Mitsubishi Colt (2004-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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Mitsubishi reckons this is the roomiest car in the class in terms of combined front and rear legroom, and the tall body gives excellent headroom, too. The very upright seating position may not suit some people, and the narrow seats aren't particularly supportive, though the CZT's seats have a little extra bolstering.

The rear seat isn't quite as versatile as a Honda Jazz's (it can't be because the Colt has its fuel tank in the normal place instead of under the front seats), but it still slides, reclines, split-folds, tumbles forward out of the way on gas struts or you can take it out altogether. The front passenger seat folds too, but the rear shelf is a short, solid item which leaves a gap if the rear seats are slid forward. The three-door has a tiny boot when the rear seat is in its rearmost position, but that goes with the territory. There's an optional box for the centre tunnel with extra storage opportunities, but right-hand drive cars will be denied the air-conditioned glovebox of left-hand drivers.

All Colts have an in-dash CD player, able to swallow six CDs in up-range models, but cassette players are absent - too passé for Colt buyers. Front windows are electrically powered with a one-touch up/down action, and the instruments are set in a neat three-dial pack. Soft-touch surfaces abound. You can also choose not to have a spare wheel, in which case you get a sealant aerosol and an electric air pump.

On the move, the Colt rides tautly but not uncomfortably thanks to excellent damping control; body roll is well-contained, and it only loses composure on the roughest of surfaces and under pressure at high speeds. It's not especially quiet, though, and the largest, torquiest engines are the noisiest: the 1.3 and 1.5 can get quite harsh when pushed, and the CZT's turbo unit is particularly vocal, without sounding particularly sporty; the cabin's not quite as well-insulated as those of some European rivals, but refinement does compare well to other cars in a similar price-range.