There are more electric vehicles available to New Zealanders than ever before. But many of them feel like they’re designed by committee, for people in some distant focus group. The new Mitsubishi ASX VR-e? That’s different. This is an electric SUV that actually understands New Zealand drivers, and it arrives in dealerships this December starting from just $57,990 +ORC.
Designed by Legends, Built for Real Life
The ASX VR-e was developed in partnership with renowned Italian design house Pininfarina and EV manufacturer Foxtron – and you can absolutely tell. This isn’t some generic box on wheels. The design is genuinely contemporary, with serious attention paid to aerodynamic efficiency: S-Duct front design, air curtains, active grille shutters, flush door handles and a rear aero spoiler all combining to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.26.
The Interior That Actually Makes Sense
Step inside and you’ll finda 15.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen and 9.2-inch digital driver display standard across the range. But what’s really clever is the thoughtful personalisation options: three selectable drive modes – Eco, Comfort and Sport – and the ability to independently select Standard, Heavy or Light steering effort. Translation: the car adapts to you, not the other way around. The long 2,800mm wheelbase, wide body and flat EV floor maximise interior space despite the compact 4,315mm overall length, creating generous legroom for three rear passengers.
From theXLS model upwards, you’re getting heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat with memory, and a Multi Around View Monitor. The Exceed and GSR adda panoramic glass roof, hands-free power tailgate and a premium 12-speaker audio system.
Range That Actually Works for Real Driving
Here’s where the ASX VR-e stops making excuses and starts delivering. All models use a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery – that’s proper technology – with the rear-wheel drive LS delivering up to 403km WLTP driving range. The XLS offers up to 398km, and the Exceed up to 380km. Even the high-performance GSR manages up to 328km on a single charge.
For context: that’s genuinely enough for a week’s worth of commuting plus a weekend trip down the West Coast without breaking a sweat. DC fast charging at up to 134kW gets you from 10–80% in approximately 30 minutes under suitable conditions. Five levels of regenerative braking and One Pedal mode give drivers control over energy recovery, while Vehicle-to-Load capability means the battery can provide up to 3.6kW of external power – handy for tools, camping gear, or powering your adventure.
Performance That’ll Surprise You
The three rear-wheel drive models deliver171kW and 350Nm, hitting 0–100km/h in 6.8 seconds. Respectable. But here’s where things get spicy: thedual-motor GSR AWD doubles maximum output to 342kW and 700Nm, reducing 0–100km/h to just 3.9 seconds. That makes it the fastest Mitsubishi ever sold in New Zealand. Full stop.
An electric family SUV that’s quick enough to surprise petrol-heads? Now we’re talking.
Connected Tech That Actually Works
The ASX VR-e will be the first Mitsubishi in New Zealand to introduce Mitsubishi Connect, bringing genuinely useful smartphone connectivity to the party. Using theMitsubishi Connect smartphone app, owners can remotely check charging status and remaining EV range, view charging history, pre-condition the cabin, and locate the vehicle. You can also lock/unlock doors, operate windows, and activate the horn and lights from your phone.Over-the-air software updates mean compatible vehicle systems get updates without a dealership visit – no more “sorry, you need to come in for that.”The ASX VR-e also introduces eCall, providing automatic connection to an emergency call centre following serious events like airbag deployment, plus manual SOS functionality.
Backed by People Who’ve Been Doing This Since Before Most of Us Were Born
This is where a lot of EV startups fall apart – the service network. Mitsubishi has over five decades of experience supporting New Zealand motorists through more than 60 dealerships nationwide. Every ASX VR-e comes with Diamond Advantage Warranty: five-year/130,000km new vehicle warranty, 10-year/160,000km powertrain warranty, and an eight-year/160,000km drive battery warranty.
That’s genuine peace of mind. Not just a promise – an actual network that can back it up.
The Pricing
Here’s what’s genuinely impressive: the four-model range starts at just $57,990 +ORC for the LS RWD. That’s seriously competitive for what you’re getting:
-ASX VR-e LS RWD: $57,990 +ORC
-ASX VR-e XLS RWD: $63,990 +ORC
-ASX VR-e Exceed RWD: $67,990 +ORC
-ASX VR-e GSR AWD: $72,990 +ORC
Tarmac Takeaway
The ASX VR-e arrives in dealerships nationwide in December 2026, and this is genuinely an electric vehicle designed with New Zealand drivers in mind – not as an afterthought. Premium styling, proper technology, genuine performance, and backed by a nationwide dealer network that’s been supporting Kiwis for over 50 years.
If you’re considering going electric but thought your options were limited to compromises? Time to think again.
