Materials inside are basic, but the cloth seats are very supportive and the driving position is good for my 5-foot-10 frame, despite the lack of a telescoping steering column. Dash and door materials are soft-touch in most places and I think fits are good. Yes, it’s a noisy tin can, much like a Subaru Impreza WRX, and it lacks amenities like navigation, satellite radio and an MP3 plug (but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed — cheaper –in the after market). I applaud Mitsubishi for keeping it basic and focusing on simply making a good driving car.
The 2.4-liter is strong — relatively — and provides power throughout the rev range. It’ll spin the tires out of first, and give a chirp in second if you really goose it. The five-speed manual transmission is a good pairing for the car and engine.
The Lancer is the best-looking car in Mitsubishi’s portfolio by a long shot. The once proud brand was the home of the venerable Eclipse, 3000GT and a small handful of other fun cars. Now the Lancer is the last man standing. The aggressive front end still looks current, the big wing in the back says, exactly what you’d think it would and the wedge shape still feels sporty. I might ask for a set of bigger rims to fill out the wheel wells.
Is it as good as an Evolution? Not hardly. But those extra 123 horses will cost you about $14,000. But in that price range, there’s a lot more to compete with.
The looks are OK. Nothing special, but the front with the Evo-inspired grille is sporty. From that angle it is a bit different from its competitors. The cabin is loud and very basic. I would argue for almost $21,000 you should get a few options. Otherwise, a stripper sedan like this should be closer to $18k or $19k.
The chassis is tight enough, the body remains composed through turns, and the engine is better than average. Mitsubishi cars have a fun demeanor to them — I’ve blasted around a track in an Evolution — and I think people would like the drive character with more exposure and awareness. But in today’s competitive set, the interior and packaging make this car below average. Personally, I’d take an athletic, manual transmission four-door over a more premium cabin, but that’s not how most shoppers will feel.
However, every part of the drivetrain, brakes and suspension could be tighter, which would provide an even better feel and response. But when I look at a $20,000 price tag I can’t help but think I am getting every single penny’s worth in terms of the Lancer GT’s performance.
It feels stable, confident and responsive on back roads. The Lancer GT gave me the confidence to attack corners and carry some good speed.
