‘Good Looks Count for a Lot!’
I still remember my knee-jerk reaction to the Saturn Ion 4-door a few years back. It was one of those times that I wanted to say, “Well, I’m sure it has a great personality.” Nearly every automaker is guilty of producing some hideous machines that they call, “avant-garde,” while the rest of us look for the ugly stick used to beat it into shape.
The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancers look cool. This car has great lines and stands out from every other machine on the road – period. Everything from the shark inspired (or F-86 fighter plane) front end to the well rounded fender bulges. Even the angry looking headlights look great.
Here is the good news: it’s a nice drive too! No, it’s not a road rocket and you won’t get the feeling that you’re in the monster Evo X or Lancer Ralliart (even though they share many of the same components). In the Lancer, you can get a sporty, damn good looking, well equipped car on the cheap.
If you are okay with a mellow 2 liter, 4 cylinder putting out 152 horsepower (143 in California) and 146 lb feet of torque, then the Lancer DE might be up your alley. I would recommend the 5 speed manual over the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) if you want the most oomph out of the power-plant. However, the CVT is perfectly happy buzzing you along all day – and it does buzz a bit.
The 2009 GTS (with the addition of 16 horsepower) looks slick and has a more aggressive suspension setup; it is a fun driver’s car. This, along with great looking 18 inch wheels and nifty paddle shifters added to the CVT, gives you a slick ride. I still recommend the 5 speed manual if you want the most out of the GTS (and want to save about a grand), but the CVT is a fun toy that feels like it’s actually shifting (which it is not).
The only downside to the interior is the use of some rather cheap plastics and not quite enough sound deadening. I like the simple temperature controls and the excellent driving position. This is a great car for tall people or people with long legs as the center council is narrow and the foot well is acceptably wide. Backseat comfort is nice with enough room for two adults and one child (or two baby seats and one adult). Even the trunk is spacious and the rear seats fold down 60/40 for maximum utility – shamefully, not all cars in this bracket have that option.
When I first saw the new Lancer up close, I struggled to compare its looks to other cars. When I first drove the Lancers, I had that same dilemma. Then I remembered seeing a review in a European car magazine about the lovely Alfa Romeo 159. Yes, the Lancer looks quite a bit like one of the best looking, reasonably priced, European sedans out there.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same interior nor does it make the same sweet sounds as the Alfa Romeo. Still, shifting through the gears in the current GTS is downright gratifying. The same could be said for the base model DE. Steering feel is better than many cars in either bracket, Both of these models look great and I wager you could make a base model DE look incredible with some aftermarket wheels. On the other hand, the beefier suspension and standard features of the GTS are a compelling deal-maker.
When I drove the Mitsubishi Lancer DE around corners, it took a lot of prodding to get the car to over-steer. Once it did, recovery was as easy as removing my foot from the accelerator. Highway cruising was very nice and I felt fairly secure despite the wind and road noise. The taller side walls on the DE’s less aggressive rubber made for a better highway ride than the GTS. Also, the DE was just sporty enough to make things interesting in the bends.
The GTS is a bit more serious and feels great when driving fast. The lower profile tires made a little more noise and the steering was more sensitive than the DE, which aided in its upper level, sporting pretensions. It is nice to feel the road and the steering in the GTS did not disappoint. The additional 16 horsepower (168 horsepower) was not as apparent to me as the wider tires and tighter suspension. It felt just about as quick in town as the DE. Merging onto the highway and passing traffic was another story. Each one of those hidden ponies made their presence known. The GTS’s 0 to 60 times were about 7 and ½ seconds (with the DE about a second slower). 60 mph to 0 distances in the GTS were recorded in under a very good 116 feet.
You can get a well rounded base model DE for around $17,000 (they start under 14K) and if you go full tilt for the loaded GTS expect to pay around $24,000. Either way, you get a lot for the money. Consider this: the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo 4-Door LT, loaded with many options, will cost about $16,000. Now, that’s a 107 horsepower wee little Aveo. Not a terrible car, but you can forget about looking over your shoulder and smiling after a few days. The additional $1,000 for the base Lancer would be well worth it.
Adding to the aforementioned value is a 5 year, 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty along with a 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Not too shabby – and you get 5 year/unlimited mile roadside assistance to boot. Don’t forget the seven airbags that come standard (front, side, rear sides and a driver’s knee airbag). EPA estimates for both vehicles is around 22 city and 30 mpg highway – not too shabby.
Don’t be fooled by what you may have heard about the component sharing between Chrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. Yes, they do share several bits and bobs (even the co-developed 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder mill), but the execution of each project from each automaker follows a completely different philosophy. Look at it this way: The homely Compass might be slightly related to the Lancer – but so are wolves and Chihuahuas – and the Compass is no wolf!
Can you tell that I am impressed? The Lancers are one of those cars which makes its drivers look a little better, and that is a hell of a compliment considering what your average human can look like. This is also a car that caters equally to men and women. It’s great for a driving orientated person to take pride in. So, altogether – the new Lancers are nice driving cars covered in a sexy, masculine shell.
Lookin' good Mitsubishi!
Automotive media, racing, vehicle evaluation, wrecking yards, and car
sales are just a part of Nathan Adlen’s vehicular past. He writes out
of high octane passion! To read more reviews by Nathan Adlen or just to
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page HERE. Photos by: N.D
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