Mitsubishi Colt reviews

I bought this car after having driven a Vauxhall Astra for several years. The Colt is a superb replacement, having more extras (e.g. electric windows all round, cruise control, remote locking), the only feature less than the Astra being the heated door mirrors. The Colt is far more economical on fuel (50mpg vs 30mpg) and I prefer the triptonic gear change as opposed to the normal automatic box. The main downside of the Colt is the lack of luggage space, otherwise I am highly delighted with the car.

To a casual observer, there are few visual signs to distinguish this car from the more pedestrian versions of the Colt. External clues are the small Ralliart and Turbo badges, a modest rear spoiler and side skirts, a large oval exhaust outlet and the purposeful, low stance on wide 16" graphite-coloured alloys. Apart from the snug-fitting sports seats, the interior too is much the same as other Colts. But start the engine and the pleasant exhaust boom immediately hints that this could be an interesting drive. Pull away and the firm suspension and positive steering confirm that this is indeed a no-compromise hot hatch. The weight of the controls is perfect - good feel through the steering wheel and brakes that are not over-servoed, so heel-and-toe downshifts won't risk standing the car on its nose. The engine pulls smoothly from low revs, with a decent kick as the turbo spins up and the revs rise above midrange. The combination of an eager motor and a light car gives push-in-the back acceleration and means overtaking is almost as easy as on a motorbike, helped by the nicely-spaced upper three gear ratios. Driven enthusiastically, the car is a hoot, and can surprise much more exotic machinery away from the lights or at roundabouts. Such antics of course do have a penalty in terms of fuel consumption. But on the other hand, a light right foot and sensible driving can easily return in excess of 40 m.p.g., as displayed on the onboard computer which it shares with the rest of the range. Apart from the computer, and the inevitable ABS/EBD/ETC, the car is mostly devoid of electronic gimmickry, other than cruise control operated from slightly fiddly buttons on the steering wheel. Though one feature I could do without is the flashing of the hazard lights when braking hard - I have only triggered this a couple of times when traffic lights have changed at the last minute, but it would be a real distraction if I ever wanted to try the car on a track. For what at first appears to be a compact hatchback, the interior is surprisingly roomy, with plenty of leg- and headroom for full-sized adults in front and back. As with any three-door hatch, access to the rear seats is not recommended for inflexible elderly relatives. Luggage space in the boot is limited by the car's length, but is adequate for a big family shop or luggage for a week away. Folding down the asymmetric split rear seats gives a really useful flat loading space with just a single step. To sum up, this car is most definitely a Jekyll-and-Hyde character. Around town it's economical and in terms of practicality only really loses out to its softer siblings because of the firm ride quality on poorly-maintained roads; some might also find the steering a bit on the heavy side. Or it can happily carry a full load from one end of the country (or even of Europe) to the other. And then, when the driver is in the mood and the right kind of road comes along, it can remind you just what fun it is to bond with such a sweet-handling, responsive piece of machinery.

Bought for flat floor when rear seats lowered. Seat tips up and backrest with headrest lowers into cut out in rear seat so floor is completely flat for my two dogs. Also being ClearTec only £20 road tax

Good town car but not very comfortable on long journeys

I had to transfer to an automatic car due to ill health. The Colt cz2 has been perfect for my needs. I had previously driven an automatic years ago and was not impressed, but this car was a totally different kettle of fish. Smooth driving, smooth gear changes and smooth braking & reasonably quick 0-30. Even though it is five years my garage bills are quite low. As I have only done 38,000 mls approx, I hope it lasts another five.

It's a car to get from A to B, no frills but it does what it says on the tin.

Cost effective small car. 3 doors bit of a issue when carrying more than 2 people - front seats do not leave a lot of room to get into the rear. Good fuel economy, but struggles on the motorway. Boot a little small, but rear seats do slide forward to provide more storage space if no-one sits in the rear. Main agent servicing costs are reasonable. Small rear windscreen is obstructed by rear head rests - I removed them to provide more rear view. Aerial is on the rear of the roof - this caused a problem with the up and over door as driving in forwards, the aerial jams on the door, however it can be easily unscrewed and does not seem to affect radio reception. Car is surprising wide and will not go into a standard garage door opening without folding in one of the mirrors.

A versatile, economic and practical car for everyday use. Reliable and comfortable.