Mitsubishi SPACE STAR 1.6 AUTOMATIC
Mitsubishis Space Star Is An Interesting Alternative For Family Hatchback Buyers Seeking Something A Bit Different. Jonathan Crouch Checks Out The Latest Automatic Versions
In an age of conformity, its rather refreshing to find a car that refuses to fit into any of the established market sectors.
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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. 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. The Space Star sits just above the little Colt hatchback in the companys line-up, bringing the versatility you cant have in a Colt and space thats rather above normal supermini standards. The idea here is to offer all the advantages of that larger Focus or Astra-sized family hatchback you were thinking of allied to a dash more versatility. Comparing this car to a mini-MPV People Carrier is more 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
Renault Scenic, offers a loftier perch than that of a conventional family hatch.
"All the advantages of a family hatchback with something extra"
To be fair, Mitsubishi arent marketing the car to be a player in this sector a more honest approach than that employed by rivals like
Ford whose similarly limited Fusion pretends to be something it isnt. Instead, with the price set at £11,999 for the automatic 1.6-litre model featured here, they hope to steal Focus, Astra and
Peugeot 307 business by appealing to buyers looking for something a little different. The INVECS-II Sports Mode 4 Speed Automatic Transmission system (quite a mouthful that) claims to be pretty clever.
Like the auto boxes used in many executive cars, it offers the hands-on control of a manual transmission with the clutch-fee convenience of an automatic. The Sports Mode function allows drivers to manually change gear without the need to operate a clutch. Sports-minded drivers should appreciate the immediate, precise gear changes that are made possible by eliminating the clutch pedal. Moreover, with rev-loss minimised, Sports Mode helps realise the full potential of the 1.
6-litre engine. The key advantage of the INVECS II package is what Mitsubishi call Adaptive Shift Control. Here, a computer constantly monitors driving performance to learn your driving style. Simulating a human decision-making process, the feedback control system accurately tracks changes in the transmissions input shaft speed and adjusts the degree of clutch action to minimise torque fluctuations and give a smoother ride.
After even a short journey, the computer has enough data to start adapting to a new drivers style. Inside, as weve suggested, the seating layout is pretty 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. We 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. Recent specification improvements include the addition of manual air conditioning as standard, twin front airbags, colour-keyed door mirrors, a tachometer and ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) for even shorter stopping distances. On the move, as long as you dont drive like David Coulthard, you shouldnt be disappointed. Refinement and ride are reasonable (though not exceptional) and body roll is well controlled for a car with such a high roofline.
On the safety front, theres the expected airbag availability (twin front and side-mounted), plus the now common three-point rear belts for all three back seat passengers. In summary, an interesting alternative to the usual choices available for the family seeking a compact run-around. Sensible but not too sensible if you know what we mean
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mitsubishi Space Star 1.6 automatic range
PRICES: £11,999 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 192g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 106mph / 0-60mph 14.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 34.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4050/1715/1515
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