Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart review

It’s a curious looking car, the Colt. The proportions are all wrong. The 16in wheels are too small, the profile is too tall and the long nose and stunted rear-end gives it an almost cartoon-like stance. But in the space of a week it’s grown on me, and that has everything to do with the way it goes and its bargain £12,549 price tag.

The 1.5-litre turbo motor dishes out a hearty 147bhp and 155lb ft of torque, enough to wheelspin your way to 62mph in 7.4 seconds. The chassis is firmly damped, eager to egg you on and chucklesomely chuckable. In many ways it’s more honest and engaging than big brother Evo X.

Inside you can see how the price has been achieved. It’s plain and the plastics do look cheap but after a short blast you can convince yourself this is actually a good thing. It’s old-school – apart from the windscreen that slopes miles away from you – and by keeping it cheap and cheerful there’s no excess weight.

So if you want an alternative to the usual junior hatch cast, this may well be the answer. You certainly won’t be missing out in the fun stakes.