Mitsubishi Colt

The Colt has proven to be a popular supermini, offering a competitive all-round package for low prices.

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Rating:
On the road price: £7,674 - £11,174
For : Spacious feel, sprightly engines, solid build, practical
Against : Obstructive A-pillars, soft feel in corners

Driving:
The cab-forward design pushes the windscreen a long way from passengers, giving the Colt an MPV feel. It's light and airy but the thick A-pillars create dangerous blind spots. Despite suffering some body roll, the Colt is fun and agile in corners. It turns in sharply with plenty of front-end grip, and while the steering is a little artificial, it weights up at speed. The suspension is a little soft which endows it with good ride quality, save for a little too much bounce on undulating surfaces. The 1.1-litre three-cylinder isn't fast but is an absolute treat to use, with a sweet, revvy nature and zero harshness. Four-cylinder units are gruffer but still refined, and the 1.5-litre is usefully torquey. The CZT turbo is fast but doesn't feel as fast as 60mph in 7.2 seconds suggests, and while it's been stiffened, the tall body still leans too much in corners - though the weighty steering is impressive. We like the three-cylinder diesel most of all; it's an effortless performer and returns fine fuel economy of nearly 60mpg.

Marketplace:
The Colt has been a surprise hit for Mitsubishi, drawing buyers from the supermini sector where previous uninspiring models have failed to. Its steeply raked windscreen and flat rear end give it a mini-MPV look, yet while the side profile is plain, large headlamps and an Evo-style grille make the front quite attractive. It hides either a three-cylinder 74bhp 1.1-litre engine, or four-pot 94bhp 1.3-litre and 107bhp 1.5-litre units. The latter is available in 147bhp turbocharged CZT guise too, while there's also a 1.5-litre turbodiesel that produces 94bhp. Three-and five-door bodystyles are offered, with three-door models taking on a slightly lower, sportier stance. But only certain 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre DI-D models can offer self-shifting gears - and even then, it's not a full auto, but a less-smooth semi-automatic system. Mitsubishi have hidden it well, but the Colt is actually based on the Smart Forfour - and has proven the more popular of the two.

Owning:
The driving position is impressive and seats are comfortable. Legroom is decent in the rear and there's plenty of headroom, even in the more rakish three-door. Rear seats slide back and forth independently, have a split-fold function and can even, if you're strong enough, be fully removed, complementing the capacious boot. By supermini standards, residuals have remained excellent and the three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and recovery package adds long-term reassurance. On-the-road prices are keen too, with the quick CZT and frugal diesel looking just as good value as the bargain-priced entry-level models. With such a range of talents, it's not hard to see the Mitsubishi's appeal.