It has a trump card up it’s sleeve, however. It can be front-wheel drive or specified with the same electronically selectable four-wheel drive system as the Outlander.

By the way, the reason for this article appearing on What Van? Online is that Mitsubishi intends to offer the ASX in light commercial trim. The conversion will take place in-house in the UK, just as it does for Outlander and Shogun.

Two Euro 5 engines are up for grabs; a 115hp 1.6-litre petrol — two-wheel drive only — and a 150hp/300Nm 1.8-litre turbodiesel, but it’s the latter that’s of real interest. As well as a variable geometry turbo it also features variable valve timing, a first for a diesel engine in a passenger car. The result is a lower than normal compression ratio of 15:1 which helps towards improving performance, refinement, long-term reliability, fuel consumption and emissions.

Fuel economy and CO₂ emissions — combined cycle figures of 51.4mpg and 145g/km respectively for the 1.8DiD — are also helped by the standard fitment of Auto Stop & Go (the engine cuts out when the ASX is stationary and starts automatically when the clutch is depressed), low rolling resistance tyres, low viscosity oil and electric power steering. On top of these ASX also comes with a regenerative brake system, known as GCS (Generation Control System). Basically this allows the battery to be charged during braking and deceleration and therefore enables the alternator to be taken off-line temporarily.

The ASX is also kitted out with a full array of active safety features. These include ABS, Active Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist and an Emergency Stop Signal System. It also features front, side and curtain airbags for the two front seats occupants, and additionally the driver gets knee protection.

Mitsubishi hasn’t stinted on the in-cab goodies either. The entry-level ASX2 (what happened to ASX1?) gets electric windows and door mirrors (folding), remote central locking, MP3-compatible radio/CD player with an Aux-in socket, manual air conditioning and reversing sensors. Alloy wheels are standard.

Move up to ASX3 and you gain fully automatic air con, one-touch starting, cruise control, heated seats, Bluetooth and automatic lights and windscreen wipers. ASX4 brings with it leather seats and a Kenwood entertainment system with iPod control, sat nav and a reversing camera.