Mitsubishi Space Star, also known as the Mirage in other markets worldwide, is the fresh entrant for the Japanese manufacturer in the cheapest sub-compact class. The current Space Star is the sixth generation of the smallest Mitsubishi, launched in 2012 and facelifted in 2015. With a fresh wind in its tiny wings, it’s expected that Space Star would be one of the most popular entry-level cars in the overcrowded streets of Singapore.

AT A GLANCE

Upsides:

• Turning radius perfect for city traffic
• More equipment than rivals
• Cheaper than rivals

Downsides:

• Small cabin
• Underperforming engine

Design (3/5)

The new Space Star retains egg-like design but gets new stylish features at the front and rear, including LED daytime running lights and LED taillights. Compared to the Attrage sedan, which is built on the same platform, Space Star has completely different front grille made of dark chrome. The facelift also resulted with lowered drag coefficient of 0.27cd. The interior also saw numerous aesthetic changes from the steering wheel to the HVAC system and a new optional touchscreen infotainment system.

Engine, drivetrain and performance (3/5)

Measuring just 3,795 mm and weighing 860 kilograms, with a turning radius of 4.6 meters, the Space Star is the king of narrow streets and full car parks. In such a car, the perfectly-sized engine is the 1.2L 3-cylinder 12-valve MIVEC petrol powertrain with 78 hp and 100 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to Invecs-III CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. Such a combination results in the acceleration of 13.8 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and the top speed of 170 km/h. The official info says that average fuel consumption is just 4.3 l/100 km.

Trim levels (3/5)

Full automatic air-condition is the main feature in the standard equipment of the Space Star. The standard trim also consists of 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic rain sensors, and automatic headlights. Keyless operation system is something that many expensive cars still lack. Other parts of standard trim are foldable 60:40 rear seats, adjustable steering column or side turn lamps on door mirrors.

Safety (4/5)

Despite being cheaper than the rivals, Space Star is offering more when analyzing security. Six airbags are in the standard equipment while direct rivals have only two. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) and Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) are also in the standard equipment, ensuring maximum braking performance in the emergency situations. The Space Star also features Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body which is extremely sturdy and lightweight, thanks to high tensile strength steel plates that protect passengers with impact-absorbing crushable zones.

Conclusion: 3.75/5.0

Despite its small size, the Space Star still offers a decent amount of space, at least for four persons. The boot has a surprisingly big capacity of 416 liters, more than some cars which are positioned two classes up. With that in mind, the Space Star offers all that a family with two small kids could ask for. Such families are looking for every dollar, and the Space Star has a big advantage in terms of affordability because it’s cheaper than other Japanese rivals.