The small hatchback sector is crammed full of great little cars that in this day and age make massive sense.
Japan's industrial giant Mitsubishi has just launched its latest Colt, and thankfully it is a car that can now compete with some of the best in the class.
Now quieter than the old car, the latest Colt remains as functional as ever. A 1.1 litre three-cylinder petrol model is the entry point and for my money it is the best Colt in a range that features four petrol engines: 1.1, 1.3, 1.5 and a Ralliart 1.5 with 150bhp. Ralliart is Mitsubishi's tuning arm that has great street cred with not only fans of rallying but also kids of all ages that play video games. Ralliart replaces the CZT badging in the Colt range. There are no plans for a diesel engine as it is too expensive to develop and also Mitsubishi says its petrol engines will be green enough with a clever stop and go system called 'Clear Tec' on the way with very low CO2 emissions. 'Clear Tec' versions are due in late 2009 or early 2010. The convertible Colt won't be replaced but will continue to be sold as is alongside the new car. Mitsubishi claims the Colt is 65% new, which is a good percentage in any so-called new model.
The exterior is classic Japanese town car, so it is boxy and a little awkward looking. There are two body styles with the five-door not quite as chunky looking as the three-door. It is a tall vehicle with plenty of interior space and headroom. The design is a little dated despite the front end benefiting from the 'Jet Fighter' nose - yes, you read correctly, the design team sought inspiration from a fighter jet. Head on the Colt is pretty whereas the side view is anonymous and just like lots of other tall superminis. The rear view is almost retro as it is slab-like and could come from any 1990s city car.
Inside the cabin is bright and airy. The 'A' pillar is a little thick but otherwise the visibility from the driver's seat is good. On the road the three cylinder entry model is a hoot. The engine is like a bouncing puppy, always eager for a run.
All Colts come with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard with an automated manual called 'All-Shift' on the way and while the engines are carried over from the outgoing model, the performance levels remain impressive. My 1.1 litre delivers 0-100km/h in just 12.8 seconds and all from just 75bhp. The Ralliart 1.5 litre should have been the best craic on my recent test drive but sadly I felt less inclined to enjoy cornering than I would say in a MINI or Suzuki Swift. The Ralliart version is not worth the premium. The base model three-cylinder was far more entertaining and a real giggle.
Colt was first launched in 1962 but only made it to our shores many generations later. The latest Colt will continue to be a popular niche model.
Mitsubishi continues to stress that as a brand it can compete with the big boys, but in reality it has too small a dealer network to trouble Toyota, Ford and the like in terms of sales. But I would add the 1.1 litre Colt to any list of practical superminis to test drive.
Michael Sheridan
