Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £7,999 to £12,849
Punchy engine, decent kit levels, sharp handling, cheap warranty package.
Overly firm ride, uninspiring cabin, poor steering.
May attract a few hardcore Mitsubishi fans but there are better hot-hatches at this price.
Things look good on paper. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine delivers a maximum output of 147bhp at 6,000 revs and 155lb-ft of torque, going from 0-60mph in just 7.4s and then all the way to 131mph. That's faster than the Fiat 500 Abarth and the Renault Twingo Renaultsport, the Colt's main rivals.
On the road, the Colt Ralliart feels wonderfully urgent. Put your foot down and it delivers the power in a satisfyingly linear fashion right up until the rev limiter. Predictably, you feel some torquesteer as you charge away but it's not so bad that you'll be veering all over the road.
The chassis is equally impressive. Turn in swiftly and the car changes direction without fuss and, if the surface is bone dry, offers monumental amounts of grip. There's hardly any body lean, making the car feel taut and grippy. If you do get into problems, however, the stability control will help you out and it's not overly intrusive. This is a very controlled and composed car.
So what's not to like? Well, the steering is hideous. It's heavy and vague when you are travelling in a straight line, and when you approach a corner at speed you get little information coming through to your fingertips.
The gearchange is perfectly acceptable, though - it feels slick and positive - and the brakes are well up to the job.
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