Mitsubishi COLT 1.3-litre 5-DOOR range
For once, the advertising strapline tells a truthful tale. The little Colt on test here is being hailed by the copywriters as the new Mitsubishi and thats exactly what it is. This car has little in common with some of the tired designs weve seen from this company in previous years and even less in common with its dowdy predecessor.
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Theyre even different sizes inside. The Colt, for example, has, at 315 litres, 15 litres less bootspace than its forfour counterpart. Prices too have been differentiated. Take the 5-door 1.
3-litre petrol Colt model were looking at here. It costs £9,494 in manual CZ2 guise or, if youre after the Allshift automatic, youll pay £9,994. Take £500 off those prices if you want the three-door version. In contrast, the forfour 1.
3 (which shares the same 95bhp engine) costs £11,365 for the manual model, offers no three-door option and requires a pricey premium if you go for an auto box. You pays your money. Both are great cars but, ironically given the bootspace, its the Mitsubishi that feels bigger. Its also quieter at speed and it just edges its smart counterpart on value for money when you take asking price, the cost of options and overall equipment levels into account.
Behind the wheel, everything is neat but sensibly styled with no dials sprouting from the fascia top. Its certainly a major leap forward from the uninspiring Colt interiors weve been accustomed to. If you expect supermini dashboards to be fussy, cheap and cluttered, the elegantly minimalist Colt fascia will be a very pleasant revelation.
"From nowhere, experts have now hailed Mitsubishis supermini entrant as a class leader"
One nice touch is the Apple iPod-like white plastic strip that runs between the seats and behind the gearlever, glowing a cool green at night. We liked the seats too far more supportive than in most superminis. Visibility is good as well at least out of the front. Its not so good at the rear.
Mitsubishi can claim the crown for most passenger interior space in this market sector and there's little doubt that for a supermini at least, this car has been generously cut. Sitting on an all-new front-wheel drive platform, the 5-door Colt is 3870mm long, 1550mm high and 1695mm wide creating a wide and tall profile, with a long 2500mm wheelbase. Generous 1460mm front and 1445mm rear tracks maximise interior accommodation and offer class-leading cabin space. As well as having the best total legroom in the segment, the Colts versatility comes from a novel rear-seating arrangement with 40/60 split rear seats which can be individually reclined, folded or removed altogether, creating 645litres of load space.
The backrests of the front passenger seat can also be folded forwarded to accommodate longer items resulting in a small car that can suit many purposes. Even with a six footer at the wheel, theres enough room in the back for all but the rangiest adults and the boot is a prodigious size. A long wheelbase and compact suspension set up Macpherson struts up front and a low volume torsion beam arrangement at the rear help to maximise available space, that wheelbase being a good deal longer than a Renault Clio or a Fiat Punto. The Colt feels a good deal more assured on the road than that high rise styling might suggest.
The suspension is fairly firm but on rutted city streets, only the worst that local government negligence can throw at it will upset its uncanny composure. The flipside of this is that the Colt offers a surprisingly generous dose of entertainment with decently weighted steering and better than adequate body control. The brakes are discs up front and drums at the back, except for the range-topping 1.5-litre petrol model which gets discs all round.
Anti-lock and electronic brakeforce distribution are standard on all models, as is electrically assisted power steering. The 1.3-litre engine were looking at here is presently the best compromise between economy and performance across the range, but there are of course other options. These include an entry-level 75bhp 1.
1-litre petrol unit and two 1.5-litre engines, one a petrol, the other a diesel. As an engine, the 1.3 is, as already mentioned, quieter than it feels in the equivalent smart forfour but that doesnt mean its quiet per se.
Those in search of something that will spend plenty of time on the motorway might prefer to bargain their way up to a 1.5-litre model. Though this Colt still isnt the most charismatic of cars, its now one of the very best when you take into account the factors that really count when youre buying a modernday supermini. Its certainly one you cant afford to leave off the list when shopping around for a Fiesta or Corsa-sized car of this kind.
And we never thought wed end up saying that about a Mitsubishi.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Mitsubishi Colt 1.3-litre 5-door range
PRICES: £9,494 - £9,994 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 133g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.1s / Max Speed 112mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [combined] 50.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front airbags, ABS with EBD. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Overall length mm 3870
