What the ASX lacks is probably a turbo (keep thinking of the Airtrek). 

Anyway, cars like ASX, CRV, Forester are more for urban folks who need something bigger than a regular sedan
but not as large as a normal 4x4. An occasional need to carry more stuff and the ease of loading/unloading.
The choice of petrol / diesel is dependent on what's available.

Some might argue that for the same amount of money, there are better choices but different people have different
needs. I'm sure a normal 4X4 isn't going to turn as well as a compact SUV and when you try loading / unloading
stuff, it's going to be more difficult on the taller vehicle. There are pros and cons to each design, consumers will
just make their choice based on individual needs.