Photo: Mitsubishi
When it announced that the Lancer EVO X will be remembered as the final go-faster sedan to wear a Mitsubishi badge, the Japanese automaker further added that the future is all about crossovers and SUVs. However, a second and quite ghastly facelift of the ASX crossover is far from what Mitsubishi promised us.
Also known as the RVR in Japan and Canada, as well as Outlander Sport in the United States and Indonesia, the ASX has been around since 2010. Put plainly, the compact crossover is kicking on seven years down the track. For the peeps at Honda, for example, seven years is as much as a generation. But then again, Mitsubishi hit rock bottom because of a fuel economy scandal, prompting Nissan to acquire a 34 percent stake in the automaker.
Now try to look at it for 5 seconds. Look at it! With that sort of face, Mitsubishi insists that the second facelift for the ASX / RVR / Outlander Sport “continues to improve on this [sales] success with steady freshening to keep up with market trends and customers’ demand as well as the brand’s own evolution.” My, those are some fancy words for a not-that-fancy car.
Even though the Dynamic Shield design language fits the Outlander like a hand in glove, it looks out of place on the smaller sibling. To my eyes, it reminds me of an overdressed person who drop by the roadhouse diner to eat sunny-side up eggs, a big slice of ham, and fill up with a cup of Good Morning America. For what it’s worth, designers failed to mess up the rear fascia.
Model year 2017 add-ons include a shark fin antenna, more padding for the rear seats, new seat material, 18-inch wheels, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. On the downside, somebody thought that it would be a great idea to insert piano black trim on the steering wheel. Except it isn't, especially because glossy trim is not good for keeping a firm grip on the wheel.
Last, but certainly not least, MY 2017 also adds a new engine. It’s a 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 114 PS (112 horsepower) on tap, complemented by fuel-saving Auto Stop & Go technology. The diesel engine is exclusively available with a manual box in either front- or all-wheel-drive flavor.
Now try to look at it for 5 seconds. Look at it! With that sort of face, Mitsubishi insists that the second facelift for the ASX / RVR / Outlander Sport “continues to improve on this [sales] success with steady freshening to keep up with market trends and customers’ demand as well as the brand’s own evolution.” My, those are some fancy words for a not-that-fancy car.
Even though the Dynamic Shield design language fits the Outlander like a hand in glove, it looks out of place on the smaller sibling. To my eyes, it reminds me of an overdressed person who drop by the roadhouse diner to eat sunny-side up eggs, a big slice of ham, and fill up with a cup of Good Morning America. For what it’s worth, designers failed to mess up the rear fascia.
Model year 2017 add-ons include a shark fin antenna, more padding for the rear seats, new seat material, 18-inch wheels, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. On the downside, somebody thought that it would be a great idea to insert piano black trim on the steering wheel. Except it isn't, especially because glossy trim is not good for keeping a firm grip on the wheel.
Last, but certainly not least, MY 2017 also adds a new engine. It’s a 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 114 PS (112 horsepower) on tap, complemented by fuel-saving Auto Stop & Go technology. The diesel engine is exclusively available with a manual box in either front- or all-wheel-drive flavor.
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