Mitsubishi Colt Review
Published: 16th March 2005
Mitsubishi Colt
How It Drove - Performance
The Colt comes with four engine choices, three petrol a 1.1 litre, 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre developed by Mitsubishi and built at MDC Powerplant in Germany. The 1.5 DI-D diesel engine developed by Daimler Chrysler and built for Mitsubishi at DC’s Untertürkheim factory in Stuttgart, Germany.
We tested the 1.3 litre petrol engine or to be more precise 1332 cc - a four cylinder engine producing 94 bhp at 6000 rpm and 92 lb ft of torque at 4000 rpm. This enables the Colt to catapult from 0 - 62 mph in 11.1 seconds and onto a terminal speed of 112 mph. On a combined cycle it returns 47.1 mpg and a CO2 level of 143g/km. When fitted with the six-speed AllShift ATM transmission the Colt produces a 0-62mph time of 12.3 seconds. The 112 mph top speed remains unchanged, while the combined fuel economy and CO2 figures are 48.7mpg and 138g/km respectively.
All three petrol engines are of all-alloy construction with a steel sump and plastic cam covers and inlet manifolds. The engines are fitted with MIVEC, Mitsubishi's Innovative Valve lift and timing Electric Control which features variable valve-timing on the inlet camshafts that alters the cam profiles on the intake camshafts according to the engine speed boosting torque at low speeds and increasing power at higher speeds.
We did not find the 1.3 petrol engine particularly quiet or powerful but it is lively enough and considering the Colt’s intended city use, it is perfectly OK. The five speed gearbox worked well, and gear changes were light and easy.
On our test route comprising of country lanes and trips into town we only managed to achieve circa 34 mpg, although this would improve considerably on longer runs and ‘A’ roads, plus our test car hadn’t really been run in.
Mitsubishi have recently announced the introduction of the Colt CZT which has been developed for customers who want a spirited, chic yet affordable car that’s fun to drive. The Colt CZT effortlessly combines dynamic performance with a cool, modern design both inside and out. For more information [ click here ]
How It Drove - Ride/Handling
The new Mitsubishi Colt is equipped with an all-new high-strength steel chassis designed and developed specifically for its supermini role. Mitsubishi engineers have aimed to make the Colt's new front-wheel drive platform as stiff as possible to enhance suspension control.
The Colt rides on a MacPherson strut front and compact torsion beam rear suspension, and the Colt’s ride and handling has been fine tuned to achieve the right balance between passenger ride comfort and driver dynamics. Front and rear anti-roll bars are fitted to quell cornering roll. All models ride on 15” alloy wheels and are shod with 195/50 R15 profile tyres, except the 107bhp 1.5-litre Sport model which is equipped with 16” alloys and 205/45 R16 profile tyres.
Our test car was fitted with 16” alloy wheels and 205/45 R16 profile tyres which may have contributed to the road noise we suffered but they certainly looked good and assisted with overall grip which was superb. At normal road speeds the Colt handled very well, in fact we were very impressed.
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