Mitsubishi

ASX is a curious crossover in the local market. It’s one of the most affordable 2-litre crossovers you can buy with decent ground clearance (205mm).

Ageing design and platform mean the cabin and luggage space isn’t amazing. But like all Mitsubishis, it’s got decent build quality and mechanical integrity.

In a market of turbocharged rivals, the 2-litre engine is unstressed and should run high mileage with just routine maintenance. But it does feel underwhelming at highveld altitudes, especially if you travel with a full complement of passengers and their luggage.

Doesn’t offer diesel engines or hybrids, but offers everything else you’d want from a 7-seater all-wheel drive family car.

With 210mm of ground clearance and Mitsubishi’s clever all-wheel drive system, Outlander is a confident gravel travel 7-seater. Lots of luggage space, too. With the third-row seating not in use, it has room for 781-litres of luggage.

The 2.4-liter petrol engine will feel lethargic at Highveld altitudes. And the 55-litre fuel tank is a touch small for road tripping, when Outlander is fully loaded.

Chinese SUVs offer more features and engine power. But if you need a 7-seater gravel travel wagon, with great reliability and low theft risk, Outlander is the one.

Tidy compact crossover from Mitsubishi. Build quality and mechanical durability are givens.

Cabin is well equipped for the price and Outlander Sport’s suspension set-up is ideal for South Africa’s variable road quality. Has reasonable ground clearance at 193mm, for mild gravel road exploration.

Power-to-weight isn’t amazing. Outlander Sport weighs more than 1700kg (empty). And the 1.5-litre engine only makes 77kW. At Highveld altitudes, with a complement of passengers, highway speed overtaking performance isn’t great.

This is a mid-size crossover with ‘big car’ feel. But there are just too many 1.5-litre turbocharged options from Chinese brands that offer much better highway cruising, overtaking, and performance on steep gradients.

The stealth alternative to Fortuner and amazingly underrated as an all-terrain family car.

A 7-seater SUV with real all-terrain ability. Uses Mitsubishi’s proven and brilliant SuperSelect transfer case, allowing for unrivalled all-wheel drive traction and steering confidence on high-speed, corrugated, dirt roads.

The cabin is nothing special, but it's well-built. Third-row seating folds flat into the floor, unlike Fortuner’s annoying system, where third-row seats fold up and to the sides. Fortuner does tow 300kg more, though.

Mitsubishi’s 2.4 turbodiesel can’t match the similarly priced Fortuner’s 2.8 for power, but it has a much better 8-speed automatic transmission. Outstanding mechanical build quality and almost no risk of theft or hijacking.

By far the most underrated bakkie in South Africa. A small dealer network and pricey parts are the only debits.

Doesn’t have the range of engine options that Hilux and Ranger offer, but has a better drivetrain than either.

Mitsubishi’s SuperSelect transfer case does things that other 4x4 bakkies can’t. Unlike other bakkie transfer cases, which lock the drive 50/50 in 4H on gravel roads, Triton’s SuperSelect can vary torque. That enables you to keep steering control and traction through long dirt-road corners – even at high speeds.

Effectively runs a Quattro-type 4x4 system at high speeds, on gravel roads….

The 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine isn’t particularly powerful, but Tritons are amazingly well-built. And have almost no theft or hijacking risk – unlike Hilux or Ranger.