MENTION Mitsubishi and people tend to namecheck the Shogun, or Outlander, even the Mirage - but very rarely the ASX.

Perhaps it has something to do with those three letters, which actually stand for active sports crossover.

That's a bit of a shame because, for families especially, the ASX is pretty much the perfect fit for everyday life.

Versatility really is the name of the game here. We're talking style, space, efficiency, capability and safety in a reliable value for money package that starts at less than £15,500.

And that stands comparison with its rivals in what is a fast-expanding area of the new and used car market.

Those rivals include top sellers like the Kia Sportage, Skoda Yeti, Hyundai ix35 and Nissan Qashqai, all of which start at £1,500 to £2,000 more than the ASX.

The ASX may be described as a 'compact' model but there's plenty of space in there, with ample rear legroom and a soft if slightly perched centre seating position.

Its cabin is a pleasant place to reside as well, with its bright, airy feel, attractive piano black inserts in the dash and steering wheel, comfortable seats and traditional easy-to-operate switches.

A fair bit of thought has gone into stowage of everyday items with no less than five cupholders up front, another pair in the flip-down rear armrest, a deep central container, glovebox and a decent size boot with underfloor space and deep plastic containers on either side.

There's a choice of three trim levels - ZC, ZC-M and ZC-H - and even the entry grade ZC model boasts stuff like alloy wheels, air-con, active stability and traction control plus remote keyless entry.

Beneath the bonnet is a choice of 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines as well as a 2.2-litre diesel.

The lower powered 114ps turbo diesel engine has replaced the 1.8 unit of the previous model and is both cleaner - at 119g/km - and leaner too with its potential to top 60 miles per gallon.

It can sound a bit noisy at lower speeds, and the six-speed manual transmission is quite clunky, otherwise the ASX is a dynamic, well balanced and enjoyable car to drive.

Safety features, including seven airbags as standard, ensure that the Mitsubishi has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

And the test car's ZC-M trim grade, which sits in the middle of the three spec levels adds a raft of equipment to the standard fare.

That means you get two-tone 18-inch alloys, climate control, push-start button, parking sensors, privacy glass, front fog lamps, cruise control and six speakers.

Keyless Operation System is a key feature and the car also benefits from auto light and rain sensors plus Xenon super-wide HID headlamps with auto levelling and headlamp washers.