• Space Star by name, Space Star by nature

    by  • May 1, 2013 • Car Reviews, Test Drives

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    2013 Mitsubishi Space Star exterior left front static

    The Mitsubishi Space Star is a cute looking compact

    Mitsubishi’s new compact family car really is tardis-like – tiny on the outside but massive on the inside.

    Replacing the Colt, the Mitsubishi Space Star is a small and cute compact with a sporty looking rear spoiler.

    Inside, the 1.2-litre 80bph Intense model I was driving had pink flecked upholstery, the vibrancy of which you really only noticed in bright sunshine.

    The cabin in this car feels an awful lot bigger than it looks from the outside. I found the seats comfortable and legroom, both back and front, was really good.

    This car can easily accommodate two adults up front, with three children on the bench-style back seat.

    2013 Mitsubishi Space Star interior cockpit

    The cabin in the Mitsubishi Space Star is spacious and comfortable

    The boot is deep rather than narrow and holds a lot more than you’d expect. As is usual in a hatch, the rear seats can be folded to extend boot size.

    The dashboard and centre console in this car are really tidy looking and the test car had a decent spec, with air conditioning, Bluetooth, electric windows, central locking with keyless entry and alloy wheels standard in the Intense model.

    The test car also had auto lights and wipers, as well as stop and start technology, which was handy in the city.

    Infotainment options came in the form of a radio/CD unit and USB and aux ports.

    I really liked the keyless entry in this car. Unlike other keyless entry systems, you can actually physically check that the door is locked as the system is activated by a button on the driver’s door rather than by touching the door handle.

    I enjoyed driving the Space Star. We gave it a good mix of city, motorway and rural driving, travelling from Dublin to Galway city and along the coast to Oranmore.

    2013 Mitsubishi Space Star interior boot

    The boot in the Mitsubishi Space Star is bigger than it looks

    As you’d expect from a small car like this, it performed excellently on city streets, with a peppy engine giving good acceleration at the lights. It was also very easy to park.

    The five-speed manual test car was comfortable for a long journey and it also handled well on the winding country roads.

    With a turning circle of 4.6m it was easy to do a three-point turn on the narrow Galway boreens when we got lost.

    On the motorway, while it’s not the fastest getting to 120kph, it has no problem holding it. The cabin was a tad noisy at higher speeds though and I also missed having cruise control.

    Overall, I enjoyed the Mitsubishi Space Star – it’s a nice, peppy little family car that looks smart and has a bit of poke to it. I also liked the head-turning Cerulean Blue colour of the test model.

    The Mitsubishi Space Star is available now, with prices starting from €11,995 for the entry level Invite. The Intense variant I was driving costs from €14,495.

    It comes with Mitsubishi’s eight year warranty.

    Tech Spec
    Engine: 1.2-litre 80hp petrol
    Acceleration: 0-100kph in 11.7seconds
    Top Speed: 180kph
    Fuel Economy: 4.3l/100km
    CO2 emissions: 100g/km
    Annual road tax: €180

    Visit the Mitsubishi Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.

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