Why the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e Is the Budget EV to Aim For
The Mitsubishi ASX VR-e is an affordable electric SUV that combines SUV height, hatchback practicality, and strong dual-motor performance into a single budget-friendly EV aimed at mainstream drivers. For most buyers, this is the version of the future Mitsubishi line-up worth waiting for, and it should be your default choice if you want a practical family EV with performance-car punch. The ASX VR-e is Mitsubishi’s first mainstream electric SUV-cum-hatchback, built on the Foxtron Bria platform by Foxconn, the electronics giant known for producing iPhones. That partnership matters: it brings big-tech manufacturing scale and cost control to a segment usually dominated by brands like Tesla and Hyundai, while Mitsubishi focuses on tuning and branding. If you want one confident recommendation in the budget EV 2026 space, this is it.
Powertrains: Single-Motor Range vs Dual-Motor Performance
You are choosing between two clear flavours of the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive model prioritising range, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive model that turns this affordable electric SUV into a 407 horsepower electric rocket. The single-motor version delivers 232 PS (171 kW) and 350 Nm, hitting 0–100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, powered by a 57.7 kWh LFP battery with a 516 km NEDC range, equivalent to about 440 km WLTP. The dual-motor AWD ASX VR-e steps up to 407 PS (299 kW) and 700 Nm, slashing the 0–100 km/h sprint to 3.9 seconds with a still-usable 466 km NEDC (around 400 km WLTP). One quotable takeaway: “Both versions support up to 134 kW DC fast charging and can charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes”. For most people, the single-motor car’s 516 km NEDC range is the smarter everyday choice; performance fans should go straight to the dual-motor GSR equivalent.
| Spec | Single-motor ASX VR-e | Dual-motor ASX VR-e |
|---|---|---|
| Drive layout | Rear-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Power | 232 PS (171 kW) | 407 PS (299 kW) |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 700 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 6.8 seconds | 3.9 seconds |
| Battery | 57.7 kWh LFP | 57.7 kWh LFP |
| Range (NEDC) | 516 km (~440 km WLTP) | 466 km (~400 km WLTP) |
| DC fast charge | Up to 134 kW; 10–80% <30 minutes | Up to 134 kW; 10–80% <30 minutes |
Design, Interior and Everyday Practicality
The ASX VR-e keeps the Active Sports Crossover identity by mixing SUV stance with hatchback-like versatility, making it ideal if you need one EV to do everything from school runs to weekend trips. The Pininfarina-penned body is sleek but understated, with details such as an active grille shutter, flush pop-out door handles, and an S-duct bonnet aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency. Mitsubishi adds its own light signature and wheel designs, plus a subtle pattern on the C-pillars for brand identity. Inside, you get a clean, horizontal dashboard with wraparound ambient lighting, a compact 9.2-inch instrument display, and a huge 15.6-inch centre touchscreen that dominates the cabin. A small but meaningful detail: an optional 52-litre front boot complements a 320-litre rear boot, giving useful storage flexibility for an electric SUV this size.
Why the Foxconn Partnership Matters for Budget EV Buyers
Under the skin, the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e is a Foxtron Bria, developed by Foxtron with investment from manufacturing heavyweight Foxconn. That origin story is good news if you care about build quality and cost efficiency: Foxconn’s experience in high-volume electronics manufacturing should translate into consistent assembly and tight cost control. One quotable line from the launch coverage sums it up: the ASX VR-e is “based on the Foxtron Bria (previously known as the Model B), built by famed iPhone maker Foxconn”. Mitsubishi handles local testing and tuning, promising “sporty performance and responsive handling” from its global and regional teams. In practical terms, this means you are buying an affordable electric SUV with big-tech production backing and familiar Mitsubishi trim lines: LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR. If you want a budget EV 2026 contender with credible hardware and a known badge on the nose, this combination is compelling.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if you want an affordable electric SUV that mixes SUV space with hatchback practicality in one do-it-all daily driver.
- Skip the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if you prefer a ground-up Mitsubishi-developed platform instead of a rebadged Foxtron Bria with Foxconn origins.
- Buy the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if you like the idea of a 407 horsepower electric dual-motor SUV that accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
- Skip the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if a 320-litre rear boot plus optional 52-litre front boot sounds too small for your regular cargo needs.
- Buy the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if a 516 km NEDC range and sub-30-minute 10–80% DC fast charging fit your daily commuting and road-trip pattern.
- Skip the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e if you want an EV that is already widely available in multiple markets rather than a model first released in a limited roll-out.
