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. The Colt's power comes from a 90 brake-horsepower 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine with MIVEC control and is transmitted to the front wheels by Mitsubishi's continuously variable INVEC-III CVT gearbox, whose shift ratio has a range of 2.319 to 0.445, which is good for achieving 20km per litre mixed-driving fuel consumption. Performance is average in the run from local distributor Universal Cars' Tsuen Wan base to the trying hills of Tai Mo Shan Country Park. There is not much to complain about around town, for the Colt behaves like many a Japanese compact, where every control is light and the suspension is soft. I do notice road noise, tyre thumps and the occasional buzzes and creaks from the interior panels. Then there is the constant whine from the gearbox. The Colt lacks the refinement of the Mazda 2, Toyota Echo and Honda Jazz. The Colt's gears have three modes: 'D' for normal, 'Ds' for sporty driving, and 'L' for hill descents. On the hill sections, I constantly change between settings in an effort to squeeze the last drop of engine power. Mitsubishi's CVT is so sensitive to throttle angle that it feels as if its operation is directly linked to the driver's right foot. The Colt's handling isn't bad for a compact, even though the brake pedal is a bit soft for delicate modulations; up and down body motions could be better checked to provide a more secure handling feel. The Colt can understeer at an average speed, but it is easily controlled. The Colt's value lies in its versatility and equipment. The car comes standard with electronic brake-force distribution, and an anti-lock braking system. A multi-function keyless entry system also allows the remote control of the folding side mirrors and the remote closure of all windows. There are interior extras such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers; a rear wiper that switches on when reversing; side mirrors that unfold at speeds over 30km/h; one-touch window control, power sunroof and more. Universal Cars (tel: 2520 0636) is bullish about the Mitsubishi runabout's future in the competitive compact sector. 'The Colt is so . . . refined,' says the distributor's marketing manager, Sheree Doo. 'Words escape me to describe the feeling of sitting in the cockpit. It is a car that truly moves the heart. Maybe not at first glance, but you are drawn back, over and over, and then, wham, it hits you. From its styling to its emotional appeal it is unique. None of our closest competitors has models that can even aspire to it. 'It is our challenge, as the distributor, to talk him up, to get the customer to take a look that first time and the Colt itself will do the rest,' she says. My verdict? The latest Colt has a distinctive look, stylish interior and a long list of standard features at a competitive price. Just don't reminisce about the Colts of yore.