Mitsubishi Colt: returns a successful model

From October onwards, the new Colt will be available at Mitsubishi dealerships. This is the seventh generation of the model, which first went on sale in Europe in 1978 and has sold more than 1.2 million units across its six previous generations.

The new edition, based on the CMF-B platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, shares most of its mechanical components with the latest-generation Renault Clio, although it features some aesthetic differences, a different range of engines, equipment and warranty.

Slight differences

The front is characterised by a specific grille with chrome details and very distinctive LED daytime running lights, while on the side there are new 15, 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels, new piano black finishes on the mirror housings, sills, spoiler and antenna. The rear features the brand name in the centre of the tailgate.

It is offered in five body colours, one solid and four metallic, in the Invite Motion, Intense Kaiteki and Instyle Kaiteki+ trim levels, all with a good level of equipment. Prices start at 17,790 euros for the naturally aspirated 100 MPI version, rising to 18,990 euros for the 90 CV turbo variant, while the hybrid versions cost 26,490 and 28,990 euros, depending on the trim level. As for boot capacity, it offers 391 litres in the petrol versions, expandable to 1,069 when the rear seatbacks are folded. In the hybrid, capacity is reduced to 301 litres.

The interior design does without leather and incorporates a 7 or 9.3-inch digital screen and a 7-inch analogue or 10-inch digital instrument cluster. It comes standard with cruise control and lane keeping assist, and can incorporate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charger, smart key, automatic parking system, surround view monitor, automatic high beam, blind spot warning, front collision mitigation system, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition. Among the accessories available for the model, a retractable towbar with integrated light connector with a towing capacity of 900 kg stands out, as well as a boot roll-up cargo cover or reversible boot liner.

To personalise the interior ambience, it features Multi-Sense technology, which allows you to adjust the ambient lighting and instrument panel, as well as the option to adjust the drive mode and steering feel.

Petrol engines

The engine range starts with a naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine of 1.0 litres and 67 CV, available only with a five-speed manual gearbox, followed by a turbocharged 90 CV variant, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The top of the range is a hybrid variant with a 94 CV 1.6 petrol engine, combined with an electric system with two motors (one for 36 kW traction and another integrated in the gearbox) and a 1.2 kWh battery. Thanks to this system, it can run up to 80% in electric mode in the city, homologated consumption of 4.1 l/100 km and promises a range of up to 900 km.

During the first contact drive in the German city of Munich, we had the chance to drive the 145 CV hybrid variant and were surprised by its low consumption. It is true that the route ran through fairly flat areas and low-speed interurban stretches, but we can confirm that, under these conditions, the trip computer showed figures around 4 l/100 km at all times, a truly interesting result.

Setting off is done in electric mode, and for much of the journey it runs solely on electric power. The brand claims that, in the city, it can run 80 percent of the time in electric mode.

Its performance is notable and its comfort is good, as the suspension filters out road imperfections well. It is especially ideal for urban and interurban journeys, where its consumption and the comfort provided by its automatic gearbox stand out above average.