Mitsubishi Lancer
The 5-seat Lancer comes in two distinct body styles, with a few engines options and a couple of trim levels for each. Lancer DE and ES sedans and Sportbacks are powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder, producing 152 hp and mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission.
The Lancer DE comes with plenty of features, such as power windows, doors and mirrors, a 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with speed-compensated volume and equalization control, remote keyless entry and anti-theft immobilizer, a 12-volt power outlet, anti-lock brakes, passenger and driver airbags, a knee airbag and side-impact airbags. The ES adds on air conditioning, keyless entry and steering wheel audio controls. The ES also has a 60/40 folding rear seat.
Further up the Lancer food chain is the 2.4L 4-cylinder, which delivers 168 hp and powers both the GT and SE Lancer. A 5-speed manual is standard on GT models, but a continuously variable transmission is available and is the only transmission choice on the all-wheel-drive SE. DE, ES and GT Lancers are, by contrast, front-wheel drive.
Next is the Lancer Ralliart. It derives its 237 hp and 253 lb-feet of torque from a turbocharged 2.4L 4-cylinder. That power is put to all four wheels through Mitsubishi's advanced, rally-inspired Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). The Ralliart includes fog lights, rear spoiler, sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and a limited-slip differential at both the front and the rear. The Ralliart is also available with a couple of nice options, including a 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate system, a navigation system and Recaro sport seats.
The Lancer Sportback is the wagon variant. Available in ES and GT trim, designers kept functionality in mind as much as sportiness and gave it a cargo floor that can be lowered three inches for more space and a rear door that extends all the way to the bumper for loading heavy or cumbersome gear.
The top-of-the-performance-heap Lancer Evolution is an impressive performance sedan by any measure. It features a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 291 horsepower and 300 lb-feet of torque, front and rear limited-slip differentials and a high-tech electronically controlled center differential. Mitsubishi used its knowledge and experience on the rally circuit to perfect the computer-controlled all-wheel drive system found in the Evolution and the result is impressive levels of control and safety even at high speed. The Lancer Evolution is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a twin clutch 6-speed.
The Evolution also comes with Brembo 4-piston brakes, 18-inch Enkei alloy wheels, aluminum body panels, a large rear spoiler, fog lamps, active stability control and sports-tuned anti-lock brakes.