Fast Take: 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer SE AWC, Better Than The 2014 Model?

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer GT
Due to a photography SNAFU, this is not the SE, but rather the more expensive GT model. It looks mostly the same, kids.

The 2014 models are already for sale, but since much hasn’t really changed, you could save some dough by purchasing the last of 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer dealer inventory off the lot. Probably the most cheap economical feeling of any car in its class, the Lancer SE’s saving grace is optional all-wheel drive.

FAST TAKE STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP
2013 Mitsubishi Lancer SE $20,295 $22,640 164 HP
EPA Rating MPG City/Hwy As Tested MPG  
Rating: Buy It! 22/29 Combined 25 Combined 24

The hits:

  • Mitsubishi’s AWC (All Wheel Control, also known as all wheel drive) is a blast on fire roads and the slick stuff. Try having this much fun in a competing Toyota (Corolla), Honda (Civic) or Hyundai (Elantra). They are all only available in front wheel drive—and they are all boring.
  • The Premium Package ($1,550) was included on the test vehicle and gets you some niceties. Included are a sunroof, SiriusXM satellite radio, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a premium sound system by Rockford Fostgate.
  • The Rockford Fosgate audio system is LOUD. With 710 watts and 9 speakers (one of which is a 10-inch subwoofer). A similar system was outfitted in the Mitsubishi Outlander tested earlier this year, and while it’s loud, it’s not audiophile quality.
  • The 16-inch alloy wheels look sharp and perform well. On a spirited run through a partially paved back road, the standard all season tires wrapped over the alloys did a good job of gripping the shale rock road. Snow lovers will of course want to opt for some cold weather rubber.
  • The SE trim level affords you heated seats and side mirrors, a luxurious touch in a somewhat Spartan trim line.
  • The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and IIHS “Top Safety Pick” designation add a lot of value to this affordable runabout.

The misses:

  • The body style is getting a bit long in the tooth. The current styling cues were introduced in 2007. There have been slight tweaks to the appearance since then, but even the newest 2014 models appear to be carbon copies of its older brethren.
  • The trunk is on the smaller side, with 12.3-cubic feet of room equaling that of the 2013 Toyota Corolla (Toyota’s 2014 model has 13-cubic feet). The competing Hyundai Elantra (14.8-cubic feet) and Honda Civic (12.5-cubic feet) can simply fit more of your stuff.
  • The seats are extremely spongy and not supportive enough. The woven upholstery used to cover them feels very cheap to the touch and raises questions of durability over the long run. I’d suggest splurging on the available leather seating surface option.
  • The absence of a navigation system as standard on the SE’s price point leaves you wanting more. With such a cost conscious interior, it raises the question of where your dollars are going in the car.
  • CVT drones on and on. Other cars it competes with seem much quieter, with better acceleration. The amount of noise and vibration seeping though the vehicle at highway speeds seems quite high.
  • The EPA estimate of a combined 25-MPG is great—if it’s 2005. Pretty much all of the competition has it beat. Keep in mind this Lancer SE has AWC, so it’s not necessarily an apples to apples comparison since the competition is all in front-wheel drive only format.
  • You don’t get that much as standard at the SE trim level. The interior desperately cries for sprucing up in both cabin quality (fit, finish, tactile appeal) and technological innovation. Luckily, there is always the option—budget permitting—to splurge on the row-your-own Evolution X GSR model ($34,695), which affords you more horsepower (291-HP) than a $52,600 Porsche Cayman.

If you are like most Americans, you don’t need an all-wheel drive sedan. It’s a shame for the Lancer SE, as its four driven wheels are its most redeeming quality. If you do happen to be one of the few who are in the market for an all-wheel drive compact sedan, then on the TFLcar recommendation scale of …

– Buy it

– Lease it

– Rent it

– Forget it

I say, BUY IT!

It may seem confusing to read a review where there are more misses than hits with the vehicle, and the final recommendation is to actually buy the car. However, if you can find a 2013 model on the dealer lot, you’re sure to get a great price since most buyers will be opting for the 2014 model. It’s that cost savings, my friends, which is probably the biggest hit of them all.

 

Oh, if you like the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer, you’ll love this video of Roman in the 2012 model…

Ryan’s passion for automobiles began at age eight when his father brought home the quintessential sports car: A Guards Red, 1974 Porsche 911 Targa. Ever since, his free time has been consumed with following the latest developments of the automotive industry.