How much does a 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,887 (£157/month), including £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT?

The 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT has a 71% MOT pass rate based on 128 tests in 2026. This ranks 230 out of 320 cars from 1997.

Which year MITSUBISHI COLT is most reliable?

The 2013 MITSUBISHI COLT has the highest MOT pass rate at 83%. The least reliable year is 2003 at 62%.

MITSUBISHI COLT (1997)

Q: Is the 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT reliable?

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. 71% of MITSUBISHI COLTs from 1997 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 128 tests. That's 11 points below the national average of 82%.

Q: What is the average mileage for a 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT?

The average mileage for a 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT is 77,861 miles, which is significantly below the expected 214,600 miles for a 29-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 128 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,887

£157/month

MOT Pass Rate

71%

Average

Road Tax

£195

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1298cc Petrol

Check Carefully

71% pass rate, £1887/year to run. 11 points below average.

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Petrol1298cc29 years old128 tests78k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1298cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137

Road Tax

Based on 1298cc

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£500

Total per year£1,887

Per month£157/mo

Per week£36/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

71% MOT pass rate(Average)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. That's 11 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the MITSUBISHI brand average of 80%.

At 29 years old, 71% of MITSUBISHI COLTs from 1997 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 128 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 77,861 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1997 cars230th of 320(top 72%)

Rank among MITSUBISHI models322th of 408(top 79%)

vs national average-11%(82% avg)

vs 1997 cars average-4%(75% avg)

vs MITSUBISHI average-9%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

77,861

Average miles

214,600

Expected for age

The average 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT has 77,861 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 214,600 miles for a 29-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2013 model with a 83% MOT pass rate, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 62%. The 1997 sits between the two at 71%.

MITSUBISHI COLT by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2013	83%	860	66,024 mi
2012	80%	2,450	69,102 mi
2011	79%	2,684	76,628 mi
2010	75%	4,375	80,694 mi
2009	72%	6,961	83,817 mi
2008	70%	7,859	86,756 mi
2007	71%	6,387	90,616 mi
2006	71%	4,923	92,982 mi
2005	69%	3,589	96,004 mi
2004	69%	707	95,647 mi
2003	62%	73	83,879 mi
2002	74%	115	75,553 mi
2001	72%	53	71,977 mi
2000	73%	89	71,639 mi
1999	65%	141	70,385 mi
1998	67%	308	87,244 mi
1997	71%	128	77,861 mi
1996	65%	101	83,131 mi
1995	67%	30	83,382 mi
1991	61%	36	92,792 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

MAZDA MX-5

1999 · 1600cc Petrol

£1,827/year

73%

+2%

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

1999 · 1781cc Petrol

£2,017/year

71%

same

VAUXHALL CORSA

1999 · 1199cc Petrol

£1,390/year

89%

+18%

NISSAN MICRA

1999 · 1298cc Petrol

£1,722/year

70%

-1%

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About the 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT

The 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT is a small family car with a 1298cc petrol engine. 128 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. Among all cars from 1997, the average MOT pass rate is 75%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 77,861 miles at 29 years old, MITSUBISHI COLT owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

1997 MITSUBISHI COLT Fuel Costs

The 1298cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,887 (£157/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 71% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

MITSUBISHI COLT Reliability Trend

Newer MITSUBISHI COLTs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 6 percentage points.

Buying a Used 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT

At 29 years old, the MITSUBISHI COLT is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2013 model has the highest pass rate at 83%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 1997 MITSUBISHI COLT stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
MITSUBISHI COLT(1997)	71%	£1137	£195	Grp 8-20	£1887
MAZDA MX-5(1999)	73%	£1137	£135	Grp 12-25	£1827-£60
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(1999)	71%	£1327	£135	Grp 18-32	£2017+£130
VAUXHALL CORSA(1999)	89%	£955	£30	Grp 5-15	£1390-£497
NISSAN MICRA(1999)	70%	£1137	£30	Grp 8-20	£1722-£165

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.