Mitsubishi sharpens Colt pricing to $15,990

MITSUBISHI has finally released a manual version of its Colt, helping trim prices to an entry point of $15,990.

The Colt now goes head-to-head with its key rivals in the ultra-competitive light car segment, which includes the Honda Jazz, Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta.

The all-alloy 1.5 litre MIVEC (Mitsubishi’s variable valve timing) four can now be mated to either a five-speed manual transmission, or a CVT automatic.

The range now kicks off with the newly introduced Colt ES manual at $15,990.

The ES has dual airbags, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, air conditioning, power windows on all doors, electric mirrors with a folding mechanism and a single in-dash CD player with AM/FM audio as well as MP3/WMA compatibility.

The LS model has similar equipment to the ES but adds 14-inch alloys, as well as an in-dash six-stacker CD with MP3/WMA compatibility. The LS starts at $17,490 for the manual and $18,990 for the auto.

The sporty VRX model gains the LS audio system as well as sports seats, rear spoiler, front air dam with fog lights, alloy foot pedals and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The VRX manual is $19,990 and automatic $21,990.

Colt’s naturally aspirated all-alloy 1.5 litre engine develops 77kW at 6000rpm and 141Nm at 4000rpm while returning 5.6L/100km for the CVT model (and 5.9L/100km for the manual).

Manual Colts gain a more traditional centre console that houses the five-speed Getrag transmission, pull-up handbrake rather than the foot-operated type on the CVT and a console area for storage.

All Colts have Mitsubishi’s industry-leading 5 year/130,000km bumper-to-bumper, and 10 year/160,000km non-transferable drive-train warranty.