FRUGAL COLT CUTS OWNERSHIP COSTS Many people imagine that to get the best economy out of a car you have to go the diesel route. They may be right, especially where larger models are concerned, but my own experience with the little Mitsubishi Colt shows that it doesn’t have to be a diesel to be cheap to run. I have previously driven the five door and folding hardtop versions of this latest car to carry the Colt badge so decided to opt for a three door hatchback this time. Called the Colt Blue it was, as its name suggests, a vivid blue. And under the bonnet was a little 1.1 litre three cylinder engine that you could be forgiven for thinking would not have endowed the car with the vibrant character to match its vivid colour. But you would be wrong, for the car was great to drive. We spent ages behind the wheel when there were quite a few other cars we could be driving and we did not succumb to temptation just because the Colt was managing in excess of 50 mpg. While this diesel-style fuel figure appealed, what we enjoyed more was the whole experience with this car, which is made right here in Europe at the NedCar plant in the Netherlands. The plant was home to Daf and then passed to Volvo. Mitsubishi and Volvo shared the facility but now Mitsubishi shares it with Smart, which produces its FourFour hatchback there. The Mitsubishi / Smart project was too far advanced to stop when Mercedes divorced Mitsubishi so the cars duly arrived. And while the Smart is dying through lack of sales, the Colt has thrived. The latest Mitsubishi Colt is vastly different from the previous model. These days we have become accustomed to evolutionary change when car makers upgrade their models but the differences for the Colt are truly revolutionary. The previous model was wide and squat but the new car follows the latest trend in that it’s very tall in the mini MPV mould of superminis rather than the more conventional five door hatch. Unlike the previous car, this one should do plenty to improve the maker’s fortunes as it is an ideal city car, although it will also cope with longer journeys admirably. This is something that every car needs in its range of abilities as the trend continues towards downsizing among many car buyers. The advantage of the Colt’s shape, which is why so many makers are going in this direction with their small cars, is that it gives plenty of interior space. The back seat slides to increase legroom or boot space and with the seat back there’s more than enough room for a couple of six feet tall passengers to ride behind tall front seat occupants. There are various permutations you can have with the seats but they also come right out. Engine sizes start with a 1.1 litre and there’s also a 1.5 litre diesel but most people will probably be attracted to the 1.3 litre petrol. Service intervals are 12 months or 12,500 miles and visiting the dealer will therefore be a rare event. Insurance starts a Group 3. With the cheapest Colt only costing £7,500 on the road out of the showroom, you can save £2,000 by having a 1.1 three door Classic on an 04 plate. But at a year old they are around ٤,250 so see what discount you can get on a new one before committing. The 1.5 diesel starts at £6,200 for a five door Equippe on an 04. Maurice Hardy