It doesn’t really do sharp handling, it’s not quite big enough to match the best in class for practicality, nor does it come with seven seats. Yet don’t overlook the C5 Aircross if those limitations don’t worry you, because it has a lot of other things going for it; its ride is superb on most roads, it cruises along supremely quietly, it has a reasonable purchase price and very reasonable running costs.
Pros Mostly a super-smooth ride Quiet inside at speed Frugal engines
Cons Wallowy handling No seven-seat option Question marks of Citroën's reliability
The C5 Aircross is Citroen's (late) leap onto the family-crossover bandwagon.A plug-in hybrid arrives early in 2020. The big draw with that one will be better fuel economy for commuting, and lower tax. Interestingly Citroen elected to make its PHEV front-drive only to keep the price down. Whereas Peugeot, which sells 3008s at a higher price, went for a more expensive PHEV system with 4WD via an extra rear-mounted motor.
Pros Very comfortable in all sorts of ways. Looks different. No sporty pretence
Cons No sporty actuality. Ride not as consistent as billed. Occasionally irritating screen system
Pros Eye-catching looks Generous boot space Comfortable to drive
Cons Some low-rent interior bits Awkward infotainment system Rear space is tight
The Mitsubishi ASX doesn’t get the pulse racing, and its size makes it better for inner-urban use than open road touring. Because fuel economy can suffer if the engine is required to work too hard, it’s also better suited to terrain where engine performance is less of an issue.
Pros Flexible, pragmatic interior Well-specified equipment list Goldilocks size for inner-urban use
Cons Outdated material and build quality Drivetrain really lacks verve NVH and wind noise
Pros Phone integration; spacious interior; five-year warranty.
Cons Tyre noise.
The Mitsubishi ASX is a compact SUV that is, well, a little bit boring – something that matters in a class full of funky rivals such as the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008 and Honda HR-V.
Pros Low running costs Roomy interior Decent levels of kit
Cons Not game changing Not very stylish Plasticky interior