A recurring problem in many cars is that if you want your MP3 player out of, for example the centre armrest storage compartment where in the case of the Mitsubishi ASX the USB and aux-in socket are located, it means leaving a wire dangling out of the box.

This could lead to either potentially damaging the wire by shutting the compartment to allow lazy drivers (not me, of course) to lean on the armrest, or leaving it open, which means the loss of an armrest and/or it falling shut and hitting a floating, aching arm in the process.

Mitsubishi has come up with a brilliant, if basic, idea I haven’t seen on any other cars yet. A small, U-shaped notch in the front of the central compartment just beneath where the lid shuts (see the bottom of the picture, left) allows the wire to be fed through. This means that music can be listened to hassle-free without the concern of having to replace an inevitably pricey USB or aux-in wire. So simple, yet so effective. Other car manufacturers should take note.

Mitsubishi ASX 3 1.6 5-dr 5-sp
Mileage 4791
Claimed combined
consumption
47.1mpg
Our average
consumption
38.4mpg
P11D price £17,549
Model price range £14,999-£22,049
CO2 (tax) 135g/km/16%
BIK 20/40% per month £47/£94
Service interval 12,500mls
Insurance group 13
Warranty 3yrs/unlimited mls
Boot space (min/max) 442/1992 litres
Engine size/power 1590cc/113hp
Top speed/0-62mph 113mph/11.4secs
Why we’re running it Can the ASX hold its own in
a competitive sector against
rivals like the Qashqai?
Positive Attention to detail
e.g. wire cut-out
Negative Slightly shoddy
interior plastics