There’s an air of quality and individuality about the Colt’s cabin, created mainly by the interesting textures and translucent plastics. Some switchgear feels cheap, but mostly it’s well-made, solid and attractively designed. You sit high up and the seats offer plenty of support, but the slippery synthetic fabric does nothing to stop the driver heading towards the passenger seat during rapid manoeuvres.
There’s as much space in this car’s rear as there is in the five-door’s, so passenger room remains adequate, and there’s a sliding and folding rear bench. But if you’re carrying adults it’s strictly a four seater, despite the centre lap belt. Boot space is smaller than the five-door’s, but still respectable at 760 litres with the rear seats folded.
The CZT comes well-equipped: a single CD player, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors and the growling sports exhaust are all standard. You also get six airbags, ESP and traction control.
The CZT might be the cheapest and most well-equipped warm hatch available, but the running costs could deter you. Our admittedly enthusiastic driving yielded an average fuel consumption of 24.6mpg; a Nissan 350Z, with its 3.5-litre V6, can get 24.8mpg.
Insurance won’t be quite as costly, but it’s not the lowest in class. At group 14 the CZT is on a par with the 206 GTi, but a Fiesta ST sits one group below and the Ibiza FR is in group 11.