Mitsubishi SPACE STAR 1.6-LITRE RANGE
Mitsubishis Most Popular Space Star Models Are The 1.6-litre Variants. Andy Enright Finds Out Why
Mini MPVs are hot at the moment. Car manufacturers rush to unveil new models in a bid to capture the hearts, minds and pounds sterling of the British motorist. The downside of this is that the car you could be forking £15,000 out for could well about as stylish as a pair of crimplene drainpipes in a years time. Opting out of this one-upmanship is a
smart move, and if you can live with something smaller and less self-consciously designer, youll save a packet.
The
Mitsubishi Space Star 1.6 could well fit this particular bill.
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A glance at Mitsubishis Space Star might lead you to believe it to be one of those
mini-MPV People Carriers. Then again, you might see it as a slightly bigger family hatchback. More likely, you wont be able to make up your mind which is exactly the way
Mitsubishi want it. The Space Star sits just above the supermini Colt hatchback in the companys line-up, bringing versatility that you cant have in a Colt and space thats rather above normal supermini standards.
The 97bhp 1.6-litre Space Star slots between 81bhp 1.3-litre petrol and 115bhp common-rail diesel models in the latest Space Star line-up, and is available in plush Equippe trim. There are two transmissions on offer, a regular five-speed manual or the intriguing INVECS II 4-speed automatic, which claims to learn driving styles and adapt accordingly.
Retailing at £10,999 for the Equippe Manual version (or £11,999 for the automatic), the Mitsubishi immediately drops out of all the convenient pigeonholes. Too small and inexpensive to compete against the
Renault Scenics and
Vauxhall Zafiras of this world, but too spacious to lock horns with Vauxhalls Meriva and the Fiats Idea. Comparing it to a mini-MPV People Carrier is difficult since the seats dont remove, spin or magically materialise into picnic tables. Having said that, the split-folding rear bench does slide and the seating position, if not as high as, say, a Scenic, offers a loftier perch than that of a conventional family hatch.
"Its quietly honest"
To be fair, Mitsubishi arent marketing the car to be a player in this sector a more honest approach than that employed by rivals whose similarly limited supermini-derived models pretend to be something they are not. Instead, with that appealing price sticker, the Space Star 1.6 is looking at family hatches like the
Honda Civic and
Peugeot 307, many of which are starting to exhibit MPV design touches. The boundaries are truly becoming blurred.
Those who recall earlier iterations of the Space Star will appreciate the facelift thats been visited upon this model. With a colour-keyed front bumper, an integrated grille, black protective mouldings and revised headlights and indicators, the look is a good deal more contemporary. The interior has also come in for a freshening. The upholstery is markedly superior to the old Space Star, as is the quality of the plastics used about the cabin.
The centre console has been redesigned to bring it into the here and now, as has the steering wheel. There are even cup holders for rear passengers. Whilst the 1.3-litre engine is willing, if a bit strained, the 1.
6-litre is a far more straightforward proposition. It feels a little coarse when under load, but the engine is largely unexceptional, running to a top speed of 112mph and notching 60mph in 12.0 seconds if you change yourself and 14.5 seconds if youre relying on INVECS-II, but the fuel economy is something worth crowing about, the Mitsubishi capable of nearly 40mpg combined.
That INVECS-II 4 Speed Automatic Transmission system claims to be pretty clever. Its key advantage is what Mitsubishi call Adaptive Shift Control. Here, a computer constantly monitors driving performance to learn your driving style. Even if you opt for the manual, however, you wont feel hard done by as the five-speed gearbox has a smooth, quality feel to the shift.
Around tight car parks, a turning circle of just 4.8 metres is a boon, while out on the road; the slippery 0.33Cd figure means that wind noise is kept to a minimum. Inside, as weve suggested, the seating layout is disappointingly conventional, apart from the way the rear seats slide 150mm forward and back, either to improve legroom or increase rear luggage capacity.
There are some neat MPV-orientated storage touches though. Take the under-
seat tray for a first aid kit, the sunglasses pocket and the floor console box which can store up to 9 CDs or 12 cassettes. Or the sturdy hooks at the four corners of the cargo area to secure bulky items. I also liked the way that the emergency triangle is stored above-floor in its own compartment, so you dont have to fish about for it in an emergency.
Plus, bear in mind that the extra roof height allows the Space Star to carry awkward things that wouldnt go in a family hatch: a bicycle, for example, or a barbecue. On the subject of nice touches, theres also a pod on top of the centre console which houses an LCD display, intended, say Mitsubishi, to function as an executive assistant to the driver. This may be overstating things a bit but it is a very useful device. The same screen incorporates a standard trip computer giving the usual information on items like average speed, outside temperature, fuel consumption and the distance you can go on the remaining fuel.
Alternatively it functions as the display for the stereo and optional satellite navigation system. This 1.6-litre engine doesnt make an ordinary car great or even particularly eye-catching on the statistics pages, but thats part of the charm of the Mitsubishi Space Star 1.6.
Its quietly honest and for a small slice of the UK car buying market, its the answer to a question they hadnt had the foresight to formulate.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mitsubishi Colt Space Star 1.6-litre range
PRICES: £10,999 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 171g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 112mph / 0-60mph 12.0s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 30.4mpg / (extra urban) 47.1mpg / (combined) 39.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4050/1715/1515
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