Day 1: The $35,000 Reality SHOCK!
As a reviewer, stepping out of one car into another can often be a shock, but not for the reasons you might think. Normally, the conclusion comes at the end of the review at the end of the week, but not this time. Going from the mildly amusing 2026 Mitsubishi ASX mid-range into the range-topping Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (PHEV) should have been a big leap down in perceived prestige. Instead, it feels like a total role reversal. The Chery is currently on special at $38,990 drive-away for the Ultimate, while our wheezing, underpowered, mid-range ASX Aspire drove away at $47,990. What should have been a “lay-down misère” has turned into a complete balls-up for the legacy brand.
The ASX Identity Crisis
Mitsubishi sourced the new ASX from Renault. When I say sourced, I mean they bunged a couple of Mitsi badges on a Captur and called it a day. It should have been a triumph, but my prediction is this overpriced small SUV will be deemed wholly inadequate by buyers once they see the competition. It’s a compact SUV trying to command mid-size money.
The Chery Revolution
Like early Great Wall offerings, the first Chery cars were no indication at all of what was to come. It has been a long time since this reviewer set foot aboard a Chery, and the “surprise-and-delight” was evident when I asked, “Am I in the right car? The 38-grand Chery?” When they replied “Yes,” my honest reaction was that the ASX is as dead as a dingo’s donger. Seriously, I said it out loud. The two cars were parked close to each other at the press facility, and the difference was as if I were comparing a German luxo-barge to a budget hatchback.
Stepping into the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (PHEV) for Day 1 of this seven-day assessment feels less like a typical test drive and more like witnessing a market disruption in real-time. Coming off a week with the new-gen Mitsubishi ASX (Renault Captur), the contrast is not only staggering; it is a shocking indictment of the contempt with which some legacy brands treat buyers and owners. Now that Chery’s MY25 clearance pricing has turned what was a competitive gap into a nuclear meltdown, the choice is even simpler.
The Pricing Absurdity
Last week’s ASX Aspire carries a “coma-inducing” $47,990 drive-away price. Today, I’m in a vehicle that is larger, more powerful, and significantly more advanced, but thanks to the current $5,000 clearance discount, the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban is sitting at a jaw-dropping $34,990 drive-away.
Think about that: for $13,000 less than a small, mid-spec Mitsubishi, you’re getting a plug-in hybrid with 205kW and a 1,200km total range. My car this week is the top-tier Tiggo 7 Ultimate, which is now just $38,990 drive-away—still nearly $10,000 cheaper than the “breathless” ASX Aspire.
Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review – Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y: Why I’d ditch the Tesla in 2026
Performance: Punchy vs. Breathless
The mechanical mismatch is as obvious as chalk and cheese. The ASX’s 1.3L turbo 4-pot and its 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) were the low point of last week. The transmission is sloppy blancmange, constantly hunting for gears and seemingly always finding the wrong one. The resulting choppy, hesitant drive was nauseating, especially from the passenger seat.
The Tiggo 7, however, uses a 1-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that is lightyears ahead in refinement. It drives more like an EV, though the engine can co-power the front wheels at speed. With 205kW/365Nm on tap, it’s a spritely lass off the line. While the wheezing ASX was struggling to find its stride on highway merges, the Chery simply surges forward on electric power. Because I started the day with near the max 93km of pure EV range, my first day of testing has been silent and petrol-free—a feat the thirsty, petrol-only ASX can’t dream of.
Interior: “Plakky” vs. Premium
The “identity crisis” continues inside. The ASX cabin is a sea of “tacky plakky bits,” cheap silvered trim, and my recently acquired pet hate, piano black. Despite the $47k price, the interior feels narrow—because it is. At just 1797mm wide, it’s a compact SUV that feels “cosier than casual friendship allows,” especially in that back seat.
The Tiggo 7 is a proper mid-sized SUV (1862mm wide), and the extra breathing room is immediate, aided by a breezy glass roof. Instead of the scratchy plastics of the ASX, the Chery greets you with a 12.3-inch twin-screen digital dash and synthetic leather.
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ABOVE: ASX and Tiggo 7 PHEV
The Luxury Gap
The equipment list makes the ASX’s pricing look even more absurd:
- Climate Control: The ASX is stuck with single-zone across the board. The Tiggo 7 gives you dual-zone with a PM2.5 filter as standard.
- Seating: To get heated seats in an ASX, you have to spend an insane $51,990 on the Exceed. In the $38,990 Tiggo 7 Ultimate, you get heated AND ventilated (cooled) seats.
- Tech: The Chery’s “Hello Chery” voice control handles the sunroof and climate while you drive; the ASX requires you to spelunk through menus on its budget-tablet interface.
Day 1 Verdict
Mitsubishi is banking on their 10-year warranty to save them, but read the fine print: it is actually a 5-year/100,000km warranty that only extends to 10 years if you service exclusively at a dealer. Beyond the warranty, the car feels a generation behind. On Day 1, the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid hasn’t just beaten the ASX’s bottom with daddy’s strop (see the full comparison here: https://www.gaycarboys.com/2026-mitsubishi-asx-review/). For $34,990, the Tiggo 7 is more car, more power, and more luxury for significantly less money. If last week was a struggle with a “sloppy” transmission, this week is looking like a masterclass in hybrid value.
| Feature Category | Mitsubishi ASX (Aspire/Exceed) | Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (Urban/Ultimate) |
| Model Origin | Renault-based (European) | Chery (Chinese) |
| Pricing (Drive-Away) | $47,990 (Aspire) / $51,990 (Exceed) | $39,990 (Urban) / $43,990 (Ultimate) |
| Powertrain | 1.3L 4-Cyl Turbo Petrol | 1.5L Turbo + Dual Electric Motors (PHEV) |
| Transmission | 7-Speed DCT (Sloppy/Hunting) | Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) |
| Combined Power | 113 kW (Often Breathless) | 205 kW (Punchy/Fast) |
| Combined Torque | 270 Nm | 365 Nm |
| EV-Only Range | N/A | 93 km (NEDC) |
| Total Combined Range | ~700 km | ~1,200 km |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.4L/100km (Claimed) | 1.4L/100km (Claimed) |
| Vehicle Segment | Compact SUV (Very Narrow) | Mid-Size SUV (Spacious) |
| Length / Width | 4238 mm / 1797 mm | 4513 mm / 1862 mm |
| Climate Control | Single-zone | Dual-zone with PM2.5 Air Filter |
| Front Seats | Cloth/Leather; Heated (Exceed only) | Synthetic Leather; Heated & Ventilated (Ult) |
| Driver’s Seat | Manual (Aspire) / 6-way Power (Exceed) | 6-way Power Adjustable (Standard) |
| Infotainment | 10.4″ Portrait (Google Built-in) | Dual 12.3″ Curved Screen (Hello Chery Voice) |
| Audio System | 6-Speaker (Standard) | 8-Speaker Sony Premium Sound |
| Sunroof | Fixed Glass (Exceed only) | Panoramic Glass Sunroof (Ultimate) |
| Interior Finish | “Plakky” plastics & Silver paint | Soft-touch dash & Premium trim |
| Safety Suite | MI-PILOT (Includes Adaptive Cruise) | 18 ADAS Functions (Inc. 360° Cam) |
| Warranty | 10-Year / 200,000 km (if serviced at dealer) | 7-Year / Unlimited km |
Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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