Mitsubishi Colt

The Colt is not the most modern supermini on sale, but that won’tmatter to some buyers. With a snazzy paint job, a year’s complimentary insurance and three years’ free servicing, the model has more to offer than ever before. It’s a shame Blue spec isn’t available with the more versatile five-door body, but if you’re counting the pennies, this dealis definitely worth a look.

But now the company is aiming to tempt drivers on a budget with a special edition called the Blue. The £8,499 machine comes with 12 months’ free insurance – plus an attention-grabbing three years’ worth of free servicing.

However, there are still a few compromises customers are going to have to make if they step behind the wheel. As it’s available only in three-door form, the new model has been designed to appeal to young drivers. Metallic blue paint is the only colour option, and 16-inch alloy wheels come as standard. Although designers have stopped short of adding any wings or spoilers, the Colt’s boy-racer image is clear to see.

Inside, blue trim on the seats is matched to a coloured leather steering wheel and gearknob, but thankfully the list of standard kit delves deeper than novelty materials. Electric front windows, remote central locking and a CD player are joined by a sliding rear seat, automatic headlights and wipers, side airbags and an MP3-compatible six-speaker sound system.

With the emphasis on keeping running costs low, the Blue variant is only offered with Mitsubishi’s frugal 1.1-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Refinement is not its strong point, but the unit’s buzzing soundtrack has plenty of character and there’s enough acceleration to keep up with traffic in town, while the 0-62mph time is 12.9 seconds. Al-though it can’t match the new Corsa’s grown-up feel, the Colt is fun to drive.

So the Mitsubishi provides a highly competent supermini package at a tempting price, but what about the small print? Well, the servicing deal is valid up to 37,500 miles, while the complimentary insurance offer is available to motorists aged between 21 and 70. On top of that, buyers also get the customary three-year warranty and pan-European breakdown cover.

Watch out for the finance package, though, as the deal is more costly than it looks. While you can drive a Blue home for £179 per month, an APR of 10.9 per cent means you pay back a total of £10,181.85, including a £1,000 deposit. Funding the £8,499 with a lower-rate bank loan would probably make more sense for most people.

With that in mind, if you choose a sensible payment plan, low-cost motoring is pretty much guaranteed. Just as long as you can live with the colour!