Review: Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008)

Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008): At A Glance

• Insurance Groups are between 11–15
• On average it achieves 94% of the official MPG figure

Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008): What's It Like Inside?

• Boot space is 155–568 litres

The plus points and minus points depend on where you're coming from.

It's well equipped with ABS + EBD, twin airbags with a key-switch to switch the passenger's off, Radio C/D player, trip computer, Trafficmaster Smartnav, rev counter, lockable glove compartment, lots of useful cubby holes, grab handles front and back, passenger and driver vanity mirrors, sliding and double-folding rear seat, very comfortable front seats, good quality, solid feeling plastics, height-adjustable steering wheel, three 3-point rear seatbelts, electric front windows and a really neat two-sided interior light: just press the lens your side and the light goes on. All good stuff.

There is excellent headroom and huge seat travel. I drove with a guy who is 6' 6" and even he did not need to push the seat all the way back. The doors give the best access of any car anywhere, beating even the 3-door Toyota Yaris. They open so wide and so far into the footwell that even very elderly people can easily enter the car in the recommended ‘bum first manner' then swing their legs inside.

You lose out a bit at the back because even though the rear seats tumble leaving a completely flat floor, the 3-door has a slightly higher hatchback sill than the 5-door, so there is no way you can simply wheel things in. The advantage of that is improved body rigidity and better rear impact protection. And there is no doubt that with its lower centre of gravity the 3-door grips, handles and gives better road feel than the 5-door. No handling quirks like the one-off experience I had with the 5-door on the M3, not even in February blizzard conditions.

But, of course, what it completely misses is the extremely useful wide back seat and excellent back seat access of the 5-door model. So, not the Colt for young mums, then. Or for people who regularly carry rear seat passengers.

Child seats that fit a Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

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What's the Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008) like to drive?

• Engines range from 1.1 to 1.5
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 33–64 mpg

The 74bhp 3 cylinder 1.1 litre chain-cam engine is a game little thing with a nice sound at high revs. Yet, though it gives its best, you only have to drive the 1.5 litre 3-cylinder chain-cam diesel to realise its limitations. Where the 1.1 was running out of puff, the diesel simply romped along, in an even more lively manner than the Smart ForFour diesel tested last month. The downside, of course, is the price. The cheapest petrol engined Colt 3-door is the £7,499 Colt Red. The cheapest diesel is the £10,249 Equippe. A £2,750 price difference. So too much for someone who simply wants a runabout.

Where matters start getting a little bit confused is with the 1.3 four cylinder petrol. Colt thinks versions of this will be its best seller. But it's a totally dull engine that makes a nice little car feel boring. Sure you can spec it up to a Mirage that makes it look like a CZT, and with sensible Group 5 insurance. But the fun factor of the lively 1.1 petrol and the gutsy 1.5 diesel simply isn't there. Far better to go for the Group 4 insurance 1.1 Mirage that also looks like the CZT for £500 less than the 1.3.

Lastly, the flagship model: the 150PS 1.5 litre turbo CZT. At £13k, up against the likes of the Fiesta ST, Clio 182 Cup, 206 GTi and various SEAT Ibiza derivatives.

It's a hot little motor. Looks good. Goes well. Handles decently. Not too stiff. No discernable turbo lag (on the track, at least). And an unobtrusive stability system which can't be switched off but allows you to feel like you're really driving the car before it steps in and sorts out the mess you've got yourself into.

The value champ, though, is the £7,495 Colt Red. It's no hot rod, but it's characterful, practical, well equipped and fun. Nothing else does quite the same job for the money. And I don't envisage Colt having to offer silly discounts to get them gone.

Road test

Mitsubishi Colt Blue 2006 Road Test

Road test

Mitsubishi Colt 3-door 2005 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

What have we been asked about the Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (2005 – 2008)?

Every day we're asked hundreds of questions from car buyers and owners through Ask Honest John. Our team of experts, including the nation's favourite motoring agony uncle - Honest John himself - answer queries and conudrums ranging from what car to buy to how to care for it as an owner. If you could do with a spot of friendly advice before buying you're next car, get in touch and we'll do what we can to help.

Ask HJ

Old for new

I have an 07-registered Mitsubishi Colt CZ1 (3dr, Black, Air Con, 18,000 miles, petrol, manual). I want to downgrade to something a little older say 2004/2003 (Nissan Micra, Honda Jazz) but would like to be able to get some cash back from the sale. I have been informed by two dealers that according to Glass' guide my car is worth £3.5k. However I have seen dealers selling this year and model of car for around £6k. If dealers are making £3k, then surely it’s in my best interests to sell privately or would I get much in cash for sale only to dealer? Any advice would be gratefully received

Your plan is unlikely to work and is likely to lead to grief. An 07 Colt CXZ1 1.1 3-dr with a/c trade books at £4,075 this month, but they aren't very popular in the trade. I doubt you'd get more than £4k for it selling privately. Then you put your head in the lion’s mouth trying to buy something 3 years older for £1,000 less. Makes no sense.

Answered by Honest John

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