A name steeped in history: 2026 Mitsubishi ASX Aspire

For years, the Mitsubishi ASX was the small SUV you bought when you wanted something simple, affordable and familiar. It was never the flashiest thing in the car park, but it worked, and that was enough for a lot of people.

The 2026 ASX though is a very different car, wearing a very familiar badge. Gone is the old-school half-pint SUV that felt like it was built to outlive the apocalypse. In its place is something sharper, more modern and far more European in flavour.

That's mainly because underneath it all, this is essentially a rebadged Renault Captur. That is not automatically a bad thing, but it does change the character of the car completely. The ASX Aspire now feels less like a budget Mitsubishi workhorse and more like a small urban SUV.

On the surface, it has the equipment, the warranty appeal and the practicality to make sense. At least for the right buyer. That’s especially so when someone is chasing something on the cheaper end of the new-car market or even a semi-decent fleet option.

But spend a bit of time with it and you realise this is not a hidden gem. It is okay. Nothing more, nothing less. It doesn’t feel groundbreaking, some of the cabin materials feel cheap, and the rear-view camera quality is the sort of thing that reminds you quickly that this car has been built to a price.

From the outside, the ASX has a much sharper and more modern look than the car it replaces. The front end is cleaner, the body has more sculpting through the sides, and the Aspire grade gets a bunch of goodies.

You’ll find 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, privacy glass, black wheel arch mouldings and a body-coloured rear spoiler. It’s not a car that will stop people in their tracks, but it does look tidy.

The Renault influence is obvious but Mitsubishi has done enough with the badging and front-end treatment to make it feel like part of the local line-up. Under the bonnet, the ASX Aspire uses a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine producing 113kW and 270Nm.

That’s paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It is front-wheel drive only, so anyone expecting old-school Mitsubishi all-wheel drive SUV toughness will need to adjust their expectations. This is more city runabout than bush-track weapon, although it never really was the latter.

On the road, the ASX is fine. That’s probably the most honest way to put it. It’s not quick, and it’s not especially engaging. It doesn’t have the sort of punch that makes you want to go hunting for excuses to drive it.

But for school runs, commuting, fleet use and general around-town life, it does the job without making a drama of it. The engine has enough torque low down to keep it moving, and the 6.4-litres/100km claimed fuel figure is respectable for a small petrol SUV.

Inside is where the ASX becomes a little more mixed. At first glance, the cabin looks decent. The portrait-style 10.4-inch infotainment screen gives the interior a modern centrepiece, the digital driver display lifts the presentation, and the layout is clean.

There is a heated leather-bound steering wheel and ambient lighting. A floating centre console and a practical storage layout feature. Start touching things and you notice the ASX feels like its designed to withstand an apocalypse.

That’s great for versatility, especially with kids, and ironically on brand for this vehicle and its history. The seats are trimmed in fabric, and while that won’t excite everyone, it does make sense for daily use.

It’s easier to live with, harder to make look tired immediately, and less annoying in the middle of an Australian summer. The Aspire also gets a smart key, push-button start, wireless phone charging, four USB inputs up front, and two second-row USB power outlets.

It all adds to the convenience on offer. Tech is strong too. The 10.4-inch touchscreen includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, DAB+ radio, Bluetooth, Google built-in (Maps, Assistant and Play). That’s a solid equipment list, and gives the ASX a modern feel.

The ASX Aspire scores forward collision mitigation with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, emergency lane assist, rear cross traffic alert and driver attention alert.

Adaptive cruise control and Mitsubishi’s MI-PILOT system with lane centering assist, feature. It’s not without its issues though. The amount of tech is great, but there’s some small niggles in the way some of it executes.

Practicality is solid. The ASX measures 4238mm long, 1797mm wide and 1575mm tall, so it still fits neatly into the small SUV space. The second row has slide adjustment, which lets you trade rear legroom for boot space when needed.

There are ISOFIX points, three top tether points, a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, bottle holders, door pockets, seatback pockets and a height-adjustable rear cargo floor. Boot space is listed at 484-litres with the second row in place.

That expands to 1596-litres with the rear seats folded. It’s very usable, and gives the ASX a practical edge for people who want a small SUV but still need to carry prams, bags, work gear or weekend junk. Pricing for the 2026 Mitsubishi ASX Aspire starts from $42,690 before on-roads.

Mitsubishi offers a 10-year or 200,000km warranty if you service with them (or 5-years or 100,000km if you don’t). 10-years or 150,000km of capped price servicing is included. Overall, it’s not groundbreaking, it doesn’t feel revolutionary, and yet none of that makes it pointless.

Rather, for someone wanting a cheaper SUV with warranty, decent tech, good practicality and a badge with a strong dealer network behind it, the ASX makes sense.

This review first published on Exhaust Notes Australia.

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