Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart 1.5

Jul 4 2009 Malcolm Robertshaw

WHILE I could never really consider myself a fan of the Mitsubishi Evo range, these powerful members of the Japanese car maker's performance arm do combine heaps of urge with bundles of grip to provide some really awesome performance levels.

This year has seen the Japanese car giant transfer some of this performance car behaviour into a member of the latest generation of the company's Colt car line up, the Colt Ralliart.

During a recent drive this range-topping Mitsubishi did not disappoint, the 1.5-litre powered three-door performer turning out to be a bona fide hot hatch, a far cry from its predecessor, the Colt CZT, which was really only a warm hatch at best.

Although there is no way that the Colt Ralliart can be classified as a super sports car there is sufficient evidence on board to provide more than a hint of this motor's sporting heritage including drilled sports type aluminium pedals, leather clad gear lever and steering wheel and sportily supportive front seats.

Mitsubishi has avoided the stripped out look adopted by some of the genre providing a well put together and quite nicely laid out interior boasting a generous level of standard kit including the likes of air con, six-speaker sound system with CD and MP3 compatibility and steering wheel mounted controls, electric windows all round, cruise control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors.

The safety and security manifest includes six airbags, side impact door bars, locking wheel nuts, deadlocks and ISO-Fix child seat mountings while driver safety systems include ABS braking with electronic brake force distribution, emergency stop system and switchable Mitusubishi stability and traction control.

Lighting includes front fogs and 'follow me home' function, storage areas include a glove box, door pockets and a floor console with cupholders front and rear. However, the bootroom is really a weekenders' only facility, the 186 cubic feet of stowage space being not really for full blown holidaymakers.

As one would expect from a racy type of motor, room is a little tight in this sporty four-seater but on the tarmac, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, the 1.5-litre turbo charged petrol engine delivers an assuringly sporty note via the exhaust while extracting some excitingly feisty pace from its 147bhp.

In fact, there's a great feeling of urgency when you floor the pedal and release a level of power well capable of challenging a number of the Colt's main rivals.

Plenty of low down torque to smoothly assist progress when overtaking is also available, the 0-62mph milestone can be reached in well under eight seconds and a top speed of 131 mph is attainable.

Courtesy of an impressive chassis, stacks of great handling and plenty of the fun factor are available, effortless changing of direction while remaining quite unfazed being a feature.

While the power steering could perhaps have been more communicative, there's scarcely any torsional lean making the car feel well composed with plenty of grip to help keep you on the straight and narrow.

However, there is a price to pay via an overall ride quality which proves decidedly firm and not very forgiving.

Overall, the Colt Ralliart comes keenly priced, offers plenty of standard kit and does do most of what you would expect from the likes of a 'Junior Evo'.

FAST FACTS

Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart 1.5 3dr

Price: £,12,349

Mechanical: 147bhp, 1,468cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 131mph

0-62mph: 7.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 40.9

Insurance group: 14

CO2 emissions: 161g/km

BiK rating: 20%

Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage