sub-niche in the soft-roader sector now, the crossover, which consists of models that provide an additional step between the SUV and a family hatch. Mitsubishi has entered into the fray with a new model in the shape of the ASX. Lately the manufacturer has struggled to make conventional family cars, such as the Lancer, competitive - it makes sense for the manufacturer to leverage its expertise in soft-roaders in the expanding SUV crossover market.

Inside & Out:

The ASX is the production version of a concept car first shown a few years ago and has carried over the majority of the concept's features with very little change. Up front the prominent new face of Mitsubishi in the form of its 'Fighter Jet' grille dominates and gives the ASX some serious road presence. Heavily sculpted flanks sweep towards a rear end that again bears strong family resemblances to cars such as the Mitsubishi Outlander.

The relative appreciation of the interior is a function of whether you come to the ASX from a hatchback or an SUV. Put bluntly, it does not stand favourable comparison with the current crops of hatches. There's not much to fault with respect to layout and equipment levels but the array of hard, harsh plastics isn't pleasing on the eye or to the touch, though it should prove to be hard wearing. A few hours at the wheel also revealed that the seats aren't the most comfortable or supportive we've sampled lately and cabin noise is excessive.

Engine & Transmission:

Now and again Mitsubishi finds itself at the leading edge of technology. It happened with the GDi engine seen in the underwhelming (and ironically named) Carisma saloon and it happens here as the manufacturer is one of the first to fit variable valve timing to a diesel engine. Its all-new 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine features Mitsubishi's MIVEC technology and uses it to good effect to boost performance, economy and lend itself to a lighter weight engine.

On the road the 1.8-litre is deceptively punchy and feels more akin to a modern 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. Once beyond the 2,000rpm mark the engine delivers a pleasingly linear wave of torque that is easy to ride via a range of well-judged ratios and a smooth gearshift. All out pace is competitive with rivals, with 0-60mph being accounted for in around 10 seconds and in-gear acceleration more than adequate. Economy of over 40mpg is easy to obtain also; it's just a shame that so much of the engine's work can be heard in the cabin in the form of turbo-whistle and a continuous drone.

Ride & Handling:

The ASX's suspension set-up is just a little too soft. As a consequence, the ride is compromised by a lack of damping that fails to control the body over undulating urban roads, bouncing occupants around rather more than one might expect. Handling-wise there is a good level of grip and the ASX is composed once settled into a corner, but getting it in to the bend itself isn't so easy though - even after a week at the wheel, the dulled steering hadn't become familiar and the perceptible delay between steering input and actual change of direction is a little odd. Accepting that SUVs never have pin-sharp handling, the ASX's feels rather more anaesthetised than it should.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

A generous range of standard equipment, even on entry-level models, ensures that the ASX is class competitive right out of the box. The trump card is the pricing; the ASX actually undercuts the equivalent Skoda Yeti by several thousand pounds. It's arguably the best value SUV out there with the range starting at under £15,000. Running costs should be reasonable too thanks to long service intervals and good economy. Given the low initial purchase price, depreciation shouldn't be overly harsh either.

Overall:

Mitsubishi's new ASX has a lot going for it. Spacious, practical, good value and fitted with a fine engine, it is competent overall. However, there's nothing that really makes it standout from the competition.