Mitsubishi Lancer 2008 review

But being the middle child in the Lancer sports family has never been so good because like the VRX and hot-shot Evolution X, the turbocharged Ralliart Lancer all-wheel drive is an amalgam of all that's good about its siblings.

Available as a sedan or hatch — Sportback in Mitsubishi speak — the Ralliart is aimed squarely at the Subaru WRX, as well as the Golf GTi, Astra SRi turbo, and Ford Focus XR5.

In the 11-model Lancer line-up it sits between the mild-mannered 2.4-litre VRX and the uber-hot turbo-charged 2.0-litre Evolution.

Mitsubishi hopes enthusiasts who aspire to the $59,490 Evolution but are guided by their hip-pockets, will settle on the Ralliart, which costs $42,490.

Mitsubishi's manager, product strategy, Chris Maxsted, says the turbo Ralliart is a strategic car for the brand.

"Particularly as it's available as a sedan and hatch," he says.

Like the Impreza WRX, having a choice of body styles will appeal to a broader range of buyers, he says.

"The hatch looks more sporty but the Ralliart sedan looks like the Evo sedan so it will appeal to a few wannabe Evo owners," he says.

Maxsted sees the Ralliart as is neither a hotter VRX, nor a despecced Evo.

"It carries elements of both in specifications but it's a unique car, a unique model," he says.

The mild-mannered Ralliart shares a detuned version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled twin-cam four-cylinder engine from the Evolution.

Despite being retuned, the engine still delivers plenty of punch with 177kW at 6000 revs and 343Nm at 4750 revs, down 50kW and 23Nm over the Evo.

A single-scroll lower boost turbocharger replaces the twin-scroll unit of the Evo.

But like the Evo, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder is mated to a Getrag-sourced six-speed twin clutch sport shift transmission (TC-SST), complete with steering wheel paddle shifters.

In its Ralliart application, the TC-SST offers two driving modes, Normal and Sport, losing the track-ready S-sport mode.

The Ralliart's sports suspension is similar to the VRX but gets thick stabliliser bars and the sedan gets fold down rear seats in place of the bracing of the Evo.

Then there's the Evo's aluminium bonnet, active centre differential all-wheel drive system and a mechanical limited slip differential rather than the Evo's electronic yaw control rear differential.

"In essence, the Ralliart driveline is probably like the Evo VIII," Maxsted says.

Mitsubishi is aware some drivers may prefer the five-speed manual, but it is not expected to be available in the short term, according to Maxsted.

But he has not ruled it out longer term.

"Autos account for about 30 per cent of the high-performance small car market," he says.

"I think the market will move to which is the better transmission."

Externally both the sedan and hatch gain some distinct styling and enhancements above the VRX.

Inside, the Ralliart gets distinctive "Ralliart" sports trim, aluminium pedals, three-way adjustable front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and climate control air conditioning.

Stand-alone options include the high performance $750 Rockford Fosgate stereo while metallic or pearlescent paint is $350.

The Rockford Fosgate system can also be packaged with a sunroof for $2350 as well as the sunroof and navigation system for $4750.

Driving

Have a go with the Lancer Ralliart and you wonder why any self-respecting performance enthusiast would bother with a manual gearbox.

The TC-SST transmission, similar to Porsche's PDK twin-clutch, is a joy to use and provides enough excitement in "sports" mode to keep all but the most diehard turbo hot-rodder engaged.

Unlike some twin-clutch arrangements, the six-speed gearbox is smooth around town, seamlessly preselecting gears.

It mates well with the turbo four but things do not really start happening until you're beyond 2500 revs.

This may have something to do with the move to a single scroll turbocharger in place of the Evo's twin-scroll unit because in full automatic operation, the Lancer needs some revs on board to give its best.

Once above 2500 revs though the bells and whistles start singin' and ringin' in the sweet revving four.

The Ralliart will quickly reach double-demerit points territory in a flash.

Settle down to some highway cruising though and the car is stable and surefooted and quiet inside.

Only some wind-rush from the exterior mirrors interrupts the cabin's ambience.

In the twisty bits, there is plenty of steering feedback, reassuring turn-in and both the sedan and hatch remain neutral whether under full power or brakes.

Visually, both the Ralliart sedan and hatch are tidy cars and an exercise in discretion.

The body kit is subdued, the air intakes blend into the bonnet and the 18-inch alloys, shared with the VRX, look good.

Only the sedan's high-set spoiler upsets the visual harmony, and restricts rear visibility.

The hatch is also 2mm shallow than the sedan but rear headroom and legroom remains good. The hatch's versatile 60/40 split flat folding seats and nifty release mechanism from the boot will appeal to many.

From the rear doors forward both the hatch and sedan are the same.

Overall, the Lancer Ralliart has a well-sorted chassis and in some respects more liveable than the full-blown Evo and more exciting than the garden-variety VRX.

That's exactly what Mitsubishi set out to achieve.

MODELS Sportback and sedan