Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6

...life, but my mother's old Mitsubishi Space Runner was the key to choosing another Mitsubishi in the market since in the event that if the g/f decided to go on long hauls or needed a bigger car, then we would definitely be looking for a larger car, economical and comfortable as well as offering a good boot area. My mum's Runner model (based on the larger Space Wagon MPV) had suited her well for five years and had not failed her once (she now has the ...
...still unclear as to why Mitsubishi called this model "Carisma," even though it does have a certain charismatic personality of being very rarely seen on the motorway or in cities. I've only seen a handful and the car press have been unkind to suggest that it may well be boring but it does its job well and I'm pleased to say that thank god Proton haven't done their own design on it back in the days when Proton still had license from Mitsubishi ... more

My partner and I lead very busy lives, having to use two cars instead of just one when we first moved in together. I had a very old Nissan Bluebird hatch back and it served both of us well until she bought an old Volvo 340 and we kept both on the road before our businesses really started up. Then as the business came into full swing, my partner decided to use my Kia since her old Volvo 340 was now beginning to get old fashioned with the high sill on the back when loading food trays in. I loved her old Volvo but I was hankering for something a bit more powerful and strangely larger since the Volvo was great for basic needs of ferrying food but for photography equipment and long haul drives, it just about managed with additional cushions for clients and colleagues to travel in.

We did discuss a lot of alternatives and our Kia dealer was very happy to sell me an old Cerato hatch. This is of course is in the days before Renault's Scenic and the compact MPV market had really sprung into life, but my mother's old Mitsubishi Space Runner was the key to choosing another Mitsubishi in the market since in the event that if the g/f decided to go on long hauls or needed a bigger car, then we would definitely be looking for a larger car, economical and comfortable as well as offering a good boot area. My mum's Runner model (based on the larger Space Wagon MPV) had suited her well for five years and had not failed her once (she now has the latest Colt hatchback) so the Mitsubishi brand was definitely a inspiration to brand choices.

And so we were offered few Carisma models on the forecourt. Most of the models were of the last 2003 model year which still had the original model's blueprint design but I began to like the look of the hatchback design compared to the saloon which looked a little like Nissan's Mk1 Primera. We took a few models for test drives and my g/f remarked how quiet she found the 1.6 model over the technological 1.8 direct injection 1.8 (GDi). We also test drove the Renault engined 1.9 diesel model but found the engine to be too rough and harsh on the motorway.

In the end we were offered a silver metallic 2005 Carisma model, 1.6 GLX for £9590 and one of very few which had been built as the model had just come out of production and production of the Carisma has now ended. Since this was an end production model it had some extras fitted such as electric windows in the rear, electric aerial and a CD player! Safety features include air bags for both driver and passenger, although this model only received 3 stars out of 4 at the time in NCAP's safety tests. Whilst the g/f liked the extras and the drive, the hatch design won me over as well as the boot space.

~~ Carisma Design ~~

I'm still unclear as to why Mitsubishi called this model "Carisma," even though it does have a certain charismatic personality of being very rarely seen on the motorway or in cities. I've only seen a handful and the car press have been unkind to suggest that it may well be boring but it does its job well and I'm pleased to say that thank god Proton haven't done their own design on it back in the days when Proton still had license from Mitsubishi to churn out old models with a new face and badge; I'm not against Proton but the g/f definitely is since her grandparents went through three Protons before settling with a Hyundai.

The Mitsubishi Carisma five door hatchback is in the same vein design wise of many medium sized hatchbacks in the market; so it sits on the same length of many cars such as the Vectra, Mondeo and even Toyota's Avensis hatchback even if slightly the Carisma has smaller measurements thanks to the Volvo floor pan with its compact executive S/V40 platform.

The Carisma can cater for five people even though the hatchback has a lap belt in the rear as opposed to a proper seatbelt for the middle passenger but generally it is well designed if not formulaic with its layout. If there is only one category which the Carisma fails in, then its refinement in the way it drives;

~~ The Drive ~~

On the motorway the Carisma is a controllable car on motorways, able to steer and control on smooth surfaces. However the car tends to strain under loads (especially with four people) but then it is a big car with a small 1.6 Mitsubishi engine plant which produces 90BHP. With one or two people or loaded up, the car doesn't suffer as much strain although it needs some urgency to get it going. Compared to larger cars in the same class, defined by wheelbase, the Carisma lacks soundproofing which is noticeable particularly when cornering which I'll comment a bit more on later...

The worst aspect of the Carisma is the suspension. Whilst it is smooth and unruffled on smooth roads, in towns the suspension tends to thump and crash over bumps which travel right into the cabin and it can be felt badly for passengers in the back. Whilst the feel of the drive is average, there is some feel on motorways but cornering can be quite scary as the car moves on its own accord rather than what the driver suggests through the wheel. Cars in this class should be better engineered but it seems that the Carisma is one of those models where the drive is below average and I have to agree with most of the online reviews which support the same problem.

Of course whilst my Kia is an SUV it is unfair to compare it on visibility grounds but the Carisma is very easy to park thanks to the lack of thick pillars. The view out the back from the front is good, easier if you remove the rear headrests too and there is also a standard wash/wipe rear wiper fitted which clears a lot of the large rear screen very well. Overtaking however is ok, a surprise given that it's only a 1600cc engine under the bonnet and the Carisma is quite eager once you get started on long haul journeys. It's a shame though the gearbox is loose. It can be hard to find gears but at the time of purchase the box was tight and precise but these days our Carisma is getting on a bit and the gearbox is generally sloppy.

~~ The MPG ~~

Jen drives the Carisma mostly in towns and cities, having to travel 675 miles per day to her first office call before moving into a nearby small town. I've driven it for longer mileage mostly on motorways as well as filling the car up with stuff to take to the local recycling site. In this respect the car manages to get through between 38 to 45mpg but in small towns the figure drops to around 35mpg which is average for hatchbacks of this size. As with all cars, it really depends on how you drive the car in question even though the Carisma uses 4 star unleaded petrol. Generally though the car has proved to be a lot more economical on petrol than the old 340 which had a 1.4 engine compared to this 1.6!

~~ The Comforts ~~

The Carisma has very good front seats although it's a shame that they don't have Volvo seats in them as a lumbar support could have been added. I don't have a bad back but I like a good seat which hems me into the cushion rather than merely sitting on a seat than in it. The worst aspect for me though is the front driver's seat height adjustment; it just doesn't offer enough height for me whilst the steering wheel only moves at angles for adjustment. This is okay for my g/f though as she has a small 5ft 4" height.

The front chairs have an additional captain's arm rest which swings down in the middle of the car's transmission tunnel and has proved to be worthwhile especially sitting in traffic jams! In the back, passengers haven't moaned about the design or comfort of the seats; it's just the fabric which is annoying despite its dark grey colour, it can get quite grubby and attracts hairs and fluff. I'm 6ft and have sat in the back on occasion and have found the space to be average if not particularly spacious. More importantly the design of the Carisma is okay if nothing exciting. It does however feel slightly more spacious than the V40 my g/f also test drove back at the dealership but this may be down to the size of Volvo seats compared to the norm here.

The rear seats can split and fold very easily although it's a pity that the Carisma doesn't offer a completely flat floor when all seats are folded. Folding them is very easy though and not as tough as the old 340 whilst boot space is very impressive despite the rear sloping tailgate. There is also a middle arm rest included on the rear seat which is great for using.

~~ The Controls ~~

This is one area where the Carisma doesn't have much Carisma. Whilst the Kia is okay at most controls, the Mitsubishi has a simple to understand dashboard and...Well that's about it. All controls fall readily to hand even though our model had the latest dashboard at the time compared to the Mk1 model and as such doesn't look like a Renault Laguna dashboard anymore - more's the pity. Whilst the controls and buttons are easy to use, I've noticed that the quality here seems to be missing from other cars I've tried in the past. Whilst everything moves with precision, some buttons creak, the rotary heater controls no longer move on apparent nibs and some squeaks have already started by the glove box area and side demister fan vent on the passenger side. But then again this is a car which ferries food and at times passengers. It also has two handy slide out trays just below the heater controls; this has been great to store CDs and other grommets although I'd say that the whole design is quite boring, more practical and sensible than what I would have expected.

~~ The Servicing ~~

After we had the Carisma done at its first service we were horrified at the £850 bill which came from the dealership. Even my own mother couldn't believe how much the Carisma bill cost compared to her Space Runner model!! I wasn't expecting much to pay but have since realised Mitsubishi dealers can be overpriced. Even the smallest of details were overcharged and when I questioned this to the dealer at the time (we no longer use them!) they couldn't come up with a good answer to why the bill was so high. A seat belt clip for example which had come away from its housing cost us in the region of £80 whilst a missing lighter which we never got with the car (Jen needs one for her coffee pot) cost us an additional £45! Arguments ensued as to what we should have got with this car over this tiny little attachment and after the first service at 6000 miles we paid the bill and vowed never to use Mitsubishi again.

~~ Conclusion ~~

So is a second hand Carisma worth all the bother? Well for ferrying food, my photography equipment and the odd run to the shopping and recycling sites, the Carisma has proved to be a practical car rather than a comfortable car in which both of us can enjoy using. What is more remarkable is the simple fact that for the years we have owned it, it has never let us down; it always starts first time and the only replacements have been the odd tyre or oil change. We are in the market now for another medium car but may consider the last production run of Nissan's Almera or the possibility of their new Qashqai five door hatchback; unfortunately for Mitsubishi, we have tried the experience and not liked the servicing charges even though the car we bought was a bargain, it didn't deliver a particularly good drive.

There are now hundreds of different models on the market but the Carisma is not a car I feel you should choose for comfort; whilst the seats are okay, and whilst the accommodation in the car seems to be fine, it's not a car that I can live with now over long hours on long journeys. A few students have already expressed interest in our car and that's the key here; if you're looking for normal transport, no frills and a comfortable car which is easy to park and has good reliability then the Carisma 1.6 GLX will satisfy; but for driver refinement and drivability, forget it!

Thank you for reading this review. ©golddust2007.
 

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