2008 Lancer GTS: maybe Mitsubishi will be sticking around after all

When I'm choosing a car, handling is my top priority, following by the feel of the primary controls. When I drove and reviewed the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart a few years ago, I was thoroughly impressed these aspects of it. And yet I'd never consider buying one. The exterior styling and interior ambiance, though not among my top priorities, were that bad.

For 2008 Mitsubishi has managed to totally redesign the Lancer despite its iffy corporate health. Have they retained the old Lancer's strengths while eliminating its weaknesses? I took the current top-of-the-line car, the GTS, for a spin to find out.

Styling

The Mitsubishi Lancer is still no beauty, at least not to my eyes, but it's far, far more attractive than the dated, thoroughly artless old design. The lines are a mix of Volvo S40 and Acura TSX, which I also find at best marginally attractive. But those cars start out at about twice the starting price of the Lancer, and they look it. So while the new Lancer's design might not be striking or original--that would be the Honda Civic Si--it does make the car look considerably more expensive than it is. Also notable: unlike with past efforts, Mitsubishi has restrained itself from adding bizarre details to the design. This one's clean.

The GTS looks better than other Lancers, courtesy of a body kit and 18-inch multispoke alloys (other Lancers get 16s).

Inside the Lancer is clearly no $25,000 car, but then it doesn't look or feel ultra-cheap anymore, either. Materials and workmanship are nearly on par with those in the Mazda3, which is the class leader in this respect (unless the more expensive VWs are considered part of this class). Just about everything has a solid, quality feel. Like the exterior design, the interior styling is clean and functional, without the excesses that have often marked Mitsubishis in recent years.

Accommodations

The pillars are fairly thick, the windshield is raked, and the seating position doesn't put sightlines well above the instrument panel. Put it all together, and the new Mitsubishi Lancer feels like a larger, more upscale car than the old one. Which is fitting, since it is.

The GTS gets sport buckets, and they're fantastic. Lateral support is much better than in most compacts, and the firm padding is appropriate for a sport sedan. Best of all, the seats in no way feel insubstantial, undersized, or cheap. The thick leather-wrapped steering wheel similarly conveys that this isn't just another compact.

The back seat is about average for compacts these days, which means there's decent but not great room and comfort for adults. At 11 cubic feet trunk volume is a bit below average for a compact sedan, but still serviceable. The rear seat folds to enlarge it.

On the Road

Until a new Ralliart and Evo are introduced, all Mitsubishi Lancers are powered by the same engine, a 2.0-liter DOHC four good for 152 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. This engine can be paired with either a five-speed manual or a CVT (continuously variable transmission). In the GTS, the latter can be manually shifted through six fixed ratios using a pair of paddles affixed to the steering column.

The GTS I drove was fitted with the 2.0 and CVT. The engine was weak, loud, wheezy, and thoroughly unsuited for sport sedan duty. It's easily the weakest aspect of the car. While 152 horsepower is a respectable output for a 2.0-liter, the new Lancer has gained a couple hundred pounds. With the GTS CVT tipping the scales at an Accord-like 3,100 pounds, a 2.0 just isn't going to cut it. The old Ralliart was powered by a 2.4, and that engine would be much more appropriate in the new GTS.

I did like the magnesium paddle shifters, which have a quality feel. Unlike most, these shifters not turn when the wheel is turned, so they're always easy to find when you need an unshift or downshift.

The steering is not as communicative as that in the old Ralliart, and the feel through the wheel is less direct. But it's still better than most, with a sport sedan level of heft to it and good weighting. Turn-in isn't as quick as before, but is still quick.

Then again, I drove a Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia right before driving the Lancer. They're huge and weigh nearly twice as much, so the Lancer better feel agile in comparison. It does, but the extra width and mass over the old Ralliart do take their toll.

The ride is very firm and tightly controlled but not harsh, much as you'll find in a BMW sedan fitted with the sport suspension. The body structure feels solid. Other Lancers, with their higher profile tires, no doubt iron out minor road imperfections better than the GTS. But I did not find the GTS' ride disagreeable, aside from a bit of busyness at highway speeds. Noise levels are moderate, much like a Civic or Mazda3.

Mitsubishi Lancer Price Comparisons and Pricing

Compared to a Mazda3s Touring, the Lancer GTS lists for about $750 less. At invoice the difference is closer to $400. Adjusting for the Mitsubishi's higher level of content widens the gaps to $1,100 and $700, respectively. The Mitsubishi has a much longer warranty, while the Mazda has a larger, stronger engine lugging less weight. So I think they're cutting the price a bit close to the established segment leader.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Mitsubishi Lancer:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Lancer.php

Last Words

Unlike the old one, the new Mitsubishi Lancer now looks and feels at least as expensive as it is, and even a bit more. Some agility has been lost, but most people will readily trade this for the much more solid and polished feel of the new car. The seats and suspension tuning are worthy of a premium sports sedan. The paddle shifters are among the best I've found at any price.

And yet the new Lancer retains a fatal flaw: 2.0-liter fours simply aren't sufficient in 3,000-pound sport sedans, and this particular four sounds overworked, buzzy, and wheezy. It can't begin to deliver on the promises made by the body kit, wheels, seats, and paddle shifters.

I'd have an easier time recommending the new Lancer in a lesser, and less ambitious, trim level. But it sporty GTS trim it's not quite there.

No fear, new Ralliarts and Evos are coming. They will pair the good bits of the new Lancer GTS with much more worthy turbocharged engines. I certainly look forward to driving and almost certainly recommending them.

A Note on Mitsubishi Lancer Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a Lancer rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Mitsubishi Lancer reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need reliability data on all cars--not just the Lancer--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.