“I don’t see the need for ‘Chelsea Tractors’ in our village. They’re excessive!”

So declared the colonel’s lady loudly – pointing to my Mitsubishi ASX 3 as she ordered a side of beef and two miles of sausages.

Standing behind her was my new assistant, Captain Arnold of the Shropshire Union: we exchanged glances. Never a diplomat, the Skipper was apoplectic.

“Shiver me timbers!” He began. “That there Fiesta automatic of yours just about manages 30mpg between here and your blue-rinse hair salon. What you’re looking at Sweetie, does nearly twice that on a voyage.”

He was right, of course, but I dragged him away before she sentenced him to be keel hauled. (She’s a magistrate you know!).

We heard later that the colonel had rounded up a posse and was ‘gunning’ for us with his best Purdy.

• See more pictures of the ASX in our gallery to your right

The ASX (Active Sports Crossover) is like that. It looks substantial and imposing without a doubt and sits on attractive alloy wheels — but it really is a brilliant design for our times, pitched directly at the competition from Nissan with their Qashqai and Peugeot with their 3008.

It wins easily in many respects but wins hands down on price and value.

It’s a family sized five-door SUV that looks like a taller and more muscular Lancer hatchback and it bridges the gap between Mitsubishi’s passenger cars and their ruffty tuffty off-roaders.

There’s a choice from two engines — a 1.6 petrol and a 147bhp cutting edge 1.8 turbodiesel that’s a motoring first for a diesel in passenger cars, introducing variable valve technology.

The 1.6 petrol powered version is only available with front wheel drive but the 1.8 diesel comes as either a two wheel drive or four wheel drive.

Tested here is the two wheel drive diesel with specification level three costing £18,549. (the ASX range starts at £14,999 rising to £22,049.)

It has a remarkably efficient engine that is responsive, torquey and smooth — carefully sipping fuel so that you easily get 52 mpg overall.

Bimbling along on a sunny Sunday afternoon it averaged an intergalactic 70mpg.

The outstanding economy is not entirely down to the engine design, however.

Six well chosen gear ratios, an ‘auto stop/go (switches the engine off when you stop) system, regenerative brakes, electric power steering, low rolling resistance tyres and low viscosity oil all contribute to the minimal thirst.

Roomy and versatile with seats that fold down to give van like capacity if needs be, it offers many interior permutations for those with an expansionist frame of mind.

It’s a generously equipped and comfy vehicle that has fully automatic air conditioning, toasty warm heated seats, cruise control, power windows and lots of safety features to save you if the worst should happen.

And yet, despite the economy the ASX bowls along comfortably and, oh! so quietly at high speeds. They do say that it will reach 124mph – but God forbid that anyone should even think of such a heinous transgression these days.

Spirited driving on the other hand, demonstrates how well it handles for a car of its size – and Active Stability Control, EBD, ABC, XYZ and 123 stop it getting into a twist if you are over exuberant.

Never feeling short of pace – even on the mean streets – of Telford, it handles with a sense of agility and security that belies its size.

Ride comfort is pliant, the steering direct, handling neat and grip ample. It would be stretching a point to call it sporty, but crisp and consistent is no exaggeration – with swift and serene cruising.

Finally, the defining criteria by which the ASX must be judged are driveability, accommodation and versatility. On all counts it breezes comfortably through with outstanding confidence.

Here is a vehicle for our times that provides so much so competently.

By Syd Taylor