Don’t look at the spec sheet: this 65 hp Mitsubishi Colt is better than expected

Don’t stare at the spec sheet. The 65 hp of this Mitsubishi Colt is better than you’d expect.

---

This Mitsubishi Colt Kyoto is one of the most straightforward, no-nonsense cars I’ve driven in recent months. It doesn’t overpromise, and it delivers more than I anticipated. In the next lines, I’ll explain why.

This is the cheapest and least powerful version of the Mitsubishi Colt - a model that is, in reality, a clone of the Renault Clio - and it behaved impressively well during the week I spent with it. It also costs less than €19,000 - €18 990 to be precise.

It did so well that I had to double-check I really was testing the Colt version with just 65 hp. But first, let’s talk about the cabin.

Neither more nor less

Everything we’ve already said about the Renault Clio’s interior applies to the Mitsubishi Colt. For the class it sits in, it’s a roomy and practical car.

That means the rear bench has enough space for two adults or, more importantly, for two child seats - in which case the passenger in the “middle” will be extremely squeezed. The boot is generous and will take up to 340 litres of luggage.

The choice of materials won’t wow you. Especially in this Kyoto trim, where hard plastics and grey upholstery dominate. Still, it’s far from unpleasant - quite the opposite. You get everything you actually need: automatic air conditioning, a 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear parking camera, cruise control, and a card key system.

It’s all easy to use and refreshingly simple. Renault’s engineers did an excellent job here - and Mitsubishi didn’t hesitate to copy it. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, isn’t it?

Modest power, but honestly delivered

Cars like this Mitsubishi Colt Kyoto are exactly why more than a million Portuguese readers visit Razão Automóvel every month looking for guidance on their next car. Because spec sheets - even when packed with detailed model data - don’t always tell the full story. And this Mitsubishi Colt’s spec sheet is definitely one of those cases…

Don’t panic when you learn this Colt Kyoto uses a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine with only 65 hp. And that 0–100 km/h takes 17,1 seconds and top speed is 160 km/h. Not exactly thrilling, is it?

It’s true: it won’t excite. But it does the job perfectly well. The gearing of the five-speed manual in this Colt seems to squeeze out everything the engine can give. In plainer terms: in normal driving, you’re never going to feel like you’re desperately short of engine.

On fuel consumption, the brand claims 5,2 litres per 100 km (WLTP cycle), but in the real world expect a bit more: I recorded 6,2 l/100 km on average after 400 km covering a bit of everything - country roads, motorway and city (10/60/30). As well as the smart gearing, this 1.0 MPI engine doesn’t have much mass to haul around: just 1125 kg. That’s light by today’s standards, and it makes a big difference to efficiency.

Calm, capable road manners

You can tell this platform could handle more power - it’s built with that in mind. That’s why it’s genuinely difficult to provoke the traction control in this Kyoto. In return, you get a car that behaves in a very tidy, predictable way.

Just as important - or equally important - the suspension tuning delivers good ride comfort. Longer journeys? Don’t worry.

Of course, if you load it up with four occupants and a full boot, there won’t be any miracles. The engine is willing, but only to a point. Even so, for the kind of day-to-day use most families actually do - whether as a first or second car - this engine ends up surprising you.

Is this version worth choosing?

In Kyoto trim, as mentioned, the Colt costs €18 990. For €500 more, you can buy a Renault Clio Evolution with “more engine” - specifically the 1.0 TCe with 90 hp, which is also available in the Colt range.

You get more power, but less equipment: the air conditioning is manual and you don’t get a rear parking camera, to highlight just the main differences. Which one makes more sense? That depends on what you value most: more equipment or more performance.

One thing is certain: whether it’s a small advantage or a big one, the key strength of this Mitsubishi Colt Kyoto is the price and the running costs.

It offers a simple engine - no turbo and no more complex electrical systems - with just the power you need and the essential kit. Over the long term, that could translate into more manageable repair bills.

Verdict

Technical specifications