2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Video Review

119 days. The last time I checked, we still have 119 days before the official kick off to the ho-ho holiday season. So when Mitsubishi pitched up outside my door, handed me the keys to a shiny new 2011 Colt Ralliart and told me they'd be back in a week's time, I thought Christmas had come early.

Cue a montage of us firing up the Car Throttle cameras, camcorders and microphones and BOOM; the final, finished product is now available for the world to see. Simply hit Play in the YouTube player above and enjoy or if you're reading this from farther afield, click the link below:

2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Video Review

This was always going to be a hit or miss affair. Whilst Mitsubishi have already racked up serious fan points from the cult classic - the Lancer Evolution - I knew from checking out pictures of the Colt prior that it was going to be difficult to view it in a favourable light in the flesh. And I was right. Even though our 5 door tester sported a Sparkling Black paint job, the dimensions just didn't seem to fit. And from a range of Mitsubishi vehicles including the aforementioned Evo X, ASX Crossover, Outlander and heavy-duty Shogun, the Colt seems to be an afterthought to the Japanese manufacturer's hardcore range.

Let's break it down. The Colt comes in at a stubby 3.94 metres and a freakishly tall 1.55 metres, leaving it looking like the lovechild of a condensed family MPV and fiery hatch. The ride height isn't just unusual as a spectacle, it also goes against the grain of "graze your bum on the floor" sports motoring which normally fits with superior handling and performance. The redeeming factors which help save the look from becoming too docile are the 16" Anthracite Alloy Wheels, an ovular Chrome Exhaust, side skirts and rear Ralliart Design spoiler. Tinted rear windows are also a nice touch but don't jam well with our law enforcement friends, who view the whole package as boy-racer material.

One design feature that I came to adore during my week with the Colt Ralliart was the black honeycomb grille which seems to extend itself through Mitsubishi's range. First seen on the Lancer, the fighter-style aggressive appearance adds more character and the centerised logo gives me an impression that Mitsu's sharper attention to branding may be finally working its magic in the marketplace.

Step into the Colt Ralliart and again your reactions could swing either way.

Firstly there are streaks of hot hatch in there. Well-bolstered sports seats in cloth trim are figure-hugging and actually feel extremely comfortable even when parking your derriere on them for long periods of time as I can attest to. Sports pedals make you feel like the business and flashes of red in the dials give you an indescribable energy to mash the accelerator to hit the targets. But that's as far as the Colt Ralliart goes. Most of the rest of the interior is covered in textured plastic including panels on the dash, side sills, and swooping down from the centre console. The drab grey colour doesn't scream out with boyish amusement and the word "boring" springs to mind all too easily.

Speaking of the centre console, there isn't a lot to play around with. The Colt Ralliart is aimed at the younger market - teens to mid-20's youths are particularly welcome here - but the lack of gizmos and gadgetry is an instant turn off. Sure there's a single CD/radio combo and auxiliary port for your iChoons but the LCD interface is old school and all the knobs and buttons lack flair. If Mitsubishi have gone for practicality then they've succeeded, but at the sorry expense of fun and mischief which is what a hot hatch should provide the driver.

If you have friends, then the 5 door Colt Ralliart variant will surely mean that they will want to ride with you. The passengers on the back bench sit higher off the road than the driver and like a Renault Scenic have views over the top of the front passengers' headrests. Legroom was adequate for your 5 foot 10 inch author's frame but taller, bulkier individuals won't enjoy long distance journeys.

As you would have guessed by the ride height figures, the driver sits a little higher up on the road than one might be used to having driven hatches such as the Cooper S or Suzuki Swift Sport. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it affords you a greater viewing angle over the tarmac but it means you might miss the go-kart feel. Straight in front of you is a multi-function steering wheel with buttons controlling the radio unit and cruise control. This is a tick in the "cool box" for Mitsubishi. Other miscellaneous features on the inside of the Ralliart include cup holders, 6 speakers, ABS, dual & curtain airbags and a pollen filter - goodbye dangerous driving sneezes!

So far, not so good. The 2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart scores averagely in the aesthetics department and the inside is a little disappointing. However, its fortune starts to change as soon as you slot the key in the ignition and turn over the engine.

Under the bonnet is a 4 cylinder, 16 valve, 1.5 litre turbocharged engine. After ticking to life, the engine settles down to an extremely satisfying hum, akin to the calm before a storm. A few facts: the 5 door's engine is rated at 147 horsepower, 3 less than is afforded to the Colt's 3 door younger brother. Maximum power comes in at a lofty 6,000 revs per minute and peak torque of 155 lb-ft comes in at 3,500 rpm. Compare this to the 125 horsepower produced by the 1.6 litre naturally aspirated engine found in the Suzuki Swift Sport and the one upmanship of Mitsu versus Suzuki comes into play. If you push the accelerator all the way down from a stop, the Colt Ralliart will hit 62 miles per hour in a brisk 7.6 seconds reaching a top speed of 131 mph. This I like.

Heading out onto the roads after I had received the test unit, and I was very eager to see what stuff the car was made of. From a first gear start, completely flooring the accelerator does bring about torque steer. This is to be expected from a front-wheel drive hot hatch but you need to keep your wits about you if you don't want to find yourself cuddling up to a hedge, particular in the wet where the front wheels can lose traction if pushed hard.

The engine progresses very nicely upto 2,500 rpm, but it's here that the turbo really starts to take charge. Once spooled up, power is released in a wafty surge which brings a smile to your face and the need for arm action to cycle through the gears. With a kerb weight of just over a tonne the sheer lightness of the vehicle grants it another victory in the brisk department as it eats up all the road you can give it.

Where I worried previously about height abormalities in relation to handling, I shouldn't have. Mitsubishi have obviously made use of a few tricks whilst developing for the Lancer Evo platform and even though we only have standard McPherson struts on the front axle, the car turns into corners with poise and meaning and the lack of body-roll confirms my suspicions that this is a car made for driving. Whether this is a negative or not, the ride is a tad harsh but not unbearably so. Potholes and tarmac deficiencies found increasingly on my local roads are noticed but I wouldn't sacrifice improved cruising comfort with the joy I get out of sticking the Ralliart into a bend and exiting swiftly out of the apex. This is what it's all about.

Stopping power can be found in 11" ventilated discs up front and 9.8" discs at the back. Reassuringly I never reached the limits of the clamps and soon I found the confidence to brake later and later into the corners.

Motorway driving isn't too different a kettle of fish - the car builds up speed quickly and is a comfortable cruiser. Wind and tyre roar do prevent you from taking full advantage of the 6 speaker stereo and you might have to raise your voice a little to chat to your co-drivers, but I've become accustomed to this having driven a Japanese Toyota for the majority of my driving career.

Unfortunately, despite the Colt Ralliart having made up for a disappointing first half, there is still an elephant in the room. And that is the price. Your wallet will rejoice knowing that there won't be a plethora of petrol station trips - the Colt returns a combined economy of 42.8 miles per gallon - however it will wince when it learns that the 5 door 2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart starts at £14,449 (500 quid more than the 3 door). This is because despite less power, the Suzuki Swift Sport trounces it's rival on the showroom floor coming in at £12.995 OTR. And it's better looking in my opinion too.

Insurance isn't cheap either. If you're a young British male then you won't be happy (and probably won't be surprised) to learn that getting the car on the road will cost another £1,500 if you're 21 like myself. For older chappies the insurance drops but in Insurance Group 28E you were never going to be getting an easy ride.

But despite Mitsubishi having sold only 107 3 door Ralliarts in 2010, I think the moto-buying public have missed something here. Sure the styling is nothing to write home about and for £14,500 you would like to get a little more interior build quality for your money, but what you do pay for is the dark horse under the hood. It barks, it whines, it begs for more juice and the more you put in, the more you get out.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart is a proper driver's car and a pocket rocket to cherish on tight country lanes and sweeping B-roads alike. And for that reason I give it my seal of approval.

2011 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart 5 Door Gallery