THE perky Colt CZT is not likely to be the first name that trips off your tongue when you consider sports hatches.
But in many ways this Mitsubishi will tick all the right boxes for buyers - sporty looks, a turbo-charged engine and a modest price tag.
And the car came with the right recommendation.
"That's a bloody good, little car," said the satisfied delivery man. And despite its very squat and somewhat solid appearance, Mitsubishi designers have created a sporting tot that surely possesses a broad range of qualities that make it worth serious consideration.
It also has surprising personality and feels good to dash around in, the ride comfort is excellent for a small sporty hatchback.
Additionally, while the pocket rocket Colt CZT should accommodate four people without any concerns over space, there is the tricky matter of getting in and out of the rear in a three-door car. But here, the Colt CZT performs better than most because of its relatively high roof.
The rear legroom can also be increased substantially at the expense of luggage capacity thanks to its sliding rear bench.
Inside you get pretty much all the must-haves you would expect in this sector. There are white dials, drilled pedals, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, the aluminium bezels and chromed sill plates.
But, if you compare the interior quality to its rivals such as the Mini Cooper, it still doesn't really compete.
The driving position, which is much more like that of a mini-MPV than a sporty hatch, doesn't feel right within the vehicle.
Certainly, taller drivers may struggle to find a comfortable driving position as the steering wheel only adjusts for height and not for reach.
Appearance-wise, the Mitsubishi Colt looks very much like a mini MPV with tall sides. But it has street presence thanks to a corporate nose with sculpted intakes and a deep front spoiler.
The mesh grille adds to the effect and the alloys give it the bling factor you'd expect on a hot hatch which is as potent as this one.
Behind the beak-like grille is a turbocharged version of the normal Colt's 1.5-litre four pot pumping out 147bhp and the similar figure of 155lb/ft of torque.
These two figures are sufficient to push the CZT along with some considerable aplomb. A 0-62mph sprint in eight seconds is pretty impressive and the fact it sustains that surge up to 100mph in 22 seconds is fairly indecent for a 1.5-litre and the 131mph maximum is more than adequate in Britain.
It may only have a diminutive frame and low weight but the small turbocharged engine soaks up punishment and loves to rev providing all the power needed to eke into the chassis' talents.
It eats up tight bends and corners and on more open roads the CZT displays composure and never lags or struggles on the straights between them. All the while the body control is good over the humps and dips.
You feel exhilarated driving it. Mitsubishi's declaration that the CZT harks back to the old days when such cars were fun with a capital F is no idle claim.
And with Nissan, Honda, Toyota and Mazda all lacking a credible supermini snorter, the CZT looks the hottest of the Japanese tots.
FAST FACTS
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 CZT 3dr
Price: £12,999
Mechanical: 147bhp, 1,468cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving ront wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 131mph
0-62mph: 8 secs
Combined mpg: 41.5
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 161g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 6yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust