Mitsubishi Colt Diesel Automatic – unsure of engine size.

Not really a car test but I drove one over 1200kms over 8 days on a recent holiday in Portugal.

Was quite impressed with the general drivability and the Auto box, with manual over-ride was very smooth – do not know exactly what type of Auto it was. Engine felt a little underpowered but that’s against my 2.0tdi

Boot is tiny but it would seat 4 in comfort, as long as the front seaters are under 6ft. Fit and feel was fine, plastics’ had nice feel though the hire company had polished the dash with some sort of cleaner so had awful reflection issues.

Averaged over 60mpg, though I stayed off the toll roads and typically only drove at 50/60km per hour. What surprised me was that Diesel was dearer in Portugal than in the UK.

Overall I would not buy one but thought it a nice little runabout as a holiday hire, though I have not checked out UK prices or specs.

Hi, I think the engine and transmission is shared with the smart forfour so it will have a 'soft-touch' automatic.

Best wishes

John

My wife has one of these its a 2008 1.5litre 3 cylinder diesel automatic. I have heard that they no longer make the diesel version because Merceedes no longer supply the engine to Mitsubishi in Holland. The automatic transmission is not as smooth as a DSG or even her previous Nissan Micra CVT. The trick is to drive with your toes and don't be temped to floor it when pulling away in traffic. Do this and it can be quite smooth, floor it and it hesitates. Economy is quite good and much better than the Micra if you drive it sensibly. We bought it because she has a long commute to work and needed an economical automatic with low emissions. The interior is a bit cheap plasticy in places but not bad all the same. Road noise is as you would expect in a car this size. Space inside is well thought out and all in all it is a good package at this price.