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Hatchback
The Mitsubishi Colt isn't the sort of car you buy for thrills it never has been. Instead, it's one of those cars that performs competently in every area rather than really shining in any one.
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Still, that's no bad thing. Its biggest strength is its space. Four adults can sit in absolute comfort, and the amount of head- and legroom they get belies the car's small size. The dash is attractively designed and easy to use, too, and the materials it's made from are far more appealing than owners of older Mitsubishis will be used to. The most notable thing about how the car drives is that it's very easy to drive. It grips well enough, even though the body leans in corners and the steering is dull. The ride is supple enough, too, even though bigger bumps and cracks can cause a bit too much suspension noise.
Running Costs
A used Colt won't be that cheap. New prices are reasonable and residual values are only average, but because the car has only been on the market since 2004, prices haven’t fallen by all that much. Running costs are very good, though. Our favourite 1.1-litre engine returns the best fuel economy of the petrol cars, with an average figure of 51.4mpg. The 1.3 and 1.5 give figures of 48.7mpg and 45.5mpg respectively, and even the CZT version will manage 41.5mpg. The diesel is the outright winner on fuel economy, though, with an average of 58.9mpg. Choosing the 1.1 engine will pay dividends on insurance, too. You'll face a group 3 premium on this version, whereas buyers of the 1.3 and the diesel will pay a group 5 premium. The 1.5 petrol gets a group 6 classification, while CZT buyers will pay much more – group 14.