First Test: The Mitsubishi Space Star 2016

No nonsense

If you look at the “new” Space Star, you will recognize a lot of the “old” Space Star. There is no new car in front of you here, just the one pragmatic small carto which one has already got used. And that's good. For what the Space Star can do is a lost virtue: it focuses on the essential. With one exception! 

Mitsubishi Space Star (2016) in the driving report

Next Saturday, the 9. April, Mitsubishi dealers in Germany celebrate the market launch of the new Space Star. Whereby new is exaggerated. It's a solid facelift with some nice new details in the look and a few meaningful details on the features.

Fresh design, improved chassis, upgraded interior

Basis, Plus and Top are the equipment lines of the new Space Star. Mitsubishi makes it easy for buyers to find their way through the options and possibilities. In addition to the equipment lines, there are two engines and an automatic transmission that can be selected. Those who do not opt ​​for the continuously variable automatic, which is only available in the “top equipment”, can choose between 71 and 80 hp. Both engines have in common: They are three-cylinder. 999 cc for the 71 hp engine and 1.193 cc for the 80 hp engine.

So the 71 PS Space Star drives in the Plus equipment

A sensible concentration on the essential is what makes the Space Star. A car that gets you from A to B at a fair price. Reliable. Without obsessing yourself with unnecessary ballast. That is what makes the Space Star. There are still five doors on its less than 3.80 meters. Always. You won't offer a three-door car. Not even the notchback variant. Aesthetes breathe easy. Pragmatists would probably be of this - with us largely unknown representatives - excited.

The little bully under the bonnet pulls bravely and bravely through the rev range. He cannot distract from his three-cylinder shape. The sound always remains concise and clearly “out of round”. But after a few kilometers you ask yourself: What do you still need? Even the 1 liter gasoline engine is sufficient. The Plus equipment with the most important safety features such as ABS, ESP and 6 airbags is supported by a hill start assistant and the brake assistant. The fact that the engine also has an automatic start-stop system, the occupants have electric windows in row one and the audio system installed in series can handle MP3s and has a USB port, completes the impression of the "sensible, adult, but cheap car" . It doesn't really have to be more than that.

The space in row one is convincing. With its 1.66 meters, the Space Star is wide enough so that you as a driver do not feel like the passenger would want to slip on your lap. On the other hand, the Space Star looks handy in the city and on motorway construction sites it is narrow enough so you do not get claustrophobic.

If you let the 1-liter engine and the 5-speed gearbox work properly, you can get to 13.6 km / h in 100 seconds. And at 172 km / h it is the end of the field. But that's only half as important. Like the tropic. At 9.20 meters, the “Space Star” will become the “tropic star” in the city.

80 PS and the top equipment

There is nothing like a little more in performance. The 80 PS engine is the more attractive option, especially because its displacement plus leads to an increase in torque and even earlier. With 106 Nm at 4.000 revolutions, the 1.2 liter is significantly more agile than the base engine with its 88 Nm at 5.000 revolutions.

The engines are still “old friends”. You know the engines. The progress is in a revision of the chassis. Mitsubishi speaks of a modified chassis. The “Three Diamonds” for the new Space Star promise us more driving fun and maneuverability. It is definitely handy. We experienced that ourselves.

For a small car, the Space Star is surprisingly confident in handling.

Apple and Android on board

Five adults fit into the Space Star, leaving room for two more important today: Apple CarPlay and ANDROID Auto. The two interfaces for integrating your own smartphone in the car. Without it, it's just not possible today. Mitsubishi has seen this and offers a new multimedia system with successful integration of the two smartphone worlds.

Conclusion: No room for nonsense

Strong arguments for the start

The entry-level Space Star actually costs € 9.990. At the market launch in April, Mitsubishi wants to do something particularly good for us and is paying € 2.000 out of its own pocket. This makes the basic Space Star an unbeatable new car offer. However, the variant recommended by us is called "Intro Edition +”And costs € 80 with the 11.990 hp petrol engine and manual gearbox.

Then the new multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also on board.