No Drama, Low Prices
by David Finlay (08 Feb 05)

In recent years the Lancer has appeared on UK buyers' radar only as the basis of the various Evo models. We are only now being introduced to the more standard version, but behind our backs it has been selling in useful numbers elsewhere in Europe. It was Mitsubishi's top-selling passenger car across the continent in 2004, and has in particular become a smash hit in Russia.

Now that it is being introduced in this country, it's easy to see why the Russians like it. The Lancer is inexpensive (you can buy the entry model for just under £10,000, and none of them costs more than £12,000), it's roomy and it's well-equipped.In UK specification you get metallic paint, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a CD player, front and side airbags, foglamps and, on the saloon models, a spoiler which almost certainly serves no useful purpose whatever but does add an extra level of style to the tail end.

There are nine models, and eight of them are very closely matched. The differences amount to a choice between saloon and estate body styles, manual and automatic transmission, and Equippe and Elegance trim levels. Elegance models differ from Equippes only in that they have leather-faced seats, and all eight are fitted with the same 96bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine (there is no diesel option), so it should come as little surprise that the prices extend over a range of just £1750.

The ninth variant is the Sport, which is by a small margin the most expensive of the non-Evo Lancers at £11,999. Available only as an estate, it gets a two-litre engine, different trim, lowered suspension and other bits and pieces which we'll come to shortly.

For now, let's look at the Elegance manual saloon, which represents more or less the mid-point of the 1.6 range. Quite attractive in a sub-Evo way, it's also impressively roomy, with just about enough space to hold four six-foot adults. The driving position takes a little getting used to - Mitsubishi says that the driver's seat is height-adjustable, which is true as far as it goes, but the adjustment applies only to the bench part of the seat, not to the bit you lean against; and although the steering wheel can be moved up or down, it can't be moved in or out. I couldn't find a combination which let me sit close enough to the wheel and far enough from the pedals at the same time.

More . . .

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