A new Colt has just been unveiled in the Far East and we’re hopeful of seeing a European version in 2003. And though it doesn’t register much in our roadside perceptions, the current version is still selling the guts of 500 or so of them a year on average, so it has a respectable enough place. The name has been around in Europe since 1978. With only a 1.3-litre engine, the current version is suffering from not having anything smaller available, and a consequent high insurance price for what might have been a young target audience. And the price asked puts it at the higher end of the segment already being hard-fought between Fiat, Opel, Peugeot, Nissan, Toyota and VW. MMC and DaimlerChrysler’s smart brand plan to use the Colt platform for a set of compact cars in Europe, to be manufactured at the NedCar plant in The Netherlands. Stars: 4/10

Now carrying the formerly Lancer 1.3-litre end of the marque’s slot as well, the redeeming feature of the Carisma range is not available here - the gasoline direct injection engine which you can get elsewhere. So we’re stuck beyond the 1.3-litre with a 100bhp 1.6-litre petrol and a direct injection diesel that itself is not half bad. I can’t for the life of me undertand why anybody would buy the 1.3 when the 1.6, with TWO airbags, is less than E700 more. Only for road tax or insurance reasons, probably. And yet the strategy must work, because sales here have more than doubled in the last 12 months. European built but with a legendary Mitsubishi reliability. There are conflicting reports on how long more we’ll be seeing the Carisma around. Stars: 5/10

Galant is big, comfortable, and if you want an easy drive there’s a 2.5-litre V6 engine that propels the car pertly but without serious petrol cost penalty. That’s best with an autobox, but the car is then into the E40,000 area and there’s much better competition. A 2-litre is also available, and doesn’t slouch. It has suffered since they lost their 1.8-litre entry-level, and if they had the 2.4 GDI petrol engines here they’d give the car some street cred. A real pity that they sell so few, because Galant has always represented plenty of car and really reliable motoring in a lot of comfort. It is certainly worth keeping an eye out for a secondand model, because you’ll get the best of motoring build without taking a big deprectaion hit. We look forward to more progressive products at this level during the in-progress renaissance of Mitsubishi, whose ropey financial situation and past scandals difficulties have now been turned around. Stars: 6/10

A revered name amongst the true Mitsubishi fans in Ireland, and before the arrival of Galaxy and friends it shared the MPV podium in Ireland with the Nissan Prairie. The unkind would say that it hasn’t really moved on much, but once beamed aboard the nameplate, few leave it except in extreme circumstances. It feels much more of a large car than an MPV, and it drives more like an estate than many of its competition. There’s plenty of room, full seven seats, and going for the 2.4-litre GDI engine actually improves fuel consumption over the 2-litre other option. That also makes sense if you’re regularly lugging full loads, though there’s an initial price hit and also insurance and car tax increases. Depends how long you want to keep it, and Spacewagon enthusiasts tend to keep their cars for quite some time. Shame they don’t have a diesel. Stars: 6/10

Mitsubishi’s answer to the Toyota RAV4 and the Freelander, and a pretty car, styled by Pininfarina. It is a credible conveyance on the boulevard, a little on the hard side, but does the offroad thing as well as any other decent softroader, and often better depending on circumstances. The big goodie is the 1.8-litre GDI engine which was briefly in the Carisma here a few years ago but was then dropped because people wouldn’t pay the extra price. Only the 5-door is now on sale here. It makes its own contribution to steady sales in the overall Pajero range. Stars: 6/10.

A pretty car, and one for which there is a wide range of fancy tart-up accessories if you want yours to stand out from the crowd at the cafe. Make no mistake, it is a true 4x4 and and competent if there’s significant offroading in your driving calendar. It makes a respectable lugger if you’ve a lot of towing to do in real mud. Maybe the power of the 2.5-litre TD engine is a only 98bhp, but there’s good torque. Just be sure you have plenty of road and time if overtaking, because it’s a long way to 18.5 seconds in the 0-62mph ‘sprint’. Stars: 5/10

A classic in big 4x4s in the large passenger 4x4 segment, the Pajero is up there with the Mercedes M-Class and the Land Rover Discovery in terms of place. Although a small percentage of the total car market, it is a high-profile and prestigious one, and the Pajero carries itself well, and charges accordingly. There’s a 2.5 TD for the 3-door entry level, but the serious buyers go for the LWB versions, powered by 3.2-litre direct injection diesels. Leather and automatic transmissions are desirable options, and the vehicle is one reason at least why Range Rover has had to butch up its elite SUV. A true go-anywhere traditional 4x4 and very much a real working man’s transport. Will be around for a while yet, and your purchase will benefit in the long run from the brand’s amazing reliability. Stars: 7/10