Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 Juro 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Delivering 94 bhp at 6,000 rpm, with 92 lb-ft of torque, the Colt has a top speed of 112 mph, with 0-62 mph arriving in 11.1 seconds. This makes its 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine brisk rather than powerful but still more than suitable for its class. It does feel rather asthmatic when you push on though.

The Colt provides a competent rather than exciting drive. It tackles corners ably and grips well. However the tall shape does mean that the Colt rolls through corners. The ride quality is decent most of the time but can get a bit jiggly on bad road surfaces. Wind noise is evident at higher speeds and the 1.3-litre engine can get noisy.

The Colt is a good looking car, if a little anonymous. As is often the way with cars from the Far East, the cabin has been well screwed together but is made from cheap and nasty plastics.

Equipment wise, the Juro comes with alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, and a stereo with MP3 connectivity as standard. You also get wheel-mounted stereo controls, satellite navigation, front fog lights and leather seats. Metallic paint will cost you an extra £399.

There is plenty of head and legroom, even for taller passengers, however the Colt Juro's boot is tiny, offering a measly 186 litres with the rear seats in place and 609 litres with the seats folded flat.

The Juro matches its rivals for safety equipment, providing six airbags, stability control, deadlocks, remote central locking and an immobiliser as standard.

Surprisingly for Mitsubishi, there is a question mark over reliability on this model and the 2011 JD customer satisfaction survey saw owners rate its mechanical reliability, as well as exterior and interior quality, as below average.

The dash is well-organised with large buttons that are easy to use. The steering column does not adjust for reach which is disappointing and means that some drivers may find the driving position a bit uncomfortable.

The Juro is priced at £10,999 which is reasonable for the equipment on offer. The car is fairly versatile, being suitable for both short and long journeys, and running costs are not too high either.

The car has an excellent fuel economy of 47.1 mpg whilst road tax falls under low cost road tax band D, and insurance premiums come under insurance bracket 16. Green credentials are strong with the car having a Euro 5 emissions rating and CO2 emissions of 130g/km.

In terms of affordability, it may be best to keep it simple and opt for the basic trim and a 1.1 litre petrol engine but the car is still a decent prospect for first time buyers and families looking for an affordable car as resale values are strong.