Mitsubishi Colt vs Suzuki Swift

Having hit the bullseye with the styling of its Lancer Evolution X, Mitsubishi is keen for the design of the snout to be a hit on the high street, as well as the rally stage. So, the distinctive front end is becoming a trademark of the brand.

Hot on the heels of the new Lancer Sportback comes the fresh-faced Colt. But can the baby of the range carry off the same aggressive nose job? To see if it has ability to match its looks, we test a practical five-door model in mid-range CZ2 trim.

The Colt backs up its racy appearance with a powerful 1.3-litre petrol engine that delivers 94bhp. Plus, at £9,299, the spacious hatchback is keenly priced.

Competition comes from the small car specialists at Suzuki. The Swift is our favourite budget supermini, and this special-edition Attitude features sports seats, bigger alloy wheels, air-conditioning and keyless go. Only 500 examples will reach the UK, but the extra kit doesn’t come cheap. The Suzuki costs £9,850, and is available only in sporty three-door guise.

Is the Swift Attitude impressive enough to justify its higher price tag, or will the practical Colt turn out to be the more fun, affordable and user-friendly runaround?

Verdict

Eachof these superminis promises sporty looks without the running costs normally associated with a performance hatchback – but which one makes the better buy?

With its racy alloy wheels and sleek styling, this special Swift has the looks to match its name, yet it comes at a price. The Colt isn’t as expensive to buy, and its five-door body provides much more practicality.

While enthusiastic drivers will no doubt prefer the sportier edge and classier cabin of the Suzuki, its on-road advantage is slight. Plus, the underpowered 1.3-litre engine tends to ruin the glitzy illusion created by the racy seats and alloy wheels.

There are better models in the Swift line-up than the limited-run Attitude, but in this test the Suzuki has to come second to the bigger, cheaper and faster new Mitsubishi.