The 2024 Mitsubishi Colt is a new city car that is based on the Renault Clio, one of the best-selling models in Europe. The Colt is part of Mitsubishi's alliance with Renault and Nissan, which allows the Japanese brand to share platforms, engines, and technologies with its partners.
The Mitsubishi Colt is not a mere copy of the Renault Clio, however. It has its own distinctive design, features, and personality that make it stand out from the crowd. Here are some of the main differences and similarities between the two cars.
Design
The 2024 Mitsubishi Colt has a more angular and aggressive look than the Clio, with sharper headlights, a larger grille, and a sportier bumper. The side profile is similar, but the Colt has a more pronounced shoulder line and a shorter rear overhang. The rear end is also different, with horizontal taillights and a sculpted hatch.
The Colt's dimensions are almost identical to the Clio's, with a length of 4.05 meters (13.3 feet), a width of 1.8 meters (5.9 feet), and a height of 1.44 meters (4.7 feet). The wheelbase is also the same at 2.58 meters (8.5 feet), which means that both cars offer a similar amount of interior space.
Interior
The interior of the Colt is more minimalist and modern than the Clio's, with fewer buttons and knobs on the dashboard. The Colt features a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Colt also has wireless charging, ambient lighting, and a head-up display as optional extras.
The Colt's cabin is made of high-quality materials, with soft-touch plastics, leather upholstery, and chrome accents. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the steering wheel is adjustable in height and reach. The Colt offers 391 liters (13.8 cubic feet) of trunk space, which can be expanded to 1,069 liters (37.7 cubic feet) by folding the rear seats.
Performance
The 2024 Mitsubishi Colt shares most of its engines with the Clio but has some exclusive options. The Colt offers three gasoline engines: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder with 65 horsepower, a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 100 horsepower, and a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 130 horsepower. The Colt also offers two diesel engines: a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 85 horsepower and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 115 horsepower.
The most interesting option for the Colt is the plug-in hybrid version, which combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 9.8 kWh battery pack. This version can deliver up to 160 horsepower and can travel up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) on electric power alone.
The Colt's plug-in hybrid version is more efficient and eco-friendly than Clio's mild-hybrid version, which uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a small electric motor and a 12-volt battery. The mild-hybrid version can only provide some extra torque and reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%.
The Colt's engines are paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Colt also has four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and MySense, which allows the driver to customize various settings.
Safety
The 2024 Mitsubishi Colt comes with a comprehensive list of safety features, including six airbags, ABS, ESP, hill-start assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, emergency braking assist, and parking sensors. The Colt also has a rearview camera and a 360-degree camera as optional extras.
The Colt has not been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but it is expected to score well given its advanced equipment and its similarity to the Clio, which received five stars in 2019.
Price
The Colt EV is expected to go on sale in Europe in early 2024, with a starting price of around 15,000 euros ($17,000). The plug-in hybrid version will cost around 25,000 euros ($28,500). The Colt will compete with other city cars, such as the Volkswagen Polo and the Peugeot 208.
The Colt is not yet confirmed for the US market, but it could be a good option for buyers looking for a small, stylish, and efficient car. The Colt could also help Mitsubishi regain some of its lost popularity in the US, where it currently only sells three models: the Outlander, the Eclipse Cross, and the Mirage.
The 2024 Mitsubishi Colt is a promising city car that combines the best of both worlds: the reliability and technology of Renault and the design and personality of Mitsubishi. The Colt is a great example of how collaboration can benefit both brands and consumers. The Colt is a car that deserves attention and respect.
