2025 Mitsubishi ASX: New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

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Government approval documents reveal the new-generation Mitsubishi ASX is likely to offer fewer model grades than before in Australia, with its starting price expected to be in excess of $30,000.


Jordan Hickey
 New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

Mitsubishi's next-generation ASX small SUV has moved one step closer to its Australian launch in the second half of 2025.

Government approval documents have revealed the 2025 Mitsubishi ASX, which is based on the Renault Captur, will launch in Australia in at least three variants – LS, Aspire and Exceed – compared to the six offered on today's model.

Among the trim grades axed are the two cheapest versions, GS and ES – meaning price rises for the new Spanish-made model are all but certain.

The three variants listed align with the current mid-spec ASX LS and top-of-the-range Exceed, while the Aspire is a new name to slot between the two grades, mirroring the Outlander mid-size SUV line-up.

 New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

It is currently offered in GS, ES, MR, LS, GSR and Exceed grades, with 2.0-litre non-turbo and 2.4-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engines depending on the variant.

While the existing ASX GS starts from $24,490 before on-road costs with a five-speed manual transmission and steel wheels, the LS CVT automatic costs $30,490.

The new-generation model is likely to begin at a similar price, if not higher, for its entry-level LS turbo-petrol dual-clutch automatic variant.

It would see the ASX's entry price rise by at least $6000 – or $3750 for automatic models.

 New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

The documents do not confirm which engines will be offered with the new ASX in Australia – with this information due to appear closer to its launch in the second half of 2025 – but Drive understands all powertrains available in Europe are under consideration for Australia.

In Europe, the ASX is offered with a 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic – with or without mild-hybrid tech – as well as full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options using a 1.6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder.

Australia will most likely receive the 1.3-litre turbo with a seven-speed dual-clutch shared with the Renault Captur.

A fair chance for local showrooms is the Renault-sourced 1.6-litre full-hybrid, while the manual and plug-in hybrid versions are less certain for Australian sale.

 New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

Based on its European specifications, the entry-level ASX LS could include 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, cloth trim, climate control, keyless entry and start, and a suite of active safety features.

The Aspire and Exceed may add 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio, leather-look or full-leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and a wireless phone charger, depending on the variant.

Cosmetic differences between the Mitsubishi ASX and Renault Captur are limited to different bumpers and badges.

Mitsubishi offers a dealer-service-activated 10-year/200,000-kilometre warranty compared to Renault's five-year/unlimited-kilometre assurance in Australia, and it has a wider dealer network.

The Spanish-built models incur a 5 per cent import tariff in Australia as there is no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with European Union countries, while the current ASX is manufactured in Japan without import tariffs as Australia has an FTA with Japan.

 New Renault-based SUV to offer at least three variants in Australia, price rises likely

Mitsubishi Australia's decision to replace the current ASX – which dates back to 2010 – with the Renault-based European version was fast-tracked by the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) mandate introduced on March 1, 2025, as re-engineering costs to bring the existing model to the required standard were "not commercially feasible".

It will temporarily leave Mitsubishi Australia with three models – the European ASX, the Outlander and the Triton – in local showrooms at the start of 2026, though a new-generation Pajero Sport is due sometime next year based on the latest Triton ute.

Jordan Hickey

Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.

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