Mitsubishi's little crossover vehicle, the ASX, has the face of a sinner and the manners of a saint. Look at the front end of it and you'll find nothing cutesy or cuddly about it. Narrowed lights scowl out at you either side of that gaping maw of a radiator grille. In short, it looks like it would leap at your throat at the drop of a hat.But if the on-board computer in this test car I have is to be believed, I've been getting up around 60 miles per gallon over the last couple of days, and that's without making any particular effort to drive the numbers up. I find myself wishing there was a sunroof so I could look up to see the halo.The world is rapidly becoming awash with small SUV-like cars – the choice has never been wider with attractive offerings from British, European, American and Asian manufacturers. The aim is to have something that either is or looks-like a 4x4 and yet is economical to run and well-mannered on the road. In my book, the ASX is one of the most attractive options.It's pulled along by a 1.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine which turns out 145bhp and 221lb/ft of torque which is better than most two-litre turbo diesels on the market today.With a six-speed manual gearbox, it'll allegedly reach 62mph ten seconds after a standing start and run on up to a top speed of 124mph. The official average fuel consumption is 51.4mpg, but like I say, touring around the countryside for a few days without being in any special rush, the trip computer told me I was getting well beyond that. Of course it would take a longer test drive to properly check the figures, but either way, it looks pretty good to me.All those figures, taken in the round, would be respectable in a little three-door hatchback, but the ASX is so much more. It has plenty of room indoors for five adults and there's a sizeable boot too. It's a genuine family-sized car – airy, light and roomy.This test car is the ASX 3, the mid-level specified car with tinted rear windows, foglights front and rear, climate control, cruise control, heated front seats and nice 17" alloy wheels. It's actually very well-equipped with high-level goodies like automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth phone connection and a trendy keyless entry system where, if you have the fob in your pocket, you just push a button on the door handle to lock or unlock it. Once inside, you stab the Start button and away you go.That exceptional fuel economy is helped along by the AS&G which stands for Auto Stop and Go. In other words, if you pull up at the traffic lights, slip into neutral and pull on the handbrake, the engine shuts down completely. Then, when you step on the clutch to select gear again, it restarts automatically.There are parking sensors to stop you accidentally reversing into something hidden under the high boot-line, but if you want a reversing camera, you have to upgrade to an ASX 4 which also brings you satnav and leather seats.This test car drives really well. The engine has a bit of a diesel clatter at times when it's cold or under stress, but it pulls out smoothly no matter how the road rises and falls. There's minimal body roll in the corners, and the suspension is pliant on the straights.In all it's a tough-looking little car whose running costs are as easy on the pocket as the bodywork is on the eye. It's not cheap, though, at £20,199 on the road for this 2WD version – 4WD would add about another two grand.But I like it, even if this rather wild Kingfisher blue paintwork pushes the boundaries of taste rather more than is absolutely necessary. It’s certainly worth considering if you're looking to buy a compact SUV. Engine 1798cc, 4 cylinders Power 145bhp Transmission 6-speed manual Fuel/CO2 49.6mpg / 150g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 10.0 seconds Top speed 123mph Price £20,199 Details correct at publication date
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