It is not easy to find the perfect name. That goes for babies and cars. Some manufacturers rely on a combination of numbers and letters in their models (BMW X4, Peugeot 308 GTi), others are based on the music world (Honda Jazz), Greek mythology (VW Phaeton) or supernatural (Rolls-Royce Ghost / Phantom) , Mitsubishi has chosen the melodious name Space Star. And, astonishingly, for his Stadtfloh, one of the cheapest new cars in Germany.
Although the Dacia Sandero with 6.890 Euro continues to be the cheapest factory-fresh car in this country and also the Lada Kalina is still about one tankful cheaper (6.950 Euro). For 6.990 Euro, however, Mitsubishi gives you the key to becoming a full-fledged automobile companion. Due to its compact design (3,70 Meter), it is particularly suitable for city dwellers and also offers mobility for a small budget. So much is already anticipated: It fulfills its purpose - provided one brings his expectations of the vehicle with the account balance in line.
That the petite Japanese but not only convenience is in the foreground, he shows in the higher equipment lines. We opted for the fourth step with the enchanting name "Diamant Edition Plus", which in addition to an automatic start and stop, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, air conditioning, Isofix child seat attachment, heated seats and central locking also a nice looking interior with piano finish Optics contains. These extras are not impractical and make everyday life easier. A vehicle without air conditioning would like to drive in the summer hardly, and the seat heating takes in the winter with a car that is parked outside, a high priority. Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth interface with handsfree. Powered by a 1,2 liter petrol engine with 59 kW / 80 PS, the Space Star will cost 10.760 Euro.
However, you have to do without designer games and stylish surroundings. You get something else for that: space! As the name "space" suggests, the Japanese makes sensible use of his 3,70 meter length. There is enough space for a vehicle of this class. Thanks to wide-opening doors, passengers beyond the 1,40 meter height can easily get into the rear. Although the driver and front passenger sit on price-adjusted - and therefore not the most comfortable - chairs, they also enjoy the comparatively good feeling of space.
Storage space for up to 912 liters can also be offered by the Space Star with the rear seats folded. If the goods have to be transported through the trunk, it is only necessary to bridge the edge which is usually the case with city fleas. Although the cockpit is tidy and intuitive thanks to the sparse distribution of buttons and controls, the minimalist display in the center console with its almost pixelated and tiny display makes the car appear older than it actually is.
With the 80-PS engine, the Space Star, available exclusively as a five-door model, is a bit more powerful than the base model with 52 kW / 71 PS, but there is no such thing as a real driving pleasure. This may be due to the watered steering. Or the tired response. On the highway, the unadjusted speedster comes along well, but may acoustically no outside noise from the occupants keep away and is also not available for speed games beyond the 140 km / h. Suspension and damping are average comfortable. But there were also positive surprises: The Space Star swallowed an average of 5 liters at 100 kilometers even on occasional trips into its full-throttle range, which is very close to the manufacturer's data of 4,3 liters.
The biggest strength of the Space Star is its price. Finally, Mitsubishi gives out its anti-status car for a sum that gives it in the upper premium segment a smart audio system or buttery soft leather trim. If you do not need automotive image maintenance, you will get a fitting vehicle with a largely unobtrusive driving characteristics, which looks quite passable and is economical in everyday life.