Mitsubishi re-entered the scene using a traditional global name that's new to us: Lancer. Replacing the nearly invisible Mirage, the new-for-2002 namesake accompanied an increase in space (graduating from "subcompact" to "compact") and a throwaway of the old, anemic engines. The Lancer should serve as adequate for most people's needs, but to an even greater degree than the Mazda, the Lancer's sportiness is proportional to price.
Its four levels of stratification start with the Lancer ES. Reflecting today's higher standards, even that gets you air conditioning, a 140-watt CD player, and power windows and locks, but it skimps on the hardware. Forward motivation is provided by a 2.0 engine pumping out 120 horsepower - rather modest even for a base model, and at 60 horses per liter, not very efficient. Wheels are 14-inchers wearing 185/65-14 tires. A rear stabilizer bar is missing. Rear brakes are drums. Sounds pretty ‘90s.
The Lancer LS - the one trim line for which an automatic is mandatory - doesn't go or stop any better, but turning should be sharper thanks to the adding of a rear bar and swapping the wheels/tires for wider, lower-profile 195/60-15s. Features-wise, it provides two extra speakers, cruise control, keyless entry, folding rear seat, a sunroof, and the option to save your hide with antilock brakes and side air bags.
The Lancer O-Z Rally adds nothing, takes away the hole in the roof (it's still an option), and removes the safety options. All you get in return are specially-styled wheels, a spoiler, ground effects, smoked headlights, riced-out taillights, interior metal trim, and white-faced gauges - all yours for $800. It's strictly for show.
If you want go, you'll need to step into the new-for-04 Ralliart. At last, a real engine: horsepower and torque each hit 162, partly thanks to MIVEC intake valve timing. A rear stabilizer bar, a slightly larger front one, four disc brakes (with antilock standard), a front strut tower brace, 205/50-16 tires, a shorter-throw manual shifter, and firmer shock settings collaborate to make things interesting. All that's left to add are a sunroof, 315-watt Infinity stereo, and side air bags. The new Lancer Sportback wagon, available in LS and Ralliart trims, is mechanically equivalent to the Ralliart sedan, save the LS's lack of the strut tower brace.
The Ralliart sure is a lot of car, sometimes in measurable ways. With an automatic Ralliart tipping the scales at almost 2,900 pounds, the Lancer sets the upper limit of obesity in the lightweight league. It's also longer than any foreigner at 180.5 inches, yet interior size is merely on par with the rest. Fortunately, its other outstanding number is its warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles for the powertrain. The main warranty, like most others, runs out after 3/36K, but extra insurance on a car's most expensive components should bring some peace of mind.
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