Mitsubishi Space Star, the small car without airs

The first impression: inconspicuous.

The manufacturer says: For Mitsubishi, the little Space Star is a big number. At least that's what Kolja Rebstock, Germany boss of the Japanese manufacturer, thinks. With almost 18,000 new registrations in the first ten months of this year, the Space Star was the best-selling model in this country. This makes Germany the largest market for the Space Star in Europe, and Europe in turn the strongest small car region that the Japanese brand produces in Thailand and sells in 90 countries worldwide.

While VW boss Herbert Diess the small car segment due to the high cost of the emission control in the medium term, no longer admits and Fiat has just painted the successor to the model 500 with the same argument, Mitsubishi sees great opportunities for small cars - if they are clever , Plenty of space for little money, low operating costs, low fuel consumption - so small cars can push the fleet consumption and at the same time meet the tight cash position of the buyers, argue the people in charge at Mitsubishi.

photo gallery

11 pictures

We noticed that: modesty. Although the revamped Space Star now sports a pretty chrome mustache, sparkles with LED headlamp lenses on request and is painted in metallic colors such as "citrine yellow" or "titanium white", the competitor of VW Up or Kia Picanto denies them all vanities. This is especially true in the interior, which is mainly lined in gray hard plastic. Switches and controls still engage in a dry state. The displays graphically do not produce much more than the display of a microwave. The only touchscreen on board is that of the navigation system, which is plugged into the cockpit on the way from the Space Star factory in Thailand to Europe. You need it especially for the screen, which also shows the picture of the reversing camera. Everything else is taken from the smartphone, which can now easily be integrated.

The seats fit into the picture. They have to do without wellness frippery and offer as the only comfort a few heating wires under the blend cover of fabric and synthetic leather. But they are so slim that you can sit surprisingly well in the back. For the knees the space in both rows is enough, only around the shoulders it gets a bit tight. If two adults sit next to each other, they should be better friends.

Take a look inside the Mitsubishi Space Star - with our 360 degree photo:

The renunciation of many of the usual extras not only saves money, but also weight. The Space Star weighs in the basic equipment 870 kilos and thus two hundredweight less than a VW Up, which in turn pushes the consumption. In addition, the low weight in conjunction with the small turning circle of 9.20 meters contributes to a brisk driving impression. Anyway, the car feels more agile than one would expect given the performance of the three-cylinder engines. In city traffic even something like driving pleasure comes up.

You have to know: The now revised for the second time Mitsubishi Space Star comes in February in the trade and starts at 10,490 euros. There is the grown with the new radiator grille on 3.85 meters five-door with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with 71 hp and 88 Nm of torque. The price list ends with the version "Top", for which there is a drilled on 1.2 liter displacement three-cylinder with at least 80 hp and 106 Nm of torque, thus up to 180 km / h are possible and the consumption is 4, 6 liters. For this engine, there is also an infinitely variable automatic transmission as an alternative to the manual five-speed gearbox for 1100 euros extra.

We will not forget that: the feeling of satisfaction. Sure: The cables for the heated seats are visibly misplaced, the plastic in the cockpit is hard, the switches rather coarse and the boot lining a bit threadbare. A beauty award does not win the Space Star. And who wants to make the neighbors jealous, sitting in this car also wrong. But everything you expect from a small car fills the car with flying colors.

vehicle registration