It was fine on the press launch, mixing some off-roading, at which it performed well, with a dash of normal driving, but what was the Pinin like, later on, during a week's ordinary motoring?Well, for a compact 4x4 it was pretty good, although after a while you begin to realise that, in the metal, it's a lot more abrupt in its rear end styling than carefully angled photographs suggest. That's the three-door as tested. There's a five-door version coming in the autumn.What follows on from the dimensions of the short-wheelbase three-door model is that there isn't much rear seat passenger legroom (excellent headroom all round, though) and there's even less space for luggage.That almost certainly doesn't matter in the Pinin's target market. It will often be bought as a two-up, or parent with children on the school run, kind of machine, which can be used for hobby trips at the weekend.Unlike some similarly sized 4x4s, the Pinin is an agile town car, easy to park. It stomps on, out in the country, when you rev the GDI engine beyond its lean-burn mode.There's as much rough-terrain capability as most people will need. And the combination of a proper 4WD system with high but not exaggerated ground clearance is what country dwellers want in an all-year-round car which might have to cope with snow and ice in winter, and with mud almost any time.There are some neat details on this Italian-built 4x4, with its combination of Mitsubishi and Pininfarina styling. Something which particularly impressed me was the fact that, although the spare wheel is externally mounted on the tailgate, it doesn't obscure the road behind, as seen in the rear view mirror. There's a cutaway top to the rear bumper, into which the spare wheel nestles.One little niggle was the fact that the driver's seat adjustment lever in the top of the range GLS test car constantly caught in the bottom of my trouser leg as I got in and out. Have I missed something, and are bell bottoms out of fashion?Like most 4x4s, the Pinin has massive door mirrors, and there's also a wide-sweep rear wiper, which gives a good view of the kerb side, and not such a good view of the overtaking lane behind. That should be adjusted.I got to like the car a lot, despite the fact that having whiskers, not living out in the wilds, and being well beyond the age of discretion, I am by no means in the Pinin's intended market sector. The GLS isn't cheap, but the entry-level model can be had for £3000 less.Second opinion: Is it just me? Mitsubishi spent millions on the research and development of its GDI engine technology, which promised diesel-like frugality in lean-burn mode and spirited performance when the salary cheque comes in. When I drove the Carisma with the same 1.8 engine I couldn't match the mpg claims of colleagues, but thought little of it. Now it's happened again. The best I could get out of the Pinin in two-wheel drive mode, at an average 36mph, was 42.9mpg. Otherwise, the average was nearer 30mpg. Are my expectations too high or Mitsubishi's claims too excessive? Other than that, it's an ideal second car or weekend fun machine. John Fife. Engine 1834cc, 4 cylinders Power 118bhp Fuel 31.4mpg Acceleration 0-62mph: 10.2 seconds Top speed 104mph Price £16,995 Release date 15/05/2010
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