ASX or RVR?
Mitsubishi launched this car in Japan on 17 February 2010 as the RVR, and sells it as the ASX in most other markets. Japanese RVRs use the 1.8-litre 4B10 petrol with a manual or the INVECS-III CVT. Some markets got the 2.0-litre 4B11 and 2.4-litre 4B12 from the 2015 model year.
Wikipedia notes that the 4B11 drives its camshafts with a chain, and the 4B12 with a silent chain, so there's no cambelt job on those. For the 1.8 in an RVR, ask the mechanic to confirm the engine code.
One more naming wrinkle: from March 2023, Europe's ASX became a rebadged Renault Captur, which shares little with the Mitsubishi underneath. If yours is one, say so up front.
The CVT: what to watch for
A CVT most commonly uses two pulleys joined by a belt or chain, and the transmission fluid does three jobs at once: lubrication, corrosion protection and the hydraulic pressure that makes it work. That's why the fluid's level and condition are among the first things a mechanic checks when a CVT behaves badly.
Tell a mechanic about a shudder pulling away, revs that rise without the car speeding up, a whine that gets louder with speed, or a delay going into drive or reverse. Red fluid under the car that's turning brown is transmission fluid, AA New Zealand says, and a leak needs looking at early. Our transmission page covers the diagnosis.
What an ASX service should cover
- The service listed in the book for the car's kilometres, by name.
- Engine oil and filter to Mitsubishi's grade.
- The CVT fluid's condition, and a change if the schedule calls for one.
- Brake pads and discs measured, with the readings written down.
- Tyres, suspension and steering checked.
- A battery test, and a stamp in the book or an update to the record.
The first service on an imported RVR
AA Motoring's guide to Japanese imports says they usually get a basic oil and filter change at compliance and little else, so the transmission fluid, spark plugs and air filter can all be due. Many also arrive on snow tyres, which can pass compliance but don't suit New Zealand roads, and NZTA says winter tyres must be on all wheels with at least 4 mm of tread.
Treat the first service on an import as a baseline: fluids, filters, plugs, brakes and tyres, with the readings written down for next time.
Where we'd start with an ASX
Keep the servicing on schedule and ask for the CVT fluid's condition at every visit, since a small change in how it drives is easier to deal with early. On an RVR, we'd make the first service a thorough one and start a proper record from there. Send the job with the year, the badge on the tailgate and how it's behaving. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.