THE LATEST MITSUBISHI Colt is a complete departure from the 1970s' hot hatch. Just as the punchy Peugeot 306 morphed into the 307 utility capsule and the Honda Civic spawned the Civic Wagon and the Jazz, the Colt has evolved from a boy-racer's pocket rocket into a housewife's little helper.
The Colt's 'one-motion' exterior suggests a design cross between the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the Honda Jazz's greenhouse. Slightly larger than the latter, the Colt has a cute rear, with neat vertical light clusters, a large angular door, a wide bumper and simple lines.
The runabout's front seems more cluttered than distinctive, however, with the headlight housing, thick bumper protectors, mesh-screen air dam, slanted, spoked grille and a bisected, triangular nose all suggesting Mitsubishi is trying to achieve too much.
The car is available in two styles: the standard Deluxe ($116,900) and the Sporty ($121,000), with an aero kit and a high-mounted rear spoiler, headlight housing in metallic paint, front fog lights, 15-inch alloys instead of the Deluxe's 14s, and a leather steering wheel.
Interiors can be 'warm' beige-and-brown or 'cool' in black, grey and silver; both are stylish, if plasticky, for the money. The 'warm'-design test car's centre console is V-shaped, with wood panels on its outer edges and a champagne fascia, which has the look and feel of a Japanese miniature hi-fi, while indented, circular air-con outlets on the dashboard's sides look straight out of an Audi TT.
The Colt's instrument panel is almost Alfa Romeo - and rivals the Mazda 2's rare compact-class finish - with three cheeky, orange-glowing, hooded and overlapping gauges. The steering wheel has a thick and meaty feel that doesn't look out of place in a Lancer Evolution VII, and if the Colt's slanted windscreen and longish dashboard are akin to the Volkswagen's New Beetle and take some getting used to, mums should rejoice at the abundance of cubbyholes in the runabout's cabin. Interestingly, the front passenger seat cushion can also be lifted to reveal a two-layer undertray. The front bench seat also has an armrest that moves to suit the driver. It lacks lateral support in cornering, but its soft cushion is a snug fit.
The rear compartment's legroom rivals the Jazz and the 50/50-split back bench seat can be folded and lifted, but it is unique in that it is a step higher than the front and affords rear passengers a better view and easier access.