Mitsubishi Colt (2004-) Review

On the road

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Colts prove a pleasing drive. The gearchange is light, quick and easy, braking is firm and progressive. You sit quite high, with a good view over the snub, fall-away nose, and the lack of reach adjustment for the steering wheel is little problem given the essentially upright driving position. There's an ample glass area, helped by vestigial front quarterlights but compromised by the thick screen pillars, and the door mirrors are especially large - all very MPV-ish.

But the driving feel isn't too MPV-ish at all, with quick, precise and easy steering via all-electric assistance, low roll angles and an unexpected degree of 'pointability' into corners. Tied up with this is the way the Colt's nose tucks into a bend and its tail edges out if you decelerate in a quickly-taken corner, a trait more usual in a good hot hatchback than in a family supermini. Some drivers may be dismayed by this at first, but it's safe, easy to manage, doesn't grow into a tailspin and makes for a fun-to-drive Colt.

Besides, the optional Mitsubishi Active Stability Control (MASC, standard in the CZT) will look after you - this is a good example of electronics allowing cars to be more fun to drive without the attendant perils of an over-frisky chassis.

The Colt's balance and crispness are among the very best in the class; it's significant that Smart's Forfour is much less interactive despite being aimed at a younger, more carefree clientèle. And indeed, the handling of the standard Colt is so good, it's arguable whether you need to spend out any extra on the CZT, which has only marginal modifications to its steering and chassis, unless you really want that larger engine - the lively 1.3 can be just as much fun.

The little 1.1-litre three-cylinder engine makes the usual deep, tuneful sound of such units, and with its balancer shaft is smooth as well as characterful. Its outright pace is not great - 103mph and a 13.4-second 0-62mph time - but its willingness is compensation enough and in some ways it makes for the most appealing Colt of all.

The four-cylinder cars are faster, naturally, to the tune of 118mph and 0-62mph in 10.0 seconds in the case of the 1.5. This is a more anodyne-sounding engine, but smooth enough and with a pull to cope with a full passenger load, while the 1.3 revs more sweetly to make up for its reduced urge: 112mph, 0-62 in 11.1 seconds - it's a good all-rounder, and oddly, has the sportiest exhaust note. The 1.5-litre (95bhp) three-cylinder diesel gives good performance, too. Nought to 62mph takes 11 seconds, and top speed is 112mph.

And the CZT? It's quicker still, of course - 0-60 in 8 seconds, 130 mph - though the power and torque peaks quite high-up, so it's uninspired until the turbo really kicks in. Without extensively-tuned suspension or a short-throw, close-ratio gearbox, it doesn't feel that much sportier than the other petrol models, though it's undoubtedly a powerful high-speed cruiser. Check out our separate driving impressions story for more on this model.