Test drive of the week. Mitsubishi Colt combination. Group therapy?

By issuing endless rules and standards, Europe annoys everyone. In all areas… For some manufacturers, the obstacle to produce “clean” cars, subject to penalties for buyers, and fines for them before being banned from the European market for a long time, is an industrial and economic pain. Therefore, instead of making specific examples, the idea is to shoot friends. It is true that the “collaboration” has existed for a long time, Seat, or Skoda, has the undertones of Volkswagen, and in Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel …), it is a complete reproduction, as in the valley. A steep valley; where even when we break up, we remain brothers and sisters… But until then, the developers had a low level of humility, they “made” their copies a little, just to stand out. Mitsubishi did not have this taste. The “small” manufacturer, which is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, is content to stick its logos. And that’s all! That said, we can give this specialist in 4 x 4 and poor rally cars (the famous Lancer Evo), which are now not wanted, a little time to turn…

After “restoring” the Renault Captur, called ASX in Mitsubishi’s nomenclature, it is therefore the Clio that becomes the Colt. A very popular name among the Japanese but will that be enough to pass the pill? Because apart from the logo, on the grille, the trunk, the steering wheel and on the front wings, this Colt is a Clio. A real clone.

Remember, it is interesting for Renault, taken as an example, no one would have the idea to copy the blunderbuss. That’s proof that he’s born well, isn’t it? That said, they are like twins, no matter how much you mix them up, there is always one that has something extra, a little “je ne sais quoi” that makes it more desirable. It remains to be seen which one…

Well, from the outside, unless you prefer diamonds to diamonds (yes, the Mitsubishi logo should represent diamonds), it’s a draw. Inside, apart from the steering wheel, it is impossible to tell whether you are in one or the other. Um, no mistake, I’m talking about the car, not the telescope… Everything is fine. Well, welcome, at Mitsubishi, we decided to do better in terms of equipment. Therefore, each trim level has more equipment than in the Clio. And on the Japanese variety they offer, for example, heated seats and a steering wheel, which are not available in French. Curious, since they both come from the same factory, in Turkey … Another difference, Clio is offered in a diesel version, while Colt does not offer this opportunity. In any case, it will not be a sales volume … Unlike the very successful 145 HP hybrid. Not surprisingly, behind the wheel, we find the same characteristics as those shown by the Clio. Better yet, the robotic box, no doubt improved in its electronic management, is less inclined to muddle the pencil than in the Clio we recently tested, perhaps an isolated fault. On the other hand, you have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal. As with any hybrid that recharges while stationary, it’s sometimes difficult to get the right dose. A question of character, nothing more.

But in the end, there is nothing to wake up at night, until we wonder what this Clio clone is for. But to allow Mitsubishi to continue to exist in this market before (probably) making its own kind… Because apart from the price, the only argument that differentiates Colt from Clio is that the Japanese offer 5 years or 100,000 km. warranty.