Skip advert
Advertisement

Mitsubishi Colt

In a niche where style is everything, can the fashionably late Mitsubishi Colt CZC make a grand entrance?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Mitsubishi Colt
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Pretty styling makes the Colt a welcome addition to the CC supermini class. The 147bhp turbo model is expensive, but its specification and pace make it unique in this sector. Anticipated low sales volumes guarantee exclusivity, while decent interior space up front boosts its appeal. The lower-spec 107bhp variant also represents great value at £13,999.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Can Mitsubishi's trendy new coupe-cabriolet the Colt CZC cut it in the stylish supermini arena? To find out, we hit the road this week in the latest small hatch to gain the ultimate accessory - a folding metal roof.

Our 1.5-litre turbo test car boasts 147bhp, and sprints from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds. That makes it the fastest supermini CC on sale - and it's also one of the best looking, thanks to Pininfarina's input. The Italian firm not only co-designed the newcomer, it builds it, too, but from head-on it's difficult to separate this car from the normal tin-top.

However, it's all change from behind the front wheels, and the nifty roof arrangement gives the hood-up CZC a typically awkward, cab-forward stance. The roof stows in 22 seconds - after you've released a pair of clips on the windscreen header rail, it folds neatly into the boot at the touch of a button.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Sportage

2017 Kia

Sportage

56,787 milesManualDiesel1.7L

Cash £10,677
View Sportage
C4

2022 Citroen

C4

59,493 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,500
View C4
A-Class

2021 Mercedes

A-Class

54,942 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £15,100
View A-Class
Arona

2021 SEAT

Arona

31,810 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,900
View Arona

You need to be stationary to perform the metal-folding gymnastics, but the finished result is worth the effort, as the smooth rear deck gives the car a much cleaner look.

The interior will be familiar to any existing Colt owner, as the dashboard is carried over virtually unchanged. As with the Peugeot 206 CC and Nissan Micra C+C, the Mitsubishi is billed as a 2+2, but in reality the pair of cramped rear seats are for shopping and luggage rather than people.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Unlike its rivals, there's a decent amount of headroom with the Colt's roof in place, although the powerful climate control system and standard heated and part-leather seats mean you can enjoy fresh air all year round.

That wind-in-the-hair impression is heightened on the road by the removable windbreak. It fits behind the front seats and ensures the cabin remains draught-free and relatively quiet, even at high speeds. The only downside is that the device is fiddly to install, and renders the rear seats useless.

Roof-down motoring also enables drivers to fully appreciate the burbling sound that comes courtesy of the CZC Turbo's sports exhaust - although in performance terms, the extra 130kg the clever top adds takes the edge off the MIVEC 1.5-litre powerplant.

Nevertheless, Mitsubishi has done its best to ensure the turbocharged model is entertaining by fitting sports suspension, a quicker steering rack and more powerful brakes - although the Colt is still no sports car. Admittedly, the accurate steering is a pleasure to use, but the extra stiffening simply isn't enough to prevent shudders over rough surfaces from entering the cabin.

The extra weight also means there's plenty of body roll during hard cornering, and the notchy gearbox only serves to highlight the engine's lack of off-boost response.

Mitsubishi is expecting to sell 1,000 cars every year, and only 250 of those will be turbocharged examples. The firm believes most CZC buyers will be women - and the combination of generous standard equipment, cute looks and an attractive price tag should be enough to guarantee a healthy order book when it hits dealers next week.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £7,825 off RRP*Used from £12,170
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,049 off RRP*Used from £15,410
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,153 off RRP*Used from £15,600
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,297 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front tracking

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch

The hottest front-wheel-drive Golf has sharpened up its act in Mk8.5 form, but it's not as fun as we'd like it to be
Road tests
11 Sep 2025
Farewell Volkswagen ID.4, hello ID. Tiguan
VW ID. Tiguan front 3/4 Avarvarii

Farewell Volkswagen ID.4, hello ID. Tiguan

Heavy update for EV will bring with it a fresh, but familiar, name
News
12 Sep 2025
New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal
Honda Civic facelift - front

New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal

The Honda Civic was already a great car, but updates for 2025 have elevated it even higher
Road tests
11 Sep 2025