A typical man does not read instructions. Or so society would have us believe. Typical men know better. Not wishing to upset the apple cart, I set about dismantling the rear seats in the Mitsubishi Space Star (to make way for a set of garden furniture) without consulting the handbook. Within seconds the goods were loaded on board, so either I
do know better, or Mitsubishi has done some clever designing, enabling even men to work it out. Does that make the Space Star a typical car?
Well, on first acquaintance, the Space Star is not your average looking vehicle. It is quite tall, yet short. The wheels are pushed right out to the corners to maximise the interior space between. In the metal, the Space Star looks even better than it does in pictures thanks to distinctive lights, chunky styling and a bonnet/grille shape which echoes the
Evo 7. The test car shown here is the "Equippe" version, which has good-looking, five spoke alloys, helping to give it an attractive, squat stance - more appealing than most of its competitors.
The mini-MPV market is now quite a packed one, with the likes of Ford's Focus C-max and the VW Touran on the way to join the
Citroen Picasso, Renault Scenic,
Daewoo Tacuma, Kia Carens and
Vauxhall Zafira. Each car has its particular novelties and tries to be more clever than the others. The Space Star is no exception. As mentioned, the rear seats are easy to fold forward to make way for large items. The seats can also be removed completely, as well as having the capability of sliding them to balance luggage space with rear legroom. The rest of the interior is well thought out, with lots of useful cubbyholes. My personal favourite is the sunglasses holder. This takes the traditional place of the grab handle above the driver's door and is very sensible use of this redundant space. Another notable feature is the large storage bin under the stereo. It not only has room for several CDs, it also can be covered up for security.
Safety is paramount to a buyer of a family car, and the Space Star delivers a good level of standard active safety such as dual front airbags as well as features such as anti-trapping electric windows. The quality of the materials is acceptable for a car in this price bracket. There is a feeling of durability in the plastics and fabrics, yet the controls and most plastics still have a soft feel to them. The cockpit is a comfortable place to be, with no complaints after many motorway miles. Cruising above the legal limit is all too easy, with remarkably little wind and road noise despite the wide tyres. However, the engine can be heard most of the time.
The test car was fitted with Mitsubishi's latest generation DI-D powerplant, in 1.9-litre turbo diesel format. I had driven a Carisma with this very engine last year and was impressed by its all-round ability, including sound insulation. For some reason, the Space Star installation is a noisier one. However, this is my only criticism of the engine. I averaged 45 mpg in a week of motorway and fast A-road driving, despite the fact that I did attempt to access all of the performance available. The Space Star is no slouch at all. In particular, the slug of torque between 2000 and 3500 rpm is useful for overtaking dawdling traffic.
Backing up the strong performance of the diesel engine is a good all-round dynamic package. It feels very stable on all surfaces and undulations, thanks to the long wheelbase. Surprisingly, the Space Star handles well too, with good grip and composure through corners. The slick gearchange and excellent brakes further enhance the driving experience. The latter have obviously been designed to cope with the weight of a family and their belongings. Peer through the rear wheels and you will see surprisingly large brake discs.
In summary, there is a lot right with the Space. The Equippe version is particularly well equipped. The DI-D engine manages to be frugal and makes light work of pushing the car along. The interior is simple yet clever and the price is competitive. So, is the Mitsubishi Space Star a typical car? No, it is much better than that.
