Mitsubishi Colt review
The Mitsubishi Colt has been on sale in its current guise since 2004, although a facelift in 2008 brought the Evo-style nose that still helps it stand out on the road today. This rival to the Honda fit, Toyota Vitz and Mazda Demio is available as a three-door or five-door hatchback, with a choice of 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines. But while eco-friendly stop-start technology can be specified on 1.3-litre models, it doesn’t improve efficiency as much as you would hope.
Engines, performance and drive
The Mitsubishi Colt is an easy car to drive, especially around town – if you ignore the large, obstructive A-pillars. Urban roads are the natural habitat of the 75bhp 1.1-litre three-cylinder engine, which provides nippy performance and a pleasing sound. Buyers can also choose from 95bhp 1.3 and 147bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines, which are reasonably refined – the latter features in the sporty top-spec Ralliart model, which has firmer sports suspension for a more thrilling driving experience. But whatever’s under the bonnet, the Colt is agile and entertaining, with a decent amount of grip.
Running costs
If you thought the Mitsubishi Colt was showing its age in terms of design, take a look at the economy figures. The most efficient model in the range – the 1.3-litre Cleartec, which is the only Colt with stop-start returns 56.5mpg fuel economy. Eco versions of the latest BMW 3 Series can do better than that.
Interior, design and technology
Practicality, comfort and boot space
Like the original Honda Fit, the Mitsubishi Colt feels quite spacious inside, although its interior is nowhere near as clever as the Jazz’s. Mitsubishi no longer offers the sliding rear seat in this car – it now just splits and folds – while you have to lift the parcel shelf manually. As it doesn’t drop back down again, it’s easy to drive off with it still obscuring your rearward view. Boot space is a tiny 160-litre load bay expanding to only 568 litres with the seats folded.