Mitsubishi Lancer ES Sedan 2008 Review

RRP: $20,990 (manual)
Price as tested: $22,390 (alloy wheels $1400)
Crash rating: Five-star (NHSTA)
Fuel: unleaded
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.7
CO2 emissions (g/km): 182 (manual)
Also consider: Ford Focus (more here), Renault Megane (more here), Toyota Corolla (more here), Mazda3 (more here).

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0

About our ratings

Factor in the uniform global cost of materials, the higher cost base and the full duty that the Japanese-built Lancer attracts compared to its Thai or South African-built rivals, and $20,990 seems too cheap considering its extra size and long feature list. The bottom line therefore is whether you can live with those areas where Mitsubishi has obviously needed to draw the line.

What you get on first appearances is impressive. The Lancer is 4570mm long, 1760mm wide, 1490mm high on a wheelbase of 2635mm compared to the latest Corolla sedan's figures of 4540, 1760, 1475 and 2600mm respectively. Apart from length, these figures are so close to those for a 1978-88 Commodore it doesn't matter.

That therefore makes the Lancer the same size as Australia's best-selling six-cylinder family cars before they grew after 1966.

The Lancer is one of several new releases that are making their 'small car' classifications something of a misnomer and explains why sales are having an impact on a wide range of traditional choices.

Its efficient 2.0-litre engine delivers 113kW and 198Nm which not only outguns its closest rivals by a fair margin, but is within a single kilowatt of the Nissan six in the VL Commodore, even if torque is 49Nm short. Its 1305kg weight is within five kilograms of the VL Commodore's base weight which is why the Lancer feels so lively and solid for a 'small' car.

Its 7.7L/100km combined fuel figure which we achieved on test frequently, is outstanding in this context.

Mitsubishi dealers report that buyers love the looks of this new Lancer and are spending up big on options and higher-grade models. This is in contrast to previous generations of Lancers which typically attracted bargain basement buyers who begrudged spending another cent on a purchase that carried so little emotion.

The tone set by the latest Lancer's Alfa-like rear styling and EVO-esque front are carried into the cabin with a stylish twin-domed binnacle with a large and legible speedo and tachometer.

Look closer, however, and you'll notice there is neither a temperature gauge nor fuel gauge. Fuel tank contents are recorded by a narrow bar graph in the corner of the small display between the main gauges.

You can get used to it but in terms of monitoring fuel level over a trip, it is a long way short of a clear, analogue gauge as the readings are too coarse and it takes more than a glance to work out exactly what's in the tank. When it takes some time before the bars in the graph register each drop in fuel level, it will also take some discipline not to run out of fuel.

It is a variation of the equally silly system in the latest Mini which arranges similar bar readouts in a semi-circle that lose all relativity at night.

This less-is-not-more detailing unfortunately extends through the cabin. There is a complete level of wasted space between the central sound system controls and the HVAC controls (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning) which other makers use to house cupholders and storage compartments. Storage throughout the cabin is well below the average for this class.

The low dash profile may cut costs and look trendy but it also dictates vertical centre vents that point airflow straight at the driver's left hand. Although there is a driver's left footrest, a fat Australian left foot will catch it while operating the clutch pedal as footwell space is tight -- a growing issue as engineers chase extra crash strength.

Mitsubishi cabin plastics have taken a step backwards (something also apparent in the new Outlander). The Lancer alas has an almost grim industrial feel throughout the cabin. The hard dash surfaces seemed to attract unusually high levels of dust and fluff during the test.

Seats front and rear are better than you would expect at the price and are quite comfortable over longer distances, which this car is quite capable of without working up a sweat. This makes the next shortfall a real disappointment.

The base level 16-inch wheels with 60 profile tyres generate a better ride than expected in this price range. The RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) safety body shell translates into noticeable body integrity over choppy or rough surfaces where it feels strong, a sense reinforced by the above average suspension compliance. However, Mitsubishi at ES level at least appears to have skimped on noise insulation to the point where on some coarse chip surfaces, the road roar is unacceptable. This must be really frustrating for local Mitsubishi engineers when the local 380 rejected by buyers was a real benchmark in this area.

Most previous Lancers had a noise path somewhere between the rear seats and doors which even allowed the whir of the rear wheel bearings to creep into the cabin. The volume seemed to go up or down with the dollar as Mitsubishi added or cut insulation to match the price. This new Lancer carries on this tradition with a similar level of noise creeping in through the front. It is enough to make you think twice before heading off on a long trip.

If you have ever had to listen to the twang of a bouncing basketball outside your window on a lazy Sunday morning, you will feel at home in the Lancer. While it rides well, the constant sound of the tyres twanging as they hit each change in surface can create the impression that it doesn't.

Although handling may not be as crisp and grip not as high as some would like on the standard 16-inch wheel package, the Lancer has a fairly neutral stance and reasonable safety margins for the average driver especially with the standard Active Stability Control (Mitsubishi's ESP). Make use of the outstanding manual gear shift to exploit the powerful, willing engine and the Lancer can be good fun and safe as the tyres gently, but noisily, telegraph any loss of grip well before things get untidy.

The boot is spacious thanks in part to a space saver spare. It can be easily extended with the 60:40 fold down rear seats even if they don't create a flat luggage platform.

That leaves the base Lancer with most safety acronyms, RISE, AST, ATC, ABS, EBD, EBA, two front airbags and one knee bag with the option of side and curtain airbags -- not bad for $20,990. Yet they still might not be enough to compensate for the elevated road noise especially if you must travel on coarse or repaired road surfaces.

A set of quality Australian tyres might cut road roar but if the lack of insulation is the real cause, they might not be enough. It would be hard to assess how much Mitsubishi has saved in this area but the Lancer ES is more than good enough to carry a $500 premium if it delivered 380 levels of cabin noise.

As it stands, the Lancer at base level is a very good car with a shortfall in refinement that will matter more to some than others. When a couple of hundred dollars worth of sound deadening and/or tyre quality is all that stands between very good and a standout class leader, it is a reflection of the advances made in the new model.

Because Mitsubishi has been well aware of these shortfalls, expect the company to deliver several more expensive and more refined Lancer levels to supplement the base ES sooner rather than later to fill the gap left by the local 380's exit.

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