Mitsubishi Colt - Twin of Clio with three-year warranty advantage
Alliances make their members stronger in the best case scenario. Mitsubishi has succeeded: The Japanese brand has brought back a small car to its lineup after a long hiatus in Europe thanks to its connection with Renault-Nissan. It even surpasses its closest relative in some aspects.
It is not hard to see: The Colt, which will be available starting at the end of 2023, is a well-disguised Renault Clio. The Japanese did not invest much effort to integrate the French into their model range. A logo at the front, one on the trunk lid, and one on the steering wheel - that was almost it. However, there are differences in trim levels and engine options. The hybrid powertrain with 105 kW/143 PS is available for both models.
The combination of gasoline engine and electric motor plays a dual role in the lineup, aiming for both the best performance and the lowest consumption. And this works just as well in Mitsubishi as in Renault. The rather complex combination of a gasoline engine, various transmissions, and overall three individual electric motors works smoothly and powerfully. Noticeable jerking or a nervous acceleration are absent. Even in urban stop-and-go traffic, the electric boost provides a seamless shove.
Preferred Habitat: City
The gasoline engine is surprisingly rarely in demand in the city, it mostly idles outside of town and on the highway. If you let it run smoothly, the powertrain combination works efficiently and powerfully even there. However, when higher power demand is required, such as when overtaking, the gasoline engine makes its presence known with a loud roar. The smooth curve handling does not particularly suit the Colt, as the automatic transmission sometimes struggles to find the right gear ratio when the speed changes.
Even if the hybrid is well-suited for relaxed, but monotonous highway or country road tours, its preferred habitat is the city. There, it consumes significantly less than 4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The on-board computer display sometimes shows a high five or low six on the highway, but the mixed consumption value of 4.2 liters given by the manufacturer seems a bit optimistic. In practice, the Mitsubishi is one of the most fuel-efficient representatives of its class with around 5 liters.
Like the Clio - in the Good and the Bad
The Colt does not show any weaknesses elsewhere. The only exception is its lack of independence. The list of good and bad qualities reads like that of the Clio. So, the Japanese car, like the French one, boasts a beautiful, valuable, and ergonomically well-designed interior. The central element is the upright monitor, on which the manufacturer's software runs or the better alternative from Google ("Android Auto") or Apple ("Car Play") can be used without a cable connection.
The seating space is good in the front, but it is noticeably cramped in the rear for four large adults. The rear passengers complain about the falling roof line and the rising shoulder line in combination with the small rear window, creating a somewhat dark atmosphere. In addition, there is a lack of storage spaces.
The trunk is relatively large for a compact car, but its usability is not optimal due to the high loading edge and the absence of a double loading floor in the hybrid version. Mitsubishi, unlike Renault, has saved on a button to release the trunk lid and requires the use of the remote control on the car key every time to open it.
Five-Year Warranty instead of Two like at Renault
The Colt's five-year warranty is a significant advantage over Renault's two-year offering. This is a clear statement of Mitsubishi's confidence in the reliability of its new compact car.
At the price structure, the Mitsubishi-Hybrid sets itself apart from Renault. With a starting price of 26,200 Euro, the Colt is nearly 3,000 Euro more expensive, but it already offers extensive equipment. In the most affordable "Plus" variant, features include a rearview camera, 16-inch light alloy wheels, a heated leather steering wheel, and automatic climate control. Even the "Top" variant with quasi-full equipment stays below the 30,000 Euro threshold.
Really, Mitsubishi distinguishes itself from its French relative in a crucial aspect: Mitsubishi offers a five-year warranty, while Renault requires self-payment for repairs after two years.
For the Colt comeback, Mitsubishi chose the right platform. The Clio twin is nimble and economical and, at least in the front, looks quite mature. Mitsubishi couldn't develop its own identity in this class, so its strongest argument against the Renault is its long warranty. In this segment, that's quite valuable.
Technical Data - Mitsubishi Colt Hybrid
- Five-seater compact car
- Length: 4.05 meters, width: 1.80 meters, height: 1.44 meters, wheelbase: 2.58 meters, trunk volume: 301-979 liters
- Hybrid: 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, 69 kW/94 PS, electric motor: 36 kW/49 PS, system power: 105 kW/143 PS, maximum torque: 148 Nm at 3200-3600 rpm (gasoline engine), 205 Nm at 200-1677 rpm (electric motor), Automatic transmission with two plus four gears, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 9.3 s, top speed: 180 km/h, combined fuel consumption: 4.1 l/100 km (WLTP), CO2 emissions: 92 g/km, test consumption: 5.0 l/100 km, prices: from 26,200 Euro
The Mitsubishi Colt, being a Renault Clio lookalike, shares similarities with Renault-Models in terms of interior design and features. However, when it comes to warranty, Mitsubishi-Models, like the Colt, offer a significant advantage with a five-year warranty, unlike the two-year offering from Renault.
