MITSUBISHI Lancer Sportback road tests and consumer car reviews

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Lancer Hatchback 1.5 GS2 Manual 2010

Mitsubishi Lancer Hatchback 1.5 GS2 Manual With sporty styling, keen pricing and a motor sports ’halo’ provided by the forthcoming Lancer Evolution X, the tenth generation Lancer in ’Sportback’ form, provides a serious challenge to its mainstream competitors in the moderate size family hatchback range. Mitsubishi offer a full family of Lancers in either saloon or hatchback with prices for Sportback’s starting at just £14,449. and rising to over £50,000 for that devastatingly powerful, giant killing Evo. version that is the stuff of legend. In an era when the very concept of motoring is under fire, the superb ’Lancer Jet Fighter look’ stokes the flames for the true enthusiast. The Sportback is red blooded, vigorous and virile and is a dynamic example of cavalier charisma without going to extremes of performance. But back onto a realistic everyday footing, the new Lancer Sportback’s strength lies not in supersonic performance but in excellent value for money - and outstanding build quality that puts to shame much of the competition. As always with Mitsubishi, that quality seems to know no bounds and I can only suggest that if Napoleon had a battalion of these at Waterloo we wouldn’t be walking around in Wellingtons. We’d be swaddled in Napoleon nappies in slavish obeisance to the nanny state. Thank goodness for Japanese designers and the Samurai spirit. Tested here, the £14,499 GS2 Sportback with the 1.5 litre petrol engine represents remarkable value. Equipment levels are generous and you get air conditioning as standard, twin front, side and knee airbags, a trip computer and power windows all round - not forgetting a good sound system. There’s more room than in previous Lancers too, thanks to a longer wheelbase and wider track - so driver and passengers can stretch out and relax in an environment that totally belies the models tempting price. It’s able even in today’s hide bound motoring world to pack a punch, while of necessity retaining a plethora of safety conscious and economical money saving features in reserve: it’s close to having your cake and eating it. Despite the 1.5 litre engine delivering just 107bhp, this Lancer is a lively car if the engine is kept in the upper reaches of the rev. range. It’s a smooth unit that thrives on revs so gearing is fairly low and consequently the car feels faster than it really is, taking you to a top speed of around 115mph - yet at the same time returning overall fuel consumption of 43mpg - which is very acceptable in these straitened times. Driving dynamics, of course, reflect Mitsubishi’s rallying heritage and you can revel in the truly excellent handling, taking bends at speeds that would cause other cars to end up in the hedgerow. After my twisty rural road enjoyment I progressed to the usual interminable traffic jam. Glancing across to the next lane where - in contrast to my state of absolute comfort - I perceived that the planet saving driver of the squillion pound hybrid motor car next to me was looking pale and serious and much fatigued. To cheer him up I blipped the throttle of my Lancer but he was completely oblivious: caught in the bubble of his own benevolence. This is a car that makes its point by offering top quality and particularly attractive looks. Point it North, East, South or West it’s up with the best in its class. And as Sir Lancelot would say, ’I joust not’.