Discover the all-new 2026 Mitsubishi ASX — a new-generation compact SUV that combines turbocharged performance, sophisticated design, and cutting-edge safety for Australian roads. Learn how the next-generation ASX transforms everyday driving.
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The Long Road to Reinvention
There’s something strangely poetic about the Mitsubishi ASX.
It’s been Australia’s behind-the-scenes achiever for over a decade — the sort of vehicle you didn’t pay attention to until you realized your entire street had one. It wasn’t trendy, and it wasn’t in pursuit of fashion. It was the SUV version of your most treasured work boots — reliable, cheap, and always up for another day.
But even the most faithful boots lose their thickness with time. By 2024, the ASX had started to feel like that old pair that had taken one journey too many. Competitors such as the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Toyota Corolla Cross had jumped ahead of it in tech, handling, and style. The formerly proud urban SUV that transported families around Australia’s suburbs was beginning to recede into the background.
Then, in a move that was daring, Mitsubishi began a new.
Meet the 2026 Mitsubishi ASX, a title that now stands not only for continuity, but for rebirth.
A New Chapter Written in Europe
This is not a facelift. This is not a cosmetics or marketing exercise. The 2026 ASX is a back-to-the-basics rebuild, conceived from the union of Mitsubishi with Renault and Nissan. Based on the CMF-B platform — the same one that underpins a range of European models — the ASX has moved from a budget-conscious runabout to something that finally has a premium look and feel.
And that matters, because the Australian small SUV market is intense. Motorists don’t just demand reliability anymore — they demand fashion, brains, and bite. Mitsubishi is well aware of that. That’s why the new ASX has the feel of being developed by someone who’s actually spent some time in Melbourne traffic and on a long weekend driven the Hume.
The previous ASX was familiar. The new ASX is assertive.
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Inside the Cabin: Where Familiarity Meets Freshness
Slip inside, and you’ll feel like Mitsubishi finally caught up with 2026.
The interior is a blend of European craftsmanship and Japanese discipline — neat, uncluttered, and quietly impressive. Soft-touch materials wrap around the dash, and every panel feels tighter, more deliberate.
Front and center is a 10.4-inch screen, angled towards the driver with just enough pride. The graphics are sharp, the operating system is simple, and for once, the menus aren’t an afterthought. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and upper trims include Google built-in — so your Maps, Assistant, and Play Store are embedded right into the dashboard.
Behind the wheel, a 10-inch digital driver display replaces the old dials, giving the ASX a modern cockpit feel. Add in a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and even heated seats, and suddenly you’re in a cabin that feels a world away from the rental-car stereotype the ASX once carried.
But perhaps the most Australian part of it all?The practicality.
The boot now holds around 484 litres, perfect for the Bunnings run, the surf trip, or that spontaneous road escape you’ll definitely plan and never quite take.
It’s familiar. But it’s better. Much better.
The Drive: From A-to-B to A-to-Brilliant
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Let’s talk performance
The old naturally aspirated 2.0-litre is gone, replaced by a more “meh”-feeling modern equivalent. It has been replaced by a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder in its place, tuned to produce 113 kW and 270 Nm.
Numbers don’t tell it all — but on the road, they shout loudly enough.
The new engine is alive. It’s responsive. You don’t have to stomp the accelerator to wake it up anymore; it just goes. Coupled to a silky seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, it shifts smoothly, keeping you in the middle of the torque curve whether you’re crawling through the peak-hour madness of Sydney or taking it out to play down the Great Ocean Road.
Yes, it’s still front-wheel drive, and no, there isn’t an all-wheel model yet. But the chassis balance, the steering response, and the silent composure at high speeds — these are beyond the wildest dreams of the old ASX.
It is grown-up. Assured. Not sporty, but reassuringly able. The ASX has matured without forfeiting its daily appeal.
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Safety: The Guardian Angel in the Shadows
Mitsubishi has had a good safety reputation all along, but the 2026 ASX goes several steps further.
All variants now come with the MiTEC advanced safety suite, and it’s not marketing hype. The vehicle actually assists you in staying alert and safeguarded, with features such as:
Autonomous Emergency Braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keep Assist that will nudge you back between the lines, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go, Driver Attention Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, Top models even include Traffic Jam Assist — useful for anyone who’s waited an eternity on the M1.
It’s not just about ticking boxes. It feels properly integrated — safety that’s there when you need it, but otherwise invisible.
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Real-World Capability: Designed for Australia, Built for Life
Australia is not always gentle on cars. We have harsh bitumen, broad highways, corrugated back roads, and city streets full of potholes. The 2026 ASX does not make excuses to be an off-road car, but it does not avoid the challenge either.
The suspension setup — firm, but never jarring — is spot-on for mixed conditions. The steering is light enough for parking, yet firm at speed. There’s sufficient clearance for gravel driveways and country shortcuts, yet sufficient dexterity to weave through compact car parks.
And although it won’t haul a caravan to Darwin, it’ll pull a small trailer or lug weekend equipment willingly enough. It’s the sort of car that simply suits Australian life — understated ability, not hollow adventure mantras.
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Pricing and Availability: Worth the Wait
Mitsubishi has priced the new ASX confidently — and with some bravery.
ASX LS: From A$37,740
ASX Aspire: From A$42,690
ASX Exceed: From A$46,490
Yes, it’s more expensive than before. But it’s also improved in nearly every quantifiable way. The 10-year/200,000-km warranty continues to be among the best in the business, and capped-price servicing keeps your expenses predictable.
Deliveries will begin in early 2026, with pre-orders now open through major Australian dealerships.
Why the New ASX Matters
The ASX has always been a mirror of Mitsubishi’s philosophy — build cars that last, cars that make sense, cars that do the job without fuss. But the 2026 version takes that practicality and wraps it in something new: ambition.
It’s the first ASX in years that doesn’t just feel like it’s playing catch-up. It feels like it belongs in the conversation again.
It doesn’t shout for attention, but it pays its dues — one drive at a time.
It’s fashionable without being tawdry, comfortable without being mushy, and sophisticated without being overcomplicated. It doesn’t attempt to be something it isn’t. Instead, it polishes what it always did so well and adds the sheen that was lacking.
If you desire a compact SUV that’s made for real life, that you can have faith in, delight in, and own for years without questioning your decision — this is it.
The ASX didn't merely transform. It reimagined itself.
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FAQs
Q: Is the 2026 Mitsubishi ASX an all-new model?
Yes — it’s on a new Renault-shared platform, so it’s a ground-up update instead of a facelift.
Q: What’s the engine it has?
A 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 113 kW and 270 Nm, matched to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Q: Does the new ASX offer AWD or hybrid models?
Not initially — it’s front-wheel drive only. But Mitsubishi has intimated electrified variants on the horizon.
Q: How’s the fuel economy?
Claimed at 6.4 L/100 km, though actuals will depend on driving conditions.
Q: When will it hit Australia?
Early 2026, with pre-orders already being taken at dealerships.
