Review Mitsubishi Lancer ES
Even the starting price of Lancer ES immediately makes you think about the speed machine Evo X.
The special nose, toned body and improved quality keep the new Lancer away from the package and signal a major change for a company that sold Lancer earlier because it was cheap and fun.
This year’s Lancer was good enough to finish in the top four for Cars Cars of the Year.
It was a strong recommendation in a class filled with candidates and a surprisingly small number of pretenders.
The new body and nose design is a clear extension of the method that brought the world the benchmark score of Lancer Evolution X, promising to rewrite the records for Japanese pocket rockets despite the competition from Subaru. STi
There’s more cabin space, rugged bodywork and Mitsubishi promises class-leading safety with electronic stability control across the range, at least three and as many as seven airbags, and anti-slip systems.
Prices are pretty sharp, from $ 20,990, and there are three models, from the ES starter car to VRX, with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), at $ 31,490.
There’s a lot to like, but the Lancer’s 2.0-liter engine, even with variable valve timing, is a disappointment.
Some high-end cars have more road noise than we expect. But those are relatively small things.
Lancer has sold well over 380 locally produced and will be the star of the Adelaide-based brand.
It will bring sales, profits and confidence to the company and its agents, and it’s a big deal for a company to let their shoulders plummet before Rob McEniry comes to power the squad.
Everyone at Mitsubishi is committed to sourcing vehicles that provide the highest level of safety, security and comfort at the best price possible and Lancer does all that, according to Mc Mcnniry.
Over the next 18 months, we will introduce the rest of the Lancer family, including the new Evo X, then two other Ralliart sports variants, and finally the gorgeous Lancer hatchback lineup.
The new Lancer has been loaded for Australia, so even the ES has air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, with side airbags and optional blinds.
Moving up to VR brings additional airbags and six-disc CD audio, while VRX has 18-inch alloy wheels, paddle shifters and Rockford Fosgate premium audio.
On the road, the new Lancer is a huge change from the old car that takes a little time to adjust.
The spacious cabin, good quality, refinement is best in class, and it’s … simply nice to drive. The old car is affordable and honest, but that’s it.
I spent time in a few Lancers, an ES with a continuously variable Gearbox and manual VR, and enjoyed the base car.
It’s quieter, with a smoother ride, and simply more honest.
What the hell Well, VR is almost like the interface of the upcoming Evo X, but there’s no value for the excess. And that highlights the shortcomings of Lancer’s motives.
It only generates 113kW and that’s not good enough, even with CVT in basic ES, to keep it running at what engineers believe is its sweet spot. The CVT responds sharply to manual changes in the six-speed sport mode, but the engine is still quite lifeless. Another complaint is the digital display in the center of the dash, which has a reading function for watches, radios and trip computers.
It is invisible in sunlight and not much better in dappled light. It needs fixing. Not a Mitsubishi alone. Aston Martin has a similar problem and has a problem with screens in the Ford Mondeo.
Returning to the Lancer, the cabin has plenty of space for five adults, the seats are comfortable, the controls feel solid, of good quality and basic design. Parking visibility is pretty good, and headlights are good.
So it gets a lot of ticks and I think the ES is also pretty good value. But how does it evaluate against its rivals, because it’s real testing?
Not as sporty as the Ford Focus, or as classy as the Corolla, but it creates a nice balance between them. Mitsubishi also falls into the top small car category and is on any serious shopping list with the added advantage of standard basic safety.
On top of that, you will always be able to find a Lancer in a crowded parking lot of all my other too small cars.
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