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Far from being down and out, Mitsubishi is going great guns with its stylish new Lancer sedan, writes Byron Mathioudakis.
Isn’t the Lancer the provenance of pimply teenagers roaring along in their souped-up hoon cars?
Well, demographically speaking, the small Mitsubishi has certainly carved a niche out with today’s youth looking for a car with some rally cred – thanks to the high-performance Lancer Evo series. It’s a reputation that makers of duller cars like Hyundai and Toyota would kill for.
So why should anybody other than non-pimply teens care about this?
Good question. With today’s increasingly green-minded consumers, high economy and low emissions are paramount. So a small car that delivers these plus style, fun and safety is something worth getting excited over.
Indeed. So you’re saying the Lancer now delivers all that?
It sure does. The latest sedan has all-new shark-nosed wedgy styling, backed by a fresh chassis, a completely redesigned interior with more space and features, and super-duper sharp pricing.
Sounds interesting. Go on…
What Mitsubishi has done is go back to the drawing board with this Lancer, while retaining all the reliability, economy and durability virtues that have endeared the model with small-car buyers the world over since the series started back in 1974.
That striking new design (the work of an Aussie, apparently) clothes a re-engineered front-wheel drive chassis with sophisticated suspension for quick and agile steering.
An all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine has also been fitted, which provides strong and surprisingly smooth performance throughout the rev range, without sacrificing fuel economy.
Buyers can choose between a slick and satisfying five-speed manual gearbox, or an ultra-refined and superbly efficient CVT automatic that actually uses less fuel than the already-impressive manual.
So this is one of the better small cars to drive?
You bet. Both teenagers and tuck shop tea ladies will enjoy the sparkling nature of the latest Lancer.
The cabin has enough space for five people (three adults can just squeeze in the back), while the boot is as big as you’ll probably ever need.
Best of all, Mitsubishi provides peace-of-mind in two ways: with a better-than-average five-year warranty, as well as standard stability control – that might just save you from having a nasty accident.
Four airbags, as well as air-con, power windows, remote central locking, MP3-compatible CD audio, cruise control, electric mirrors and a trip computer are also all totally standard.
OK. So what’s the catch then?
In the real world, this is a highly competitive package that should be on everybody’s small-car shortlist.
But you should know that plenty of tyre rumbling permeates the peace inside the cabin – a Toyota Corolla is far quieter. The ride can feel pretty firm on rougher road surfaces. And while the Lancer has high agility levels, it is roundly outclassed as a driver’s car when compared to the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
Would you buy one?
Considering the price, the Lancer is a winner. No small sedan looks better either. And the upcoming Sportback hatch appears promising too.
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