Current-gen Mitsubishi ASX will live on in Oz until "the right replacement is found"

Mitsubishi will continue to sell the current version of its ASX small SUV in Australia for the foreseeable future until "the right replacement comes along".

Speaking with Wheels, CEO Shaun Westcott said the company has no plans to replace the ASX at present because the current model continues to sell so well in Australia.

In the 12 months of 2022, 12,753 examples of the ASX were sold locally, putting it in third place in its segment only behind the MG ZS and Mazda CX-30.

"I can't reveal details [for ASX] other than to say that it's still smashing records. It's still sitting extremely well. It's a really popular car in Australia and a very important car for us," said Westcott.

"We continue to explore multiple and various options around what is the right [replacement] car to bring to Australia."

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The Mitsubishi ASX has been around for more than a decade now, it was first revealed in 2010 and has undergone four facelifts in that time, but sales have long defied this compact SUV’s age.

Aside from offering a lot of metal for the money, the Mitsubishi ASX is cleanly-styled, easy to drive, rides well and is both safe and reliable. It also has one of the roomiest cabins in its class.

All ASX models are front-wheel-drive. ASX ES, MR and LS variants feature a 110kW 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT auto. The GSR and Exceed versions gain a slightly more powerful, 123kW 2.4-litre petrol engine.

Pricing starts from $24,990 for the ES and rises to $34,740 for the Exceed.

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Late last year a Renault Captur-based second-gen was revealed for Europe, but at present there's no indication this version is headed for our shores – or at least any time soon, in part, because it will be produced exclusively in left-hand-drive.

Mitsubishi only recently adopted Renault’s compact crossover as its “new” ASX for the European market with not much more than a badge switcheroo.

Regular readers will recognise the new ASX as a re-badged version of the Renault Captur, using the same Alliance CMF-B platform and styling.

Mitsubishi has tweaked the ASX’s fascia with a subtle nod to the brand’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ grille design, but the similarities between the ASX and Captur are hard to miss.

In a rare twist, the 2023 ASX is smaller in every dimension than the 12-year-old car it replaces, measuring 4228 millimetres long, 1797m wide and 1573mm tall against the older model's 4365mm, 1810mm and 1640mm.

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Mitsubishi ASX rendering by Theottle

According to Mitsubishi HQ, the impending need to renew or replace the ASX with a new-generation model makes it a prime candidate for reinvention as an EV.

Speaking recently with Wheels in Tokyo, Mitsubishi Motors’s chief of electric powertrain development outlined the company’s plan to focus on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains for its larger cars, while smaller vehicles – such as the ASX – would be offered as battery-electric EVs in appropriate markets.