Mitsubishi Space Star - a star in name only?

If you are looking for a unique and original car, stay away from this Mitsubishi model. Because the car does not captivate with body style, does not impress with the design and execution of the interior, does not shock with innovative solutions. However, in terms of powertrain durability and driving pleasure, the Space Star easily ranks among the best used cars on the market.

Inconspicuous, only 4 m long, Space Star is shocking with the amount of space inside. The tall and wide body, 1520mm and 1715mm respectively, offers plenty of room for both front and rear passengers. A little disappointing is only the luggage compartment, which holds 370 liters as standard, in the context of the class category of the car (minivan segment) - competitors in this matter are clearly better.

Mitsubishi - the brand in Poland is still somewhat exotic - yes, the popularity of cars of this brand is still growing, but the Tokyo manufacturer still lacks a lot to the level of Toyota or Honda. Another thing, if you look at the Space Star - this Mitsubishi model is certainly one of the most popular cars of this brand in Poland. There are quite a lot of offers for the resale of Space Star on advertising portals, and among them there should not be a particularly big problem with finding a well-maintained car, with a documented service history, from the Polish dealer network. When you manage to “hunt” for such a machine, you should be tempted, because the Space Star is one of the most advanced machines of the Japanese manufacturer.

Modified and very durable Japanese gasoline units and DID diesel engines borrowed from Renault using Common Rail technology (102 and 115 hp) could work under the hood of the model.

As far as petrol engines are concerned, the top-of-the-line 1.8 GDI engine with 122 hp and direct injection technology seems to be an extremely interesting unit. Space Star with this engine under the hood is characterized by very good dynamics (about 10 seconds in acceleration to 100 km / h) and very low fuel consumption (on rough terrain, with a smooth press on the gas pedal and observing the rules of the road, the car can burn only 5.5 liters /100 km). In city traffic, a dynamic ride will cost you 8 - 9 l / 100 km. Considering the dimensions of the car, the space offered and the dynamics, these are the most noteworthy results. However, the biggest problem of the 1.8 GDI power unit is the injection system, which is extremely sensitive to the quality of the fuel used - any negligence in this regard (refueling with low-quality fuel) can have a very negative impact on the injection system. and therefore in the pocket of the owner.

Of the more traditional (i.e., simpler in design) engines, it is worth recommending a 1.6-liter unit with a capacity of 98 hp. - Performance is clearly different from the top-end GDI engine, but durability, versatility and simplicity of design definitely prevail over it.

Unit with a volume of 1.3 liters and a power of 82-86 hp. - an offer for people with a calm disposition - Space Star with this engine under the hood accelerates to 100 km / h in 13 s. the unit also turns out to be a durable and faithful companion - it smokes little, rarely breaks down, and thanks to its small displacement it saves on insurance.

The only diesel engine installed under the hood is the Renault 1.9 DiD design. Both the weaker (102 hp) and more powerful versions of the unit (115 hp) provide the car with excellent performance (comparable to 1.8 GDI) and excellent efficiency (average fuel consumption at 5.5 - 6 l / 100 km) . . Interestingly, almost all users of the model praise the Space Star with a French diesel engine under the hood - surprisingly, in this model this unit is extremely durable (?).

Obviously recurring faults in this model cannot be replaced, because there are practically none. The only recurring problem concerns Renault gearboxes installed on 1.3 and 1.6 liter units - the resulting backlash in the control mechanism makes it difficult to shift gears. Luckily repairs are not expensive. Corroded tailgate, sticky rear brake calipers, easily frayed seat upholstery - the car isn't perfect, but most problems are minor things that can be fixed for a penny.

Parts prices? It may be different. On the one hand, there are many replacements available on the market, but there are also parts that should be sent to authorized service centers. There, unfortunately, the score will never be low.

Mitsubishi Space Star is certainly an interesting offer, but only for people with a calm character. Unfortunately, those looking for extravagance may be disappointed because the car's interior is just... boring.