Review

Review: Mitsubishi RZ Colt Cabriolet (2006-08)

2.5 stars

  • Responsive 1.5-litre turbo engine
  • Competent ride/handling balance
  • Compact folding roof
  • Body and scuttle shake over bumps
  • Cheap interior materials
  • Cramped rear seats
  • Thick A-pillars limit forward visibility

Overview

Released in October 2006, the RZ Colt Cabriolet was a small, two-door convertible with a retractable metal roof. The Colt Cabriolet was partly manufactured in the Netherlands with final assembly performed at Pininfarina’s Bairo plant in Italy. The front-wheel drive Colt Cabriolet was powered by 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines which had double overhead camshafts and variable valve timing (Mitsubishi’s MIVEC). A five-speed manual transmission was fitted as standard. The Turbo variant was also fitted with larger brakes, a faster steering ratio, reinforced suspension and shorter gear ratios.

Compared to the RG Colt hatchback on which it was based, the Colt Cabriolet was 5 mm longer (at 3875 mm), 15 mm wider (1695 mm), 103 mm lower (1457 mm) and had the same length wheelbase (2500 mm). Similarly, the Colt Cabriolet had MacPherson strut front suspension and H-shaped torsion beam rear suspension (both with coil springs and stabiliser bars). While the Colt Cabriolet’s metal roof was power operated, it required two clips to be manually undone before it could be lowered.

Mitsubishi RZ Colt Cabriolet specifications
  Engine Trans. Peak power Peak torque
Colt Cabriolet 1.5-litre petrol I4 5sp man. 80 kW at 6000 rpm 145 Nm at 4000 rpm
Colt Cabriolet Turbo 1.5-litre turbo petrol I4 5sp man. 110 kW at 6000 rpm 210 Nm at 3500 rpm

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the RZ Colt Cabriolet included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters for the front seats. The Turbo was also equipped with electronic stability control and traction control.

Features: Colt Cabriolet and Turbo

Standard features for the RZ Colt Cabriolet included 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, a six speaker sound system with CD player, steering wheel audio controls, front and rear fog lamps, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable seats, a trip computer, 12 volt power outlet, tinted windows and an immobiliser.

The Colt Cabriolet Turbo was further equipped with leather seats, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Brochure

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