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Mitsubishi Colt Cleartec road test report

Cleartec

Mitsubishi Colt consumer car reviews
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Performance

The Cleartec is the economy and emissions champion of the Mitsubishi Colt range, yet it’s quicker off the mark than a standard Colt 1.3. At 10.4 seconds from 0-62mph, the Cleartec beats the standard model’s 11.0 seconds and the Cleartec has a fractionally higher top speed. This doesn’t make the Cleartec any better to drive on the motorway or around town, but it does make it feel a lot zestier. On top of this, the stop-start function of the Cleartec helps up economy and push down emissions. It works by switching off the engine when the car is at a standstill in traffic and the driver puts the car into neutral. As soon as the clutch pedal is depressed, the engine fires back up again and off you go without any delay. It’s a simple to use system and soon becomes second nature to use.

Ride & Handling

The Colt Cleartec does a good impression of a small hot hatch when it comes to corners. The front offers up plenty of grip and the steering gives good feel, so the Cleartec zips round bends with surprising alacrity. However, this isn’t a hot hatch and the accompanying near total lack of ride comfort and woeful refinement soon have you wishing for the tender sweet music of a bag of nails inside a cement mixer. It really is very noisy in the Colt Cleartec at anything above town speeds, and the constant barrage of ruts and ripples in the road surface quickly wear your patience. Add in the din from the engine and plenty of wind noise and you won’t want to venture far in this Mitsubishi.

Build Quality & Reliability

Mitsubishi enjoys a good reputation for cars that last very well, but the Colt is not made from high grade materials. The cabin’s plastics all appear flimsy and easily scratched, and we could feel several exposed screws and poorly finished plastic trim edges with our fingers without leaving the driver’s seat. The mechanical side should bear up well, but that incredibly rattly ride may shake a few bits and pieces beyond their endurance.

Safety & Security

There’s no ESP or traction control fitted to the Colt Cleartec but it does come with brake assist to keep the car pointing in the right direction in an emergency stop. Only twin front airbags are included as standard and side airbags are not even an option, never mind curtain ’bags. However, at least an alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks come included in the price.

Space & Practicality

There’s decent space for passengers in the front and back of the Colt and the rear bench can be slid fore and aft to vary rear legroom. The rear seat is a 60/40 split and fold affair that is necessary to augment the small boot if you want to carry larger items. The three-door model doesn’t offer such good access to the rear seats, so the five-door version is best for those who carry kids or passengers on a regular basis. Up front, the driver has reasonable room to stretch out, but the steering wheel only move for height, not reach, so the driving position can be compromised for some owners.

Ownership & Value

The Colt Cleartec adds £500 to the price of a standard 1.3-litre model, so you’d need to travel a long way to make up this extra expense even when the Cleartec provides 56.5mpg combined economy to the standard car’s 48.7mpg. There is a yearly saving with the Cleartec as its 119g/km carbon dioxide emissions put it in the lower rate road tax band to the standard car with its 142g/km rating. However, the Cleartec still attracts the same group 5 insurance rating. It is well kitted out as it comes in CZ2 trim, so you get alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, cruise control and a CD stereo.

Submitted: 23/12/2009 11:56:08

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