Mitsubishi Lancer
There are two distinct models in the Mitsubishi Lancer line-up: The sensible standard car, plus the high performance Evolution X. The former is available as a four-door saloon or practical five-door Sportback hatchback, and is offered with a 1.8-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel sourced from Volkswagen. It offers plenty of kit for a decent price, but fails to match class leaders for interior quality or driving thrills. However, the Evolution X saloon combines speed and thrills like no rival. With its wild body kit and unapologetic focus on performance, it offers few compromises – and has a very firm ride. There are a variety of models offering different levels of performance, with the most expensive versions boasting up to 360bhp. All are riotously quick and make every trip an event. However, underneath the genuinely supercar-like performance it's a reliable and relatively practical four-door saloon.
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- pros:
- Jaw-dropping acceleration
- Masses of grip around corners
- You'll be noticed
- cons:
- Hugely uncomfortable suspension
- Outrageous running costs
- Cabin quality is shamed by most superminis
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, or ‘Evo’ as it's known, takes all of Mitsubishi's motorsport know-how and puts it on the road. The Evo used to have an equal in the Subaru Impreza, but that car has become a more practical family-oriented hatchback of late. The Evo is one of the harshest and most uncomfortable cars on the road, but every version, from entry-level FQ300 to top-spec FQ360, boasts performance that can be matched by few rivals - you’ll feel like a rally driver even when cruising at 20mph.
There are no prices & specs for this edition
- pros:
- Impressive space for passengers
- Long standard kit list
- Cheap price-tag
- cons:
- Noisy engine choices
- Bouncy suspension
- Not as engaging as rivals
The Mitsubishi Lancer hatchback, called the Lancer Sportback, is a spacious alternative to family cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. Despite Mitsubishi's reputation for producing rally-inspired performance models, this Lancer is actually less engaging to drive than the Ford or the Volkswagen. Its soft suspension means that while it's easy to drive, it's not very exciting. The aggressive front end may not be to everyone's tastes either.
