Mitsubishi SPACE STAR MIRAGE RANGE
Bored With Your Family Hatchback?
Mitsubishi Hope The Affordable Mirage Versions Of Their Versatile Little Space Star Will Be An Oasis Of Innovation In A Desert Of Anonymity. Andy Enright Reports
With the barriers between different car types slowly being eroded, the Mitsubishi Space Star seems to make more sense now than when it was first launched in 1998.
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For a start, theres a heavily revised version on sale these days, with every panel changed and heavy interior improvements. For another thing,
Mitsubishi have much more of a handle on what potential UK customers want out of the car. Special edition Mirage versions of the original Space Star were well received, so this version is now a standard part of the range: in fact, Mirage trim is the entry-level point to Space Star ownership. Theres now just one engine option available at this level the 81bhp 1.3 priced at £8,999. 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.
"All the advantages of a family hatchback with something extra"
A casual glance might lead you to believe the Space Star 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 little three-door supermini Colt hatchback in the companys line-up, bringing the five-door versatility that you cant have in the Colt and standards of space much better than youd normally get in a five-door supermini.
The idea is to offers all the advantages of that larger Focus or Astra-sized family hatchback you were thinking of in a more versatile package. Having said that, comparing this car to a mini-MPV People Carrier is difficult since the seats dont remove, spin or magically materialise into picnic tables. Still, 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. To be fair, Mitsubishi arent marketing the car to be a player in this sector.
Instead, with prices at under £9,000 for the Mirage model, Mitsubishi hopes to steal
Honda Civic and
Peugeot 307 business by appealing to buyers looking for something a little different. The 81bhp 1.3-litre version is relatively frugal, but unremarkable against the clock. The five-speed gearbox has a smooth, quality feel to the shift and the 1.
3-litre is lively enough for urban work. 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.
The Mirage trim level includes alloy wheels, central locking, front electric windows, twin airbags, metallic paint, an alloy finish for the dashboard and gearknob and an RDS radio cassette stereo. Mind you, when was the last time you bought a cassette? Me neither. 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. On the move, as long as you dont drive like Jenson Button, 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.
Its easy to be cynical about cars like this which dont appear to fit into any established market categories. Still, get all hard-nosed about the Space Star Mirage and you have to admit that it does, in fact, offer very good value for money. Mitsubishi, it seems, know what their customers want.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mitsubishi Space Star Mirage range
PRICES: £8,999 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 146g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 106mph / 0-60mph 14.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.1mpg / (extra urban) 49.6mpg / (Combined) 41.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4050/1515/1515
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