Tell me your memories of the Mitsubishi Lancer, and I’ll have a good indication of how old you are. If you think the Box Type is the sexiest car ever made, you’re approaching middle age. If your favorite is the Pizza Pie, then you’re just about ready to settle down and get married. If your eyes mist over the “L-type,” then you’re probably reading this over a bowl of oatmeal and carrot juice. Now if you think that the Lancer GTi was the greatest compact sedan ever launched in the Philippines, does Mitsubishi have a car for you.
Love or hate them, you can’t deny that each generation of Lancer was quite distinct from its predecessor. The problem was: in the 2000s, the Lancer was in danger of falling into irrelevance. It was a wanna-be, envious of the Corolla’s refinement and the Sentra’s boatload of luxury features. Add to those woes: an utterly forgettable face and narcoleptic driving manners, and it became relegated to also-ran status.
Mitsubishi’s product planners seem to have woken from their long slumber and finally produced a Lancer that’s ready to set trends instead of following them.
Wisely, Mitsubishi’s stylists decided to pen the Evolution first, then de-volve the standard Lancer from that. Previously, the lumpy standard model came first, then adding the fender bulges and rear wing produced the Evolution look (and countless body kits). Result of the new approach: the standard car actually turns heads and gains nods of appreciation. That’s particularly true of the GT and GT-A models, which sport chin spoilers, side skirts, and huge rear wings. It’s a glorious throwback to the days of the GTi.
The Lancer EX, as this model is known (the previous model carries on in an inexplicable bit of cover-all-the-bases marketing), has the same tail-up, nose-down stance and beady stare. Those eyes aren’t just for looks; the lenses house HID main beams with an adaptive lighting system that helps illuminate corners.
The huge opening in the front bumper implies the presence of an intercooler, but, as with the GTI, there’s a normally-aspirated inline-four tucked under the hood. Massive eighteen-inchers fill out the wheel wells. There’s a trunk-mounted wing that’s been nicked from a Cessna.
With the 1990s era GTi, Lancer had only a 1.5 liter 12-valve versus the competitions’ 1.6 liter 16-valve engines. This time, Mitsubishi has installed a competitive 2.0 liter inline-4 with dual overhead cams and 16 valves activated by MIVEC variable valve timing. The output is a competitive 153 hp and 199 Nm. A healthy dollop of torque arrives as the engine spins past 3000 rpm. Unfortunately, the engine sounds subdued and almost apologetic. There’s no hint of the growl to be had from a VTEC or a flat-four.
For this test, we drove the manual version, with a classic five-speed configuration. The shift action is smooth and confident. The stubby gear lever is a bit of a reach from the steering wheel by today’s standards. Clutch action is light and easy to modulate.
Thanks to its sharp lines and truncated edges, the Lancer looks compact, but it has grown from the previous model. In Japan, it’s known as the Galant Fortis, and that gives a clue as to its more upscale aspirations. Inside, it’s almost as roomy as the Galant GTi of a decade ago. There’s comfortable space for two in the back seat. Three is tight because of the hump that remains in the floor.
All-black interior schemes tend to look too serious, but this one suits the Lancer’s sporty nature just fine. To liven things up, there’s a printed metal strip that spans the dashboard and continues along the door lining. In a neat touch, the trim’s shape echoes the crease on the outer door. The integrated stereo loses the Rockford Fosgate-branded subwoofer of the top variant, but Aux input for iPod is retained. Music quality is adequate but won’t really challenge your home setup. The driver’s seat feels properly supportive, but on the negative side, the steering wheel doesn’t telescope—it adjusts for rake only. Despite that, the seating position feels comfortable.
Some bits of the interior we have seen before, in the Outlander. And they are quite good bits. The twin deep-binnacle gauges are clear and easy to read. The orange and white numbers and hash marks look crisp, especially at night. Rotary controls for the aircon seem quaint, but they activate an automatic climate control system.
Of greater importance is the other bit borrowed from the Outlander: its platform. This gives the Lancer a wide stance, long wheelbase, and sporty driving demeanor. The Lancer is receptive to quick changes in direction. Handling is secure, thanks to the grippy Yokohama Advans, the widest in this class. There’s a touch of torque steer if blasting off from standstill, but the tires seem to find their groove once on the move. Despite the 45-series rubber, bumps and unruly road surfaces are tamed by the all-independent suspension. The stiff chassis also prevents any quaking and uncomfortable motions due to our pockmarked roads.
The beefy rubber also benefits the braking. The Lancer’s brake pedal is firm and easy to modulate (Said pedals are aluminum with anti-slip rubber inserts.) ABS is standard, as are dual airbags. The class-topping CVT version gets seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knees.
Is the Lancer enough to save Mitsubishi? Perhaps not in the Philippines, where the compact sedan has been steadily eaten up by subcompacts, SUVs and MPVs. Still, having an attractive entry in the segment is a must. The Outlander-Grandis-Lancer trio neatly supports the L200-Montero Sport; together, the five make a formidable lineup.
There’s no mistaking Mitsubishi’s intention for the Lancer. Every bit of it screams sports sedan, from the body trim to the huge wing that’s visible every time you glance rearward. No longer is it trying to be all things to all people. It’s not the roomiest, the softest or the most refined compact. (Since Mitsu announced a price increase, it’s certainly not the cheapest.) But it is the meanest-looking new sedan out there. It’s a welcome return to form from one of the veterans of the segment. The best thing is: function follows form. Expect no boring drives in this one.
By Jason K. Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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