Mitsubishi Attrage

Overview

The Mitsubishi Attrage is one of the most economical cars from the company in the Middle East market and is a tough nut to crack for its competitors. It first came into existence here back in 2014 when Al Habtoor Motors, the official distributor of Mitsubishi cars in the region, launched it as a new addition to the lineup, along with the Mirage hatchback.

At the time of launch, it had all the features that would be required for any pocket-friendly mini sedan and competed directly with the Nissan Sunny. Though it was marginally more expensive than the competitor, the present model (2018) is a much more affordable car in the range, starting from just AED 36,645. And as for the features, it is still a very feature-rich car and continues to do great in the market.

Interior

Hop inside and you won’t feel like you have entered a mini sedan. There is a combination of off-white and black colour tone all around. The cabin is quite spacy and stylish. For the dashboard, the Mitsubishi Attrage has a 2-DIN unit with CD and FM player and the output is routed to four speakers. There is manual air-conditioning system given along with air filter.

The steering wheel is mounted with control buttons for the music system, while there are door pockets and bottle holders on both sides. Cup holders are given on the center floor console as well as on the rear armrest. Further, the driver’s seat is adjustable on the height.

Exterior

The front fascia of the car is utmost attractive and won’t give an impression that it is something so compact and economical. There is a four-slat chrome grille that is bordered by swept back headlamps. The fog lamp housing lower down has a chrome detailing too.

The side section has the signature line passing below the window line, just like we find in most of the B-segment sedans in the country. The door handles and rear-view mirrors are body coloured. The rear profile has a chrome strip along the boot lid, just above the registration number plate.

As for the illumination, there are halogen units as standard. The windshield glass is laminated green while the window glasses are of tampered-green type. The car rides on 15-inch alloy wheels that are stylishly crafted.

Comfort Suspension

The all-new Mitsubishi Attrage is quite fun to drive although the power doesn’t feel outright. The stability of the car is on the better side due to the 15-inch wheels and front MacPherson Strut suspension with coil springs and stabiliser bars and torsion beams at the rear.

The body of the car is made with high tensile steel, which makes the car sturdy and lightweight at the same time. Hence, the rigidity and handling are immensely wonderful. Moreover, according to the company, the car is designed to be extremely aerodynamic that slips through the wind better than most others.

Engine Performance

The Mitsubishi Attrage is powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that has 12 valves. The total power production from the engine lies at 80 PS while the peak torque remains at 100 Nm. Though the power figures are slightly on the inferior side, the way the engine is tuned to deliver a smooth power via the 5-speed manual gearbox unit is very much on the bright side.

The car isn’t sporty but you will feel stable even if you try and cross the three-figure mark. And added to that, the lightweight body does well to make sure that the lack of power doesn’t come to the fore.

Braking Safety

As for the braking, the Mitsubishi Attrage is quite spectacular. The company provides ABS for all four wheels. However, the rear wheels have drum brakes with the front having ventilated disc units. Electronic brakeforce distribution is also added to the package.

There are dual SRS airbags up front, along with pretensioner seat belts. Other safety equipment includes an open door alarm, lane change turn signals and auto door relock system.

Verdict

The Mitsubishi Attrage, which is presently on sale, is quite a complete package and would impress anyone who is looking for an economical car that saves a lot on the fuel too. Hence, with a price tag of below AED 40,000, the mini sedan is definitely worth the attention and preference.