21 Jan 05
The CZT works very well as a speedy but civilised super-supermini, and it almost goes without saying that it's free of the torque-steer and turbo lag inherent in most turbocharged tiddlers of the 1980s and '90s. No doubt that it's quick, with loads of mid-range pull and the ability to cruise effortlessly at high speeds, but there's little instant gratification at lower speeds until it comes on-boost; power peaks high at 6000rpm, and torque at 3500rpm. Until that turbo really kicks in, the CZT feels less lively than the free-revving 1.3, and whilst the 95bhp 1.5 DiD diesel version has the same 155lb ft torque output, this peaks at just 1800rpm and feels stronger, earlier. Unless most of your motoring is at highway speeds, it's just not that great a gain. And although the engine is noisy, it doesn't sound particularly sporty: the 1.3, arguably the sweetest engine of the lot, has the cheekier exhaust note. As my co-driver suggested, you could buy that 1.3, fit an aftermarket air filter and exhaust to gee it up a bit, have just as much fun and still save a few grand.
Real hot hatch fans will also be frustrated that the CZT doesn't go as far as could have been done in its handling; a short-throw, closer-ratio gearbox would have lifted it immensely, and there's no discernable difference between the steering in this model and the set-up in the standard normally aspirated petrol models. The ride loses a little composure at higher speeds in all Colts, but a little more of the otherwise good compliance could have happily been sacrificed for a sharper-yet suspension set-up, which again, doesn't feel substantially different to that of the non-turbo cars. Still, the CZT isn't aimed at those real hot hatch fans, and as warmish compromises go, it's a pretty good one.
It'll be interesting to see just what Smart does with the Brabus-tuned Forfour, which we're driving shortly. By and large the Colt feels better-built than the rather pretentious Forfour, and is the more responsive drive, but Brabus is expected to take Smart's turbo model a stage further towards full hot hatch-dom and this may then have the edge at least in perceptions of its sporting credentials, regardless of the actual figures. But if the Smart image and the Brabus badge aren't issues, the satisfyingly sensible Colt CZT could remain the smarter buy of the two, as well as being an adult alternative to the kids' choices in the class.
Still hanging out for that baby Evo? Our guess is that even if Mitsubishi isn't developing a hotter Colt in-house, given its work with respected aftermarket tuners such as Owen Developments (FQ-series Evos) we wouldn't be too surprised to see something nearer that brief in the future, with or without an Evo badge. The potential's certainly there.
