Mitsubishi Lancer Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer ES Sport with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Mitsubishi Lancer GSR Sportback, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Mitsubish's Evo needs no introduction. A long time favourite with boy racers, there won't be too many boys that can afford the $65,000 price tag that comes with the top of the line MR SST model.

Slicing up the world rally championship circuits gave Mitsubishi's Lancer an incredible sales kick.

Kia Cerato and Mitsubishi Lancer LX go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Mitsubishi Lancer is a small to medium Japanese car designed and made to a high quality, making it one of the leaders in the reliability stakes.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

The pundits argue about which era within the World Rally Championship was its golden age, but there's no doubt it produced some epic machines. Audi's original quattro, the Lancia Stratos and Delta Integrale, Ford's RS brigade and Subaru's WRX and Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution series are all among the pool of talented vehicles spawned for loose surface competition.Sadly, many of those manufacturers are now no longer in it to win it. The company has trimmed the price and upped the spec, but what's it like to live with one of these highly-strung rally weapons. Short answer - easy.While it starts at $56,990 for the five-speed manual version, we're in the MR twin-clutch automated manual model, which asks for $65,990.The Evolution MR's features list is not spartan - leather trim, front racing bucket seats, alloy paddleshifters, a  height-only(!!?!!) adjustable sports leather-wrapped steering wheel (as well as cruise and phone controls), heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, climate control, automatic xenon headlights with cornering lamps, 18in BBS alloy wheels, a top-spec 9-speaker sound system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a rear view camera (displaying on the 7in touch screen), with voice activated 3D satnav.The Evo still packs a decent wallop, despite having been around for a while - it has an intercooled and turbocharged 2-litre variable-valve double overhead cam powerplant producing 217kW at 6500 rpm and 366Nm of torque at 3500rpm.It's a cast aluminium block (the old two-litre turbo was cast-iron) and it has reverted to an old-school timing chain as opposed to a belt; there's variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts and the turbo responds 20 per cent quicker, says Mitsubishi.All that grunt without serious thirst too - the Mitsi claim is 10.1 litres per 100km and despite some enthusiastic efforts, the trip computer was showing 11.5 on the test car. Getting all that to ground is the all-wheel drivetrain overseen by a number of clever electronic systems - imaginatively named Super All Wheel Control - starting with an active centre differential with modes for bitumen, unsealed roads and snow.The system also deals with the active stability control to keep the desired driving line, with “Super Active Yaw Control” distributes drive between the rear wheels to fire the little rally rocket out of corners with gusto.Striking but not what you'd call pretty or handsome, it's based on a shopping-trolley sedan, the Evo has bracing bits and body add-ons to upgrade its looks and strength. The big rear spoiler looks the goods but interrupts the rear vision dramatically - not ideal when you're often looking out for particular types of vehicles behind you.The rest of the bodykit and extra vents betray the intent of the vehicle, but don't make it impractical to use day-to-day, with little grinding of body bits into the bitumen. The cabin is typical of the donor car's segment - enough room for Mum and Dad and a couple of offspring, but leave the kitchen sink at home.Bootspace is impeded for the sake of bass response - a subwoofer inhabits the left-hand side cubby of the claimed 400 litres of loadspace, so forget a full-sized set of golf clubs in the boot.Cooking versions of the Lancer score five stars when the full complement of airbags are fitted so there's no reason why you wouldn't expect the Evo to rank similarly. We've already touched on the clever all-wheel drive set-up, which teams with stability control, but there's also anti-lock braking for the massive Brembo stoppers.The 18in wheels cover 350mm front ventilated lightweight two-piece discs with four-pot calipers, with 330mm rear discs and two-pot calipers. The airbag count is seven - dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, as well as one for the driver’s knees.Don't be fooled by the relatively demure road manners, this is a vicious machine. Rolling quietly out of the Mitsubishi carpark, the firm ride quality is apparent, but the Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs help to take the hard edge off remarkably well. Leaving the gearbox in full auto Normal mode, the shift quality is quick and smooth but prone to holding a high gear a little longer than is ideal and is not as intuitive as more recent double-clutchers sampled.Sport mode goes a bit too far in the other direction and Super Sport mode (which needs to be selected before moving) is aggressive. Manual changes in the latter are brutal, with less regard for reducing shift shock than other modes. Steering is light but direct, although my personal preference would be for a bit more meat and a little less assistance. Getting away from standstill with intent is not difficult - the Evo gathers pace with incredible ease, but it's when the corners come that it excels.Brush the Brembos, turn in, fire out - no mess, no fuss, just another recommended corner speed sign made redundant. You'll need to hit a racetrack or risk the low-profile road rubber on dirt to shake it loose, but even then you'll be working hard. There's a five-speed manual on offer in some models, not in the flagship MR sadly, but a slick six-speeder as a special-order option would be nice.

While not quite the forgotten child of the small car segment, Mitsubishi's Lancer has been swamped by a horde of new product.The Japanese brand is looking to put its contender back on shopping lists with a sharply-priced mid-spec model, the LX - available in manual and continuously-variable transmission (for $26,240), we are in the $23,990 manual model.The LX  is based on the entry-level ES but adds Bluetooth (which has voice activation and audio streaming), climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls (but tilt-only adjustment), as well as a new touch-screen USB-equipped (although it's well hidden) sound system that also displays the view from the reversing camera.Also fitted to the LX are rear parking sensors, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver's seat, leather trim, 16in alloy wheels, side skirts, some chrome trim bits, keyless entry and ignition.It's not bringing any cutting edge bits to market, but the Lancer has the brand's staple MIVEC variable intake valve lift and timing system within the 110kW/197Nm alloy two-litre engine, as well as a reversing camera, which works well enough but looks a little tacked-on.The touchscreen sound system has Bluetooth audio and phone controls, although you appear to have to use the voice control to pair and set up a Bluetooth phone link, rather than also having the option of completing the task on the touchscreen.The familiar snout of the three-diamond brand is, like much of its range, over due - by the company's own admission - for an update, having been around since late 2008.To some eyes it still looks sharp enough but not as pretty as some of its main opposition, the hard-charging Mazda3 sales juggernaut among the more aesthetically-pleasing small car list that also includes both Korean brands.The cabin has enough space for the nuclear family and their gear - boot size at 400 litres is better than some bigger sedans.One of the first small cars to gather a five-star NCAP rating, the LX has seven airbags - front, front-side, curtain and one for the driver's knee - as well as stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes and emergency brake assist.The little manual Lancer was far from the drudgery some expect from this segment, but it is showing its age.The two-litre engine is lively and a little more flexible than the numbers suggest, as well as being close to its ADR fuel use figure - we finished with a figure of 7.9l/100km.The five-speed manual might be a cog short of the segment leaders (Mazda's 3 has a six-speed manual), it's a decent gearbox to use - not super-swift of shift and the clutch took some familiarisation, but my personal preference for a manual over an automatic (or in the Lancer's case a continuously-variable transmission) wasn't undermined by the Lancer's gearbox.The cabin is a comfortable occupant space, with climate control and heated front seats keeping the temperature settled - it's not overdone in terms of design flair and won't be to all tastes, just like the exterior.Foibles are few - the USB port is tough to find, tilt-only adjustment for the steering and the Bluetooth link can be a little fussy to complete, but it was nimble and rode well enough that the rugrats didn't complain.

Mitsubishi Australia’s introduction of the keenly priced Mirage five-door hatchback has rekindled interest in the larger and more luxurious Mitsubishi Lancer range of cars. The Lancer is significantly bigger than the Mirage, and is a size down on the now defunct Mitsubishi 380 sedan.While the Mirage is aimed at those looking for a suburban car, the Lancer can make long country trips with ease. In these times of downsizing, the Lancer has to some extent filled the slot left by the much-missed 380. Unless the kids are large teenagers Lancer owners tell us their cars are large enough suit their needs.Mitsubishi’s Lancer which starts at from $19,990 is built to a high quality and has earned a well deserved reputation for running for year after year without missing a beat.The semi-sporty Lancer VRX (from $29,990) that was our road test car for the last week has the convenience of Bluetooth, steering wheel controls and a smart key, so is bang up to date despite the fact that it’s been on the Australian market for over five years.Typically the Lancer’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will use about seven to nine litres per hundred kilometres on motorways and in gentle cruising on flattish roads. Around town this is likely to rise to nine to eleven litres per hundred. These are good numbers for a mid-sized car with good interior volume.The manual gearbox felt a bit on the notchy side at first, but we found that we soon settled into its way of doing things and liked the semi-sporting feel it provides.There's the option of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which is likely to be the choice of a large number of buyers. Like all CVTs it can be an acquired taste, but once you’re used to its different operation, particularly the droning sound it produces under hard acceleration, you will probably cease to notice it’s different to a conventional automatic.Lancer’s front seats are well shaped and spacious enough for all but the largest of Aussie backsides. They provide decent support for moderately hard cornering and are easy to get in and out of.The back seat can accept three adults, but is better suited to two and a child. Legroom is good without being outstanding and it will be necessary for those in the front to move their seats forward if there are tall people back there.The cabin has plenty of stowage areas for the bottles, mobile phones and assorted bits and pieces we all tend to carry around these days.The small-medium Mitsubishi’s boot can take a handy amount of luggage and it can be expanded by flipping down the split-fold rear seats. These are fitted across the complete Lancer range. As well as the sedan we tested, Mitsubishi Lancer is also offered as a stylish hatchback.Lancer’s body styling is significantly different to its many competitors in what is one of the toughest of all vehicles classes in Australia. The stylists have given it a front that slants forwards rather than backwards in a manner we really like. A neat lower air dam and bold bonnet creases that flow into the A-pillars give it a neat and purposeful look. The squared off shape of the rear bumper and the way it tapers around visually shortens the overhang.Inside, the double-domed instrument binnacle and deep dial cluster work well both from an aesthetic and ergonomic point of view. The dash trim has a soft touch that gives it a feeling of substance, again making it feel like a larger more upmarket car than it really is.Stability and traction controls were specified by Mitsubishi Australia as standard in the Lancer for quite some time before they became mandatory in this country.The Lancer sits confidently flat when you drive it around corners with a bit of verve. However, there is a less than compliant ride at times when you hit rough bush roads. The suspension is relatively firm so probably won’t please everybody. We suggest you take a Lancer for a decent test drive on suitable roads to see what you think.Lancer’s steering is well-weighted and responsive and driving enthusiasts will enjoy the experience in what is after all a practical family sedan. Those who enjoy their driving will appreciate the control the suspension offers and, while you really wouldn't call it a sports sedan, it comes closer than you might expect.And if you've got upwards of $56,990 to spend you can get behind the wheel of a Lancer Evo, a machine with a huge amount of performance.