WHEN Mitsubishi announced its Colt Ralliart, I thought it would be just a warmed-up version of the standard hatch.
How wrong I was - it's a right little firecracker that will accelerate to 60 in just 7.6 seconds and has in-gear acceleration to beat the best.
Make no mistake, this is a seriously quick car and on a twisting circuit of an abandoned airfield, it showed marvellous handling and superb road holding to match.
Some critics have said that its suspension does not give enough body control but I found none of that.
There was very little roll and the grip seemed to go on forever, giving hugely safe cornering speeds.
The suspension is hard to achieve this of course and that makes for a jittery ride on rougher country roads. However, it is more comfortable than other more expensive cars with the same level of grip.
Interior
The engine is reasonably quiet and very smooth, so noise is not too bad.
Equipment is excellent, with everything from cruise control and aircon to electronic stability, keyless entry and an MP3 compatible stereo. On top of all that, it's a real performance bargain.
FAST FACTS
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart
Price: £12,249
Mechanical: 147bhp, 1,499cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 131mph
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Combined mpg: 41
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 161g/km
BIK rating: 20%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage
Marks: 9/10
Main rival: Fiat Grande Punto Abarth, Peugeot 207 GT