2012 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews

Mitsubishi Colt was relaunched in Australia in September 2004 after being missing for several years. Early models were made in Australia, these latter ones are fully imported from Japan.Colt’s big features are its radical body style and the number of interesting variants in which it is offered. We love the way the windscreen pillars run all the way from the roof down to the bumper without any deviation from a straight line. Interestingly, the facelifted version, introduced in April 2007, had quite lot of the rear-end redesign done by the Australian styling office of Mitsubishi.Inside, the look is as radical as the exterior; the Colt's wave-shaped dash has stylish instruments housed in a lavishly curved binnacle. There's good interior space for four people with sensible legroom in the adjustable rear seat. A fifth person will find comfort is compromised in the centre-rear by the join-line in the seatback.Boot space is restricted if the back seat is set all the way rearwards to achieve the best legroom. Colt can carry one large suitcase in a vertical position, with some room around it for softer baggage. The back seat can be double-folded to create a lot more room. The spare wheel is a small unit for temporary use only to make the boot deeper.Ride comfort is better than average for this class and overall refinement is as good as that of a car in the next size class upwards. However, handling is on the soft side, being aimed at the average driver rather than the enthusiast.The standard Mitsubishi Colt is powered by a 1.5-litre twin-cam engine. It was at the forefront of technology for its time and provides good torque that’s well suited to driving a CVT. Colt automatics use a new design of continuously variable transmission (CVT). The manual is a conventional five-speed unit.Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart, sold from July 2006 until mid 2010, has a turbocharged and intercooled 1.5-litre engine. Despite the apparent high-performance credentials is only has 113 kW of power so is not really in the hot-hatch category - but look at the low price. The Ralliart Colt has a more rigid body than the standard Colt and there's sports suspension, complemented by upgraded brakes and larger wheels and tyres.The most interesting Mitsubishi Colt of them all is the Cabriolet, which went on sale in November 2006. It's a tiny car with odd styling that bulges at the back and slopes down in a somewhat disconcerting manner at the front. At best it can be described as cute. Colt Cabriolet is sold with a turbocharged engine that’s closely related to the one used in the Ralliart model, but with slightly less power, at just 110 kW. The lower power is noticeable as the body gains wait due to being beefed up underneath to support the lack of a solid roof.Though Mitsubishi has pulled out of local manufacturing in Australia the company is continuing as a major importer and has an ongoing commitment to providing spare parts, repairs and servicing. Insurance costs for Mitsubishi Colts vary dramatically. The turbocharged variants, particularly the Ralliart attract huge premiums. If looking at the latter and you are a young, inexperienced driver and live in a high-risk area make sure you get insurance quotes before falling in love with the hotter Colts.WHAT TO LOOK FORBody damage, or signs of it having been repaired, is a worry on any car, but especially so in the Ralliart variant of the Colt. Look for body panels that don’t line up correctly, on colours that don’t match from one panel to another. Tiny spots of paint on areas that should be clear, glass and badges are another cue.Look thoroughly inside a cabriolet for signs of dampness or water stains as it may have been caught out in the rain. Get permission to lift the carpets and check the conditions underneath them. Make sure any version of the Colt engine starts easily and idles reasonably smoothly.A turbocharged engine should have a minimum of lag. During your road test be aware that anything upwards of a second could be a worry. The turbo shouldn’t be overly noisy in operation. Check on the service books of any car, particularly if it’s a turbo as the latter needs to have engine oil changes according to schedule. As well as having the complete dynamic system examined.Listen and feel for a transmission that works smoothly and quietly. Make sure the brakes pull the Colt up promptly and that no one wheel locks before the others.CAR BUYING TIPSmall cars often live tougher lives than large ones because of their constant exposure to urban traffic. So low kilometre readings are not necessarily a good thing.

And just sometimes, you can get it all and still hear the reassuring sounds of change rattling in your pocket.  Small cars don't have to be cheap and nasty or even perform like an asthmatic snail in a bid to maximise fuel economy. Nor do they have to be cramped or have the visual appeal of a packing crate that instantly identifies you as cheap.  Here are five small cars that will haul you and three friends - and do it on a miserly fuel budget.The good news is they're all less than $30,000. And that includes comprehensive safety features with electronic stability control and ABS brakes.  But best of all, turn up the wick and these things will give you a decent thrill.  Two are turbocharged and one has a 2.5-litre engine. No need to be red-faced at the traffic lights in these.Mitsubishi Colt RalliartThis looks like a small apartment block sitting on a cute set of alloys. In fact, it's a powerhouse that will dust of a lot of cars with twice the engine capacity and has room for four adults, parks in weeny car bays, runs on a sip of fuel - though you'll need premium brand - and is the perfect shopping trolley for people who like their food fast.Price: $25,740Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 113kW/210NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.7 l/100km premiumPerformance: 0-100km/h in 7.6 secSafety: two airbags, ESC, ABS, BAVolkswagen Polo GTIThis baby sister of the Golf GTI quickly gets off the mark thanks to some component sharing and a 1.8-litre turbo engine. It comes only as a three door so may limit those with heaps of friends, though certainly looks as good as it goes. Solid German construction and versatile interior add to its appeal.Price: $26,990Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 110kW/220NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.9 l/100km Premium0-100km/h: 8.2 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, diff lockFord Fiesta ZetecYou can get this in three and five-door versions (extra money for the five door) and while it's not turbocharged, is a spirited performer with lots of aesthetic charm. It's an easy hatchback to live with and aside from a small fuel thirst, runs on cheaper unleaded petrol. Comprehensive safety features show you care for your friends.Price: $20,490Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 88kW/152NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.1 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.2 sec (estimated)Safety: 5 airbags, ESC, ABS, BASuzuki Swift SportYou know the Swift, now meet its more beefed up brother. The Sport is unassuming though gets a bigger engine and tauter suspension to accentuate its handling and acceleration. That makes it as practical and reliable as its less-powerful relations. Also has great features and the full safety package.Price: $23,990Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 92kW/148NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.5 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.8 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BAMazda3 SP25This is a great package at a superb price. The SP25 just takes the refreshed Mazda3 to another level, boosting power and torque yet not crushing attributes such as its fuel economy. The features are also excellent as is the safety equipment. It's physically bigger than its rivals here and that means more cabin and luggage room, so it never feels like a small car.Price: $29,740Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl 122kW/227NmTransmission: 6-speed manualFuel economy: 8.6 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 7.9 sec (estimated)Safety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BA

Styled by Italian design studio Pininfarina, the Colt Cabriolet is at once stylish and goofy looking, particularly in profile with the roof up.The rear deck is too flat and long and the bubble shaped cabin too large and bulbous, creating an unbalanced appearance.With the roof down, however, the car looks like a million bucks.One thing's for sure, it's certainly got some get up and go with the 1.5-litre turbo aboard.Pininfarina has been responsible for a range of diverse and iconic designs over the years, including the Jaguar XJS, Peugeot 206CC and recently released Volvo C70 coupe/cabriolet.The company specialises in soft and hard topped roof solutions and its expertise is employed by many manufacturers.Mitsubishi says the roof system was the first thing that Pininfarina developed for the Colt Cabrio during the design phase.The roof was engineered and tested in its wind tunnel at Grugliasco, to guarantee the highest standards of safety and functionality.The fact Pininfarina engineered both the Pug and Mitsubishi cabrios is a point of interest, as the two are rivals, with a new Pug set to heat up things shortly.Our test car was certainly an eye-catcher finished in burnt metallic orange, but with a pair of the tiniest back seats that we have ever laid eyes on.There's little or no legroom for rear seat passengers and you've got to wonder why they bothered?The turbocharged engine develops 110KW of power at 6000rpm and 210Nm of torque at 3500rpm, slightly less power than the Ralliart Colt.In comparison the cheaper naturally aspirated model delivers 80kW at 6000rpm and 145Nm at 4000rpm.The force fed engine features a weight- saving hollow camshaft.Other changes have been made to accommodate the higher power output, with stronger engine and gearbox mountings, plus higher spring rates to cope with the demands of more harder acceleration and spirited handling.The turbocharged engine is mated to a five- speed Getrag manual transmission, with a revised gear set - there's no auto.Rounding off the package are 16in alloys fitted with 205/45 rubber.The end result is a car that's a bit of a tearaway, able to spin the wheels off the line, and again when changing to second gear and one that is something of a handful in the wet.Weighing in at 1200kg, it can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 205km/h.Fuel consumption from the 47-litre tank is rated at 7.2 litres/100km.We found the turbo a fun car to drive, but not exactly what you'd call cheap motoring at $37,990 plus on-roads.The roof is easily removed, with a locking clamp at each corner and luggage screen in the boot that must be extended before the roof will operate.Too much luggage and the roof will refuse to open.There's some body flex with the roof open, particularly on bumpy secondary roads - but not too much.The top of the windscreen is quite high and this minimises wind intrusion.The power-operated windows can be tricky, as one set of controls operates both front and rear windows, with a pause required between the two.You get leather and heated front seats standard, but the finish inside smacks of plastic and the sound system failed to impress.Handling is generally good, but we were wary of executing any fast cornering in the wet.It's reassuring to know that Active Stability Control (incorporating Active Traction Con- trol) is fitted along with anti-lock brakes to stop things getting out of hand.Strong front pillars and windshield frame are designed to support the car in a roll over accident, without the need for rear roll bars.Driver, passenger and side airbags are also fitted.

A high entry price, lack of a manual option and styling that caused it to blend with the baby-car crowd didn't help.Relief came last year with a manual version, which dropped the base price to $15,990, and a Ralliart edition that added spice.Mitsubishi has added two drop-top models to the Colt club and it has kept a lid on the cost. The base Colt Cabriolet, at $32,990, is one of the most affordable top-down cruisers along with the soon-to-be replaced Peugeot 207cc ($32,990).A turbo-charged version gets a performance and equipment boost and costs $37,990.Like its rivals, the Colt convertible has a folding metal hard-top.Mitsubishi turned to Italian design house Pininfarina to help create the multicultural Colt Cabriolet.Basics of the original Colt were designed between Mitsubishi of Japan and German/American giant DaimlerChrysler, panels come from the Netherlands, the engine is from Germany and Japan, and it is put together and finished by Pininfarina.Technically, the Cabriolet is a four-seater, but Mitsubishi describes it as a 2'2; that means the rear seats are small and unlikely to suit adults.The folding roof is easy to use. Fold back two roof clips above either side of the top of the windscreen and press a button on the driver's door armrest and it will fold into the boot.The boot space is reasonable with the roof up, but is cut dramatically when the roof is down.Mitsubishi was unable to fit in a spare wheel or even a space-saver, so the car has a pump-up repair kit.The base model convertible has the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine as the Colt hatch, but adds 3kW and 4Nm. That means it has a total of 80kW and 145Nm.The force-fed engine in the Cabriolet Turbo bumps that to 110kW and 210Nm, which means it gets along OK, but is certainly not a sports car. Both are available only with a five-speed manual transmission. There is no automatic option.Safety gear for the base model includes anti-skid brakes and driver and passenger front and side airbags.The cheaper Colt Cabriolet misses out on electronic stability control, which is standard in the Turbo.The convertible Colt has stronger A-pillars and windshield bracing, and other structural reinforcements, which Mitsubishi says negates the need for roll hoops at the rear.Both Colt Cabriolets have 16-inch alloy wheels. The Turbo model has heftier brakes. ON THE ROADTHE Colt Cabriolet is an affordable summer fun car, but is not perfect.No one can argue about the price — $32,990 for a convertible with a folding top is great value.It doesn't have a heap of power, but the 1.5-litre engine is fine if you push it along.The manual gearbox is not the sharpest I have used, but it works well enough. It could do with an extra gear for cruising though because the Colt buzzes along at close to 3000 revs on the highway, annoying on a long trip.And the lack of an automatic could be a problem. Car companies say small convertibles are mainly bought by young women, many of whom prefer an automatic.The Colt is cheap to run and has fuel-consumption figures of 7.1l — that means more money for sunscreen. The folding metal roof is impressive engineering and easy to use.Generally, folding hard-tops are better that soft-tops, which are cheaper to produce, lighter and take less room, but also create wind noise in the cabin and can look tatty.I enjoyed a country drive in the Colt Cabriolet, which is nimble and handles well with the roof up. It is no supercar, and the electric-assisted steering gives little idea of where the car is sitting, but it was fun to push along and quite comfortable.Then I folded the roof into the boot and the car became loose and wobbly, just as the bad convertibles of old. Bumps that didn't bother the car when the roof was up sent a shudder through its body. On smooth roads it is OK, but even around town, potholes and tram tracks made the top-down Colt shake.Potential customers should drop the roof when they test drive the car.The Colt's styling is plain, especially when compared with the Holden Tigra, which has a unique, sporty look. The Colt has a tall boot to accommodate the roof, similar to other small hardtop convertibles, which can look strange.The interior is nice. The test car had orange seats and the dashboard and dials had a quality feel. Functional trays and cupholders are welcome. The rear seats are for children only.Boot space is excellent with the roof up, but is virtually non-existent when the roof is down. THE BOTTOM LINEGOOD-VALUE summer fun, but comes with compromises. A wobbly body when the roof is down spoils a good drive.64/100

Mitsubishi also called up the Grandis people mover this year and updated the Outlander to kick harder against its compact four-wheel-drive rivals.They are selling strongly, boosting support for a brand anchored by the Pajero but deserving better for the Magna and the Verada.The Colt has been pitched as a quality compact with European styling and a punchy engine, all wrapped in a new-age body. It was developed jointly by Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler.The Colt is a good looker and distinctive, but the starting price of $18,990 is too high.The cabin quality is disappointing; the transmission, a constantly variable automatic, is nothing special; and the car doesn't drive all that well.The bottom line, critical when the small-car scene is so competitive, is that the Colt isn't good enough to compete.The strategy was to take the Colt up and away from the $15,000 bargain battlers, banking on its European connections and a big five-door body that's more like a mini people-mover.Mitsubishi also believed the bigger engine would give it an edge over rivals with 1.3-litre powerplants.The 1.5-litre 16-valve engine and the CVT transmission feed power to the front wheels.There is nothing special in the suspension, with MacPherson struts and a torsion-beam rear axle, and it still comes with drum brakes on the back.The dash is under a huge windscreen and looks trendy, with a column-mounted shift lever for the automatic.The cabin leads the class for space and headroom, and the rear seat is on slides, with a reclining backrest similar to the Mazda2's. There are two models, but most of the action will be for the LS. The XLS gets a tachometer, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy wheels and other bits for $20,990.Mitsubishi believes it can sell 400 Colts a month, the LS taking 60 per cent.In its first few months, and without the XLS kick, it has managed only 326, though it did better in October with 233.The Jazz is romping away, with 846 sales in October.WE WANTED so much for the Colt to be a winner. It looks good, at least from the outside, and it has all the ingredients to do the job if you ignore the premium price.But even if the recipe is right, the result is wrong in 2004.The Colt is sub-par on quality, particularly against its price rivals, and is nothing special to drive.It is not as good as an Echo or a Getz on the road, let alone be a genuine contender against the Mazda2 and the Jazz.How did it happen? We don't know, because Mitsubishi has proven many times it knows how to build good cars. The Magna is still a good drive. Not the Colt.Fuel economy is good at just under 9 litres/100km, the engine is strong, and the cabin has a lot of space for people and/or luggage.It would be a good weekend carryall for someone with a mountain bike or a hiking obsession.Still, we're making excuses, and that's not good enough.There is not much to make you smile, apart from a reasonable CD sound system. The cabin looks cheap, the back seat is upright and uncomfortable, and even the front seats feel narrow and thin. It doesn't even have a centre console, which is an option.On the driving side, we can almost excuse the CVT transmission – Honda does a much better job by setting up steps that act like gears – because the 72kW engine is so eager. It will push the car along well enough, once you adjust to a gearbox that sounds as if it has perpetual clutch slip.But we can't excuse brakes that don't have nearly enough bite.The Colt rides well, coping reasonably with bumps and humps, but it doesn't want to turn corners. Even at slow speeds it feels skittish, with little rear grip.Perhaps that's why the brakes feel as if you need to shove harder than expected for a moderate stop.The turning circle is good, the headlamps are fine, and it's good to have aircon, power steering, twin airbags and anti-skid brakes.Still, we would never pick the Colt over a Mazda2 or a Honda Jazz, even if it has a bigger engine, and that sums it up.IT WOULD be great if the Colt was a star, but it's not.

Which all drew a perplexed response from the mother-in-law when she spotted a new Colt in the driveway – a Colt that looked nothing like her ever-faithful 19-year-old Mitsubishi with the same name.Little wonder – only the name is the same. The old Colt was a conventional five-door hatch. The latest looks more like a pregnant door wedge.The new face of Mitsubishi's small car line-up is a space-efficient cutey with five doors, a miserly 1.5-litre engine up front, a CVT auto gearbox and a European-styled minimalistic interior.In a photograph it looks back at you like a little toy, perhaps a mini-car thing rivalling the Daewoo Matiz or Hyundai Getz.In fact, though it looks weeny – a by-product of its pointed snout – it has a comfortable, four-adult interior.It also has a more grown-up price than the Matiz and Getz. At a base price of $18,990 – though $20,990 for the XLS tested – the Colt has lots of serious rivals.What makes this car so attractive, however, is the way it does its job of transporting people and cargo in comfort and with a tiny thirst.The Colt has an upright stance that makes it easy to get in and out. If the leg-room doesn't surprise you, the height of the headliner certainly will.The simplicity of the dash makes it an easy car to operate, though you have to get used to the bent stick jabbing out from the left of the steering column – that's the gear selector – and the annoying dwarf pedal down on the floor that turns out to be the foot-operated parking brake.Sticking this stuff out of the firewall and the dash keeps the mess off the floor, so that's why the interior looks uncluttered and airy. In effect, it also does the owner a disservice because in an attempt to keep everything clean and simple there's only a small console for your personal items.In fact, the base model doesn't get a console.On the road the car is quiet yet feels sprightly. Part of that is the CVT (continuously-variable transmission) which is like an automatic without specific gears.The transmission slides up and down ratios according to available engine power, so it always finds the best gear for the conditions.Best news is that the CVT boxes are more economical on fuel than a manual gearbox. The unusual bit is that as the speedo rises, the tacho needle is falling.Because it's quite a small thing, the Colt practically turns on a 20c piece and fits into tiny parking spaces.The steering is electrically-assisted, which means it is so light that it takes some getting used to.The Colt suits an owner wanting flexibility – thanks to its split-fold rear seats and wide and tall rear hatch – and generally travels in the city and suburbs.It's pleasing to see another top-shelf product from Mitsubishi.

For me, it was dad's old, rusting wagon – it could fit up to six of my friends at a squeeze, it was ever reliable and even when fuel prices were hovering around $1 a litre (yes, New Zealand had expensive petrol 12 years ago), it was economical to run.For many, the old Colt may have been your trusty steed.Now, the Colt has resurfaced and it's had a facelift. The trend for sleek lines is obvious and its simple, arched shape makes it impressively tall, despite this being classed as a light car.We all know the size of a car is important. It's a big issue with guys, although most women won't mind so much as long as it handles well, it looks good and behaves itself. So it was down to McLaren Vale for a leisurely lunch (alas, no wine) to see how well the Colt handled. And handle it does – smooth and quiet.The 1.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC engine with MIVEC provides ample power for a car of this size and, apparently, the transmission is so intelligent it will "learn" an individual driver's driving style and adapt for the best possible performance and efficiency. Great, but don't ask me how it does it.And be prepared, the Colt is a column shift. When I picked it up I was already running late for an appointment so imagine my horror when I saw, oh no, a column shift.Decision time: I could take my chances and potentially kill the car or I could run back to the office and get Kevin from Mitsubishi to explain how it works.Considering this car doesn't get released until next month, I opted to get Kevin.Of course, it turns out the column shift is automatic and it's as simple as putting your foot on the brake, flicking the shift down a notch and checking the dash to see what gear you have selected.Luckily my appointment didn't chastise me for being late and I did manage to find out from Kevin that the Colt has a storage compartment under the passenger seat – perfect for stashing CDs or small bags out of sight. Wouldn't have found that if it hadn't been for the column shift.Speaking of the seats, they are pretty cushy and I imagine they would be great when travelling long distances. In the back it's a bench seat so there's plenty of room to move and three adults can fit in easily.In the front, all the essentials are at your fingertips – CD/stereo, airconditioning with a pollen filter, power windows, childproof locks and a sundhroof for taking advantage of the nicer weather. It also has dual airbags, ABS and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) brakes.So, considering the reasonable price tag and that all the mod cons come as standard, the cute little Colt has a lot to offer. By the way, there's plenty of cup holders.