The incredibly competitive compact car arena includes a few offerings sometimes lost in the shuffle. Mitsubishi's Lancer Sportback is one such shufflee.
The versatile Sportback body style adds a hatchback opening to the traditional four-door Lancer sedan packaged with the profile of coupe. Expect lower seating positions and a bit more driving agility than your average compact crossover or sedan. For the money, Lancer Sportback rates as one of the best looking, small sedans for the price. Lancer is easily Mitsubishi's longest surviving nameplate dating back several decades.
New for 2011 is the front-wheel-drive Lancer Sportback ES, joining the returning front-drive GTS and all-wheel-drive Ralliart Sportbacks. The ES provides the lowest starting point of the three trims, while still packing in nuances (air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, compact disc player) American consumers have come to expect even from entry-level transports.
Our ES tester included a starting price of $17,695. The only option, a $500 sixteen-inch alloy wheel package with rear stabilizer bar, brought the bottom line to a very attainable $18,955 including a $760 destination charge. With five-speed manual transmission, ES checks in at $16,795, the lowest-priced Mitsubishi sold in America and one of the lowest-priced compact five-doors on the road. The priciest Sportback, a Lancer Ralliart with standard six-speed automatic transmission checks in at $27,895. Other low-priced compact rivals in this segment include a five-door Suzuki compact SX4 crossover ($16,999) and Ford 2011 Focus sedan ($16,500).
Our ES version is the most fuel-efficient of the Sportback bunch, featuring a 2.0-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder delivering 148 horses. It's the same engine found in the powered down, fuel sensitive, five-passenger Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. It's connected to an electric assist power steering (in place of a hydraulic version) helping to boost fuel economy. The 148 horses won't win any zero-to 60 time trials, but bests the entry Chevy Cruze LS (136 horsepower), and Toyota Corolla (132 horses). During our week's worth of testing in Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin, keeping up with Tollway traffic speeds was never a concern.
A Lancer Sportback GTS includes a 2.4-liter in-line four cylinder cranking out 168 horses while a Lancer Sportback Ralliart, with a turbo-charged four cylinder generates 237 horses.
The ES delivers acceptably decent, but not class leading fuel economy, easy breaking the 30 mile per gallon highway barrier. When coupled with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) as our tester was, expect 25 miles per gallon city and 32 mpg highway. With five-speed manual, city mileage decreases by one. Continuously variable transmission provides an infinite number of gear ratios without feeling the sensation of up or down shift 'jolt' while enhancing fuel economy. While Mitsubishi offers no gas-electric hybrid in the U.S., an all-electric, plug-in Mitsubishi "i" becomes available in the Chicago area late in the 2012 calendar year with a starting price of $20,490 after a $7,500 federal income tax credit.
With scant few option packages, the dealership purchasing experience is relatively straight forward. In addition to the alloy wheel package, the only other ES option group is the deluxe package with USB port, sunroof and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Keep in mind these two packages are not available in five-speed manual ES, just CVT transmission models. Ralliart and GTS editions include a touring package with Satellite radio, heated front seats, leather seating surfaces and upgraded stereo. No navigation or rear-seat entertainment systems are available.
The instrument panel, inside arched, eye-brow shaped housing, includes two circular analog gauges assigned to each brow and digital information window in between. The straight across dashboard is easy to interpret in a snap, but slightly dated. Don't expect to find touch-screen ventilation or audio controls. Missing too are soft-touch nuances found on the doors and dash of newly-redesigned or debuting compact competitors like Ford's Focus or Chevrolet's Cruze. The ignition cylinder is on the right side of the manually-tilting steering column. Power mirrors operate from a driver's door template at a 45 degree angle. Power windows and locks situate along the arm rest below the small door handle. A long pull tab to the left of the driver's seat unlocks the fuel door. The three-spoke steering wheel incorporates cruise control functions.
Manually adjusting cloth bucket seats feature soft, rather than firm cushioning. Second row 70/30-split seatbacks fold down flat once a top-side button is pressed. Two adults fit with optimal comfort in row two; three would be a stretch as is the case with most compacts. Head and leg room are decent all around. In between front buckets are dual in-line beverage holders with a fold-down cover, a small cell phone storage pocket, hand-operated parking brake and arm rest/storage bin. Molded holders built into the front doors are best suited for bottles, not cans. Mitsubishi includes two 12-volt power outlets helping to bring portable electronics to life: one inside the arm rest, the other in a nook directly in front of the floor-mounted transmission shifter. A USB port, optional in ES, comes standard in the other two trims. Mitsubishi would be wise to make this relatively inexpensive hookup standard across all lines, since Lancer appeals to a younger demographic hungry for all forms of 'soundification.' The AM/FM/compact disc sound system includes a long, thin rectangular message window displaying time and radio frequency, with eight average-sized pre-set buttons horizontally-arranged below. Volume and station-changing turn knobs flank the buttons. Three easy-to-grab dials monitor ventilation functions.
The 45-degree back window incorporates a welcome wiper and top spoiler. Both tail and headlight housing opt for narrow, band-like structures. The honeycomb grille is narrow, too. Strap-like door handles are body colored while small side-view mirrors are minus secondary turn signal blinker, something most competitors now include. The manual hatch opens high enough for decent head clearance for six-footers and shorter. A right-side grab bar helps when closing shut. A temporary spare resides under the cargo floor.
Precise steering requires little movement to send the car in the intended direction. Brakes incorporate a short throw when stopping. For those seeking to match Lancer's sleek looks with a more spirited engine, opt for the Ralliart and its turbo-charged engine. That said, those wishing for a better return on gas mileage (while pocketing the $10,000 difference) can get by with this new, aggressively priced, well equipped ES Sportback.
Mitsubishi Motor's sole North American Plant in Normal, Illinois near Bloomington is currently the sole Asian/European manufacturer in North America currently partnering with the United Auto Workers (UAW). It's one of three automotive facilities dotting the Prairie State. In 2010, a relative paltry 34,000 units were built, although that number should be easily eclipsed in 2011. Speaking of being eclipsed, the sporty Eclipse, mid-size Galant sedan and Endeavour crossover are built at the Normal facility. The compact Lancer family is assembled in Japan.
Mitsubishi has one of the longest powertrain warranties in the business at 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Engine: 2.0 liter, four cylinder
Fuel economy: 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway
Horsepower: 148
Overall length: 180.4 inches
Overall width: 69.4 inches
Wheelbase: 103.7 inches
Price as tested: $18,955
Final assembly: Mizushima, Japan
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