Electric Mitsubishi ASX VR-e priced from $57,990 for NZ, December arrival

Mitsubishi’s first battery electric car for New Zealand in more than a decade, the ASX VR-e, arrives in December with a four-model range from $57,990 plus on-road costs.

The line-up runs from the rear-wheel drive LS to a $72,990 GSR with two motors, all-wheel drive and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds, which Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand says makes it the fastest Mitsubishi ever sold here. All four share a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with WLTP range from 403km in the LS to 328km in the GSR.

The ASX VR-e was developed with Italian design house Pininfarina and built by Foxtron, the automotive arm of Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn, whose electrical architecture also underpins Saudi Arabia’s new Ceer models. It is the first Mitsubishi sold here with the Mitsubishi Connect smartphone functions.

Rear-drive efficiency or all-wheel drive muscle

The LS, XLS and Exceed use a single 171kW, 350Nm motor driving the rear wheels, for a claimed 6.8 seconds to 100km/h. The XLS costs $63,990 and offers up to 398km of WLTP range, while the $67,990 Exceed manages 380km.

Adding a second motor in the GSR doubles output to 342kW and 700Nm, with a range trade-off: its 328km rating falls 75km short of the entry-level LS.

DC charging peaks at 134kW, with Mitsubishi quoting approximately 30 minutes for a 10 to 80% charge. Drivers can choose from five regenerative braking levels or a one-pedal mode, and vehicle-to-load supplies up to 3.6kW to external equipment through an accessory adaptor.

Compact body, long wheelbase

At 4,315mm long the ASX VR-e sits on a 2,800mm wheelbase, and Mitsubishi says the wide body and flat floor make room for three across the rear seat. A front S-duct, air curtains, active grille shutters, flush door handles and a rear spoiler contribute to a 0.26 drag coefficient.

Every model gets a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and a 9.2-inch driver display. Eco, Comfort and Sport modes alter the driving characteristics, and steering effort adjusts independently through Light, Standard and Heavy settings.

Moving from LS to XLS adds heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat with memory, a four-way power passenger seat, ambient lighting and a Multi Around View Monitor. Remote Parking Assist moves the car forwards or backwards from the key fob while the driver stands outside. Exceed and GSR gain 20-inch two-tone alloys, a panoramic glass roof, a hands-free power tailgate and a 12-speaker audio system, with the GSR adding microsuede seat trim with blue stitching and two-tone exterior colours.

Phone controls and connected assistance

Through the Mitsubishi Connect app, owners can check charging status and remaining range, pre-condition the cabin, locate the car and view tyre pressures and vehicle warnings, with charging history available to view and export. Remote controls cover locking, windows, horn and lights, and compatible systems receive over-the-air updates. An eCall function connects automatically to an emergency call centre after airbag deployment, with a manual SOS button as well.

“ASX VR-e customers will have the technology and performance they expect from a new-generation EV, backed by a Mitsubishi dealer and service network that reaches right across New Zealand. We think that combination will matter to buyers looking beyond price alone,” says MMNZ chief operating officer Tony Johnston.

The warranty runs five years or 130,000km on the vehicle, 10 years or 160,000km on the powertrain and eight years or 160,000km on the drive battery, through more than 60 dealerships nationwide.

At $57,990 the LS lands $8,000 above the $49,990 XPeng L03 priced this week and about $10,000 under the Tesla Model Y RWD, in a compact electric SUV segment that has become the busiest in the market. From April 2027 it also qualifies for the 17% FBT rate for battery electric company cars.