Our car of the month for June is a great little winter rental. With the added space and solid feel of an SUV but the compact nature of a sedan, it has been chosen as a rental in Australia by a lot of Airport Rentals customers as the weather takes a turn for the colder. With both 2WD and 4WD options, it offers the possibility of a little more reach during your average Aussie road trip.
The space question
When you’re travelling, space is always a concern. For a compact SUV, the Mitsi ASX has a good amount of space in the cabin (read: no fights over personal space) and the sought-after legroom for backseat passengers.
If luggage is more your priority than said passengers, you will find a 430 litre-capacity boot which will expand to nearly 1,200 litres with the back seats folded down - much more than in the similar Nissan Qashqai. If you are travelling heavy, an SUV like the Mitsubishi ASX rather than a sedan might make all the difference.
Fuel up
Make sure you check what kind of fuel your rental ASX takes, as the model is offered both in diesel and petrol versions. It also offers different engine sizes. Of course, this means that running costs are hard to generalise - if you have the smaller 1.8-litre diesel or 1.6-litre petrol 2WD, you can expect very good mileage for your dollar. Bigger engines and the 4WD versions are a little thirstier.
As SUVs go, the relatively smaller size and smaller engines of the Mitsubishi ASX mean that it’s one of your best options for fuel efficiency - if using less fuel is more important than the space and security of an SUV, we suggest a sedan or an economy vehicle.
Top-notch safety
Beyond that little extra bit of space, the Mitsi ASX has one big selling point over your typical rental sedan, especially for driving in winter conditions. Its safety ratings are as good as they can get; the little car boasts the maximum five ANCAP (Australia New Car Assessment Program) stars for its seven airbags, stability and traction control.
It also has anti-lock brakes, ISOFIX anchor points for child restraints, and full seatbelts for all five occupants. The AWD system means that it handles all conditions very well, a huge bonus for safety-conscious renters.
What’s not to like?
Overall, the Mitsubishi ASX is a great rental vehicle which we would recommend to anyone seeking extra space and safety for a winter road trip. There are a few points which might not appeal to renters: design-wise, it’s nice but nothing spectacular. Engine noise is a complaint in many online reviews. The touchscreen media unit could be confusing for those renters who are not accustomed to it.
Looking for a winter car rental in Australia? The Mitsubishi ASX is a good choice and one that’s already been made by a huge number of our customers. Drive your car rental to Newcastle and explore the spectacular Warrumbungle National Park, or put it to the test in the mountains of Victoria. See for yourself and grab one from popular locations including Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide Airport or venture further south and grab one from Launceston Airport on the island of Tasmania. For those looking to venture further afield, try the Mitsubishi ASX in New Zealand and pick up from locations including Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown Airport or another centre. Happy driving!
