Mitsubishi Space Star; first look and test drive in Barcelona

Although it is known as Mirage in other countries, in Spain the brand has chosen to use a former name it used at the beginning of the last decade, which has nothing to do with the new model. It is much more urban, modern and surprising in terms of the equipment it includes as standard.

With this model they re-enter a segment they had left with the Colt, which has grown by 33% in recent years, but with a very different concept, aimed at city drivers who share a philosophy of respect for the environment and want to enjoy low consumption, always with contained power.

Exterior design

The Space Star goes on sale with a design that differs from what the diamond brand has accustomed us to until now. It offers a clean, honest design, without great pretensions. It comes as a five-door body with an appearance that fits seamlessly into the segment and market this model is aimed at. Rounded lines, a fresh front end, a sides free of excess and a rear with refined lines.

Its dimensions are ideal for a vehicle designed to move around the city: 3.71 metres long, 1.67 metres wide and 1.49 metres high. Depending on the engine chosen, the Space Star fits tyres mounted on 14-inch wheels (100 MPI) or 15-inch wheels (120 MPI).

Interior design

Once inside, we find a spacious cabin, more than enough for four people to travel comfortably. Five passengers will be somewhat tighter, but that is inherent to the segment this vehicle belongs to.

The dashboard shows a modern, up-to-date design, with mainly rounded shapes. With comfortable seats that hold the body well enough, we settle in front of simple instrumentation, with a large speedometer in the centre. An indicator on the right rates our driving depending on the degree of “economy” we achieve.

The materials used are of a quality on a par with the segment average. We are mainly talking about hard plastics which, although they do not offer the best feel, have assembly quality that eliminates noise and imperfections. The boot has a capacity of 235 litres, placing it in the middle of the segment. Maximum capacity is reached by folding the second row of seats, giving a volume of 912 litres.

Dynamic behaviour

During our short test drive through the streets of Barcelona we were able to assess first-hand the impressions the Space Star conveys. Once behind the wheel, we noticed the car needs little space to turn, as its turning circle is 4.6 metres, very suitable for the city. We also found a soft suspension that maximises comfort over potholed roads, which may not be as positive when tackling long journeys.

The Mitsubishi Space Star stands out for its implementation of low-impact technology. It is an advanced, carefully engineered aerodynamic model, where its weight stands out, below 850 kilos, which gives it a certain advantage over its main rivals such as the Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo or Nissan Micra, since none of them manage to get below 900 kg.

The Japanese brand will offer two engines, both petrol. According to the brand’s forecasts, the 1.0 71 CV engine will have residual sales compared with the larger-displacement version, a 1.2 80 CV with a declared consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 km. Both units share a three-cylinder architecture, as well as certain technologies such as the intelligent stop-start system (AS&G), which works quite well, although it does not match the speed of other manufacturers such as PSA.

Both engines are paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, with a pleasant feel that allows relatively quick and precise shifts. The electrically assisted steering makes manoeuvres quick.

Equipment and prices

One of the Space Star’s strongest assets is its equipment. The small Japanese city car will reach our market with two different trim levels, Challenge and Motion. With either of them we already get six airbags, air conditioning, ESP, USB port and on-board computer. Optional equipment includes keyless start, automatic climate control and alloy wheels.

The Space Star arrives in our country with a launch price starting at 8,600 euros for the 100 MPI Challenge version, and 9,500 euros for the 120 MPI Motion.

Photographs | Mitsubishi