Compare cars
Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.
Mitsubishi Colt
Practical compact hatchback and wagon with 450 L boot space and frugal MIVEC power.
Best value
Mitsubishi ColtNissan NoteMazda Demio
Mandai score
7/10
7.5/10
8/10
Typical price
KSh 950,000
KSh 1,500,000
KSh 1,250,000
Years
2014-2020
2017-2023
2017-2023
Body type
Compact Hatchbacks
–
Compact Hatchbacks
Fuel
Petrol
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol, Diesel
Transmission
Automatic, Manual
Automatic, CVT
Automatic
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
Colt Plus 1.5 / Colt Very
Note e-Power X / Medalist / Aura e-Power
Demio 13S Touring
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed
Fuel and running cost
Trim
Nissan Note e-Power
Fuel consumption
18.0 km/L5.6 L/100km combined · about 810 km a tank
28.0 km/L3.6 L/100km combined · about 1148 km a tank
20.5 km/L4.9 L/100km combined · about 902 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,261 / 100 kmKSh 13 a km · KSh 12,609 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 811 / 100 kmKSh 8 a km · KSh 8,106 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,107 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 11,071 for 1,000 km · petrol
Dimensions
Length
3,900 mm (Colt) / 4,185 mm (Colt Plus)
4,100 mm
4,060 mm
Width
1,680 mm
1,695 mm
1,695 mm
Height
1,550 mm
1,520 mm
1,500 mm
Wheelbase
2,500 mm
2,600 mm
2,570 mm
Ground clearance
150 mm
150 mm
145 mm
Boot space
315 L (Colt) / 450 L (Colt Plus)
340 L (1,000 L folded)
280 L
Kerb weight
1,070 kg
1,220 kg
1,030 kg
Seats
5
5
5
Specifications
Engine
1.5L 4A91 MIVEC DOHC Inline-4
1.2L HR12DE 3-Cylinder + EM57 Electric Motor (e-Power)
1.3L SkyActiv-G Inline-4
Power
105 hp @ 6,000 rpm
116 hp (136 hp Aura) electric motor output
93 hp
Torque
141 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
280 Nm instant electric torque
123 Nm
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
10.5 sec
7.9 sec
10.8 s
Top speed
180 km/h
150 km/h
180 km/h
Fuel economy
Combined
16.5 km/L (1.3L) / 15.2 km/L (1.5L)
28.0 km/L (e-Power) / 18.0 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
22 km/L
City
13.5 km/L
30.0 km/L (e-Power) / 15.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
18 km/L
Highway
18.8 km/L
25.0 km/L (e-Power) / 20.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
25 km/L
Tank size
45 L
41 L
44 L
CO₂ emissions
138 g/km
82 g/km
104 g/km
At a glance
Model
Mitsubishi Colt / Colt Plus (Z20 Series)
Nissan Note (E12 / E13 Series)
Mazda Demio / Mazda2
Production years
2014–2020
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Hatchback / Compact Wagon
Hatchbacks / Compact MPV
5-Door Hatchback
Seating capacity
5
5
5
Fuel types
Petrol (MIVEC)
Petrol, e-Power Hybrid
Petrol, Clean Diesel
Engine sizes
1,332 cc / 1,499 cc
1,198 cc (1.2L e-Power / DIG-S)
1,298 cc, 1,496 cc
Transmission
INVECS-III CVT / 5-Speed Manual
Automatic (CVT / Single-Speed e-Power)
6-speed Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD or 4WD
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
FWD / AWD
Ground clearance
150 mm
150 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan / Taiwan (RHD)
Japan (RHD JDM spec)
Japan (RHD)
Pros and cons
What’s good
- Sub-1,500 cc customs tax advantage: Qualifies for KRA's lowest tax valuation bracket.
- Colt Plus power tailgate & 450 L boot: Provides station-wagon utility at hatchback pricing.
- High seating position: Delivers excellent urban visibility in city traffic.
- Instant 280 Nm electric torque: Smooth, rapid acceleration away from Nairobi traffic lights.
- Exceptional 28+ km/L fuel economy: Slashes monthly commuter fuel bills by over 50%.
- Generous rear knee room: Cavernous rear passenger space despite compact 4.1m length.
- Superior fuel efficiency: The SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines achieve up to 25 km/L on Kenyan highways.
- Premium interior finish: Soft-touch materials and available MZD Connect screen rival European subcompacts.
- Smooth torque-converter automatic: Avoids the rubber-band CVT feeling found in competitor hatchbacks.
- Sub-1,500 cc tax advantage: Qualifies for Kenya lower customs valuation and excise duty bracket.
What’s not so good
- 150 mm ground clearance: Requires care when driving over tall estate speed bumps.
- Firm rear suspension: Transmits bumps on corrugated gravel roads.
- 150 mm ground clearance: Requires care over tall speed bumps when fully loaded.
- Engine generator sound under heavy hill climbs: 1.2L engine revs up to charge battery during steep ascents.
- Modest rear legroom: Tighter rear passenger seating space compared to the Honda Fit or Toyota Vitz.
- Diesel DPF sensitivity: The 1.5L SkyActiv-D diesel requires regular long highway runs to prevent DPF clogging.
- Low ground clearance: The 145 mm clearance requires careful driving over tall speed bumps.