Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 CZ2 AMT 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 CZ2 AMT is a good choice for a budget supermini. The 1.3 engine is quite quick but needs some revs to get up to speed. The Colt CZ2 is competent but it’s not really an engaging drive. It grips the road well enough and it’s able to cut bends and corners without fuss but there’s slight body roll. The steering lacks feedback. The ride is generally supple on most surfaces but larger potholes or even largish bumps are easily felt. Suspension is quite noisy on bump, while wind and road noise are not contained particularly well. The 1322cc engine is not so refined when prodded for speed.

The 4-cylinder 16-valve engine produces 94 bhp at 6000 rpm and develops a torque of 92 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. It has the capacity to accelerate to 62 mph in 12s flat and hits a top speed of 112mph.

The interior of the Mitsubishi Colt CZ2 has greatly improved but it is still not on par with the Ford Fiesta and VW Golf. The interior’s plastic finishing looks tacky. However the dashboard is well-laid out and each control and switch is where it is supposed to be. The seat and steering wheel’s adjustments are limited but it is possible to find the right position to get reasonably comfortable. This is a 5-seater but the 3rd rear passenger might be a tad cramped. The split/fold seats fold and tumble forward for ease.

Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, electric and heated mirrors, electric windows all around and seat height adjustment, power steering, steering adjustment rake, MP3/iPod Connection, alloy wheels and front foglights. The automatic transmission is a cost option at £500. Metallic paint and rear parking sensors are also cost options.

The Mitsubishi Colt 5-door is more practical than the 3-door. The boot is easily accessible though its capacity of 186 litres is not impressive at all. There’s a parcel shelf that could be manually lifted but failing to lower it will impair rear visibility. The boot size is expandable to 609 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s enough head and legrooms for 4 adults and there are plenty of storage pockets in the cabin too.

The Colt CZ2 scored 4/5 in the Euro NCAP crash tests though safety provision is quite modest. The basic safety kits are covered and they are twin front airbags, anti-lock brakes, Isofix, 3-point centre belts and belt pre-tensioners. Traction control and electronic stability are not even cost options as they are only available for top-range models. Security kit includes immobiliser, deadlocks, remote and central locking, locking wheel nuts and visible VIN. Reliability is not an issue as Mitsubishi has an established reputation. Warranty for this version is 3 years of unlimited mileage.

The Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 CZ2 AMT is a budget supermini so it’s very competitively priced. The CZ2 version is better equipped than the CZ1 version though it lacks traction and electronic stability control as standard safety kit. Because of brand reliability, residual values are quite strong and selling it after 2-3 years brings in good money.

With a combined mpg of 48.7, the Colt CZ2 is quite frugal. Its CO2 emission rating of 125g/km renders this version eco-friendly too, falling under insurance group 15 and Road Tax Band D. The Mitsubishi Colt is a great car for a young family. It’s also a good choice for a first car.