2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Review

Mitsubishi finally is taking the small car market seriously by introducing its 2002 Lancer. It's a new compact sedan that goes on sale in August to replace the automaker's entry level Mirage sedan.

The subcompact Mirage, which also comes as a sporty coupe, is aptly named--considering its lack of recognition and low sales. That's too bad because it's a cut above average.

However, I found while testing the Lancer that it's a big improvement. It is larger, smoother, quieter and more powerful than the Mirage sedan and clearly is more of an upscale mainstream model. Mitsubishi wants it compared with cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta, leaving the lower end of the market to Korean automakers.

The Mirage sedan will be sold until supplies run out this model year, while the coupe will be offered for another year before being phased out.

Lancer styling is smooth, but will turn few heads--typical for an an economical Japanese compact car. Its cab-forward design, high roofline and long wheelbase allow greater roominess than offered by the Mirage, and a low instrument panel and belt line help allow good visibility for occupants. Most such occupants are expected to be 25-45 years old, college-educated and earning at least $40,000 annually. About 60 percent of Lancer buyers are expected to be women.

Compared with the Mirage sedan, which has good room for its size, the Lancer has a four-inch wheelbase stretch to a fairly long 102.4 inches. It's also four inches longer overall at 177.6 inches and slightly wider and taller. The generally quiet interior is comfortable room for four 6-footers--especially in the rear, where legroom has been increased by 3.1 inches.

Total cargo volume is nearly the same as the Mirage's at 11.3 cubic feet. The trunk is fairly big, although rear wheelwell housings eat into some of its space and the pass-through area with the available 60-40 split/folding rear seatbacks is only moderately large. The trunk lid has manual hinges and the hood has an old-style prop rod--although its easy to reach fluid filler areas in the surgically neat underhood area.

The Lancer comes as the base ES, upscale LS and sporty OZ Rally model, which I tested. The latter has an odd name because Mitsubishi has won dozens of World Rally Championship races and the OZ Rally has OZ race-style 15-inch wheels. It also has wider (60 series vs. 65 series) tires, aerodynamic bumper extensions, side air dams and a sportier interior with brushed metal finish trim and special steering wheel. It also had an optional trunk spoiler, which really should be standard on such a model.

However, all Lancers are well-equipped. Even the base model has air conditioning, AM/FM/CD sound system with four speakers, adjustable driver's seat and steering column, rear defroster, woodgrain interior trim accents and power windows, door locks and sideview mirrors.

Those mirrors fold to prevent damage in tight spots, but essentially have that feature because it's necessary when shipping the Lancer from Japan.

The LS adds items such as cruise control, remote keyless entry, six-speaker sound system, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, 15-inch (vs. 14-inch) alloy wheels, slightly wider tires and rear center armrest with cupholders.

Options for the ES include a package that contains keyless entry, folding rear seatbacks and center rear armrest with cupholders.

An optional package for the LS contains anti-lock brakes and dual front side air bags. Alas, those items aren't offered for other Lancer models.

Powering the car is a two-liter, four-cylinder 120-horsepower engine. It has more torque and low- to mid-range punch than the 1.8-liter, 111-horsepower four-cylinder in the Mirage, which also comes with an overworked 1.5-liter, 92-horsepower four-cylinder.

Lancer acceleration is lively with the slightly notchy five-speed manual transmission, which is hooked to a long-throw clutch. But it's far from neck-snapping because the Lancer is fairly heavy at 2,646 to 2,745 pounds. The engine calls for lots of revs, and even the OZ Rally model doesn't have a sporty exhaust sound.

Third gear is needed for fast 65-75 mph passing maneuvers, and engine noise is prominent except in overdrive fifth gear. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard in the LS and optional for the ES and OZ Rally. The automatic adapts its shift pattern to various driving habits; for instance, aggressive drivers get higher-rpm shifts than mellow drivers.

Mitsubishi is thinking about offering a special 2003 Lancer with a 230-horsepower four-cylinder from the fire-breathing Lancer Evolution built for World Rally Championship competition. That model would be costly, but would add lots of sex appeal to the Lancer line.

The Lancer interior has a generally nice design, although a driver must grope to find the ignition switch on the steering column. The stylish white-face gauges in the OZ Rally model aren't as easy to read as traditional white-on-black gauges. Seats are supportive and controls work smoothly. Sound system controls are too small, but at least are located above the climate system controls, which generally are used less often. Front doors have small storage pockets and there is a small covered console bin.

Rear windows stop just short of rolling all the way down. Why not ALL the way down?

The steering is precise, but takes getting used to because too much power assist causes it to be a little too light. The all-independent suspension is tuned more for a soft ride than athletic moves. That's why the ride gets a little bouncy on wavy pavement.

However, handling is good because the Lancer is rigidly built and has a front suspension with a wider track and lower roll center. The wider tires on the ES and OZ Rally models allow them to have sharper moves. The brake pedal feels too soft, but it has a progressive action and stopping distances are commendably short.

The Lancer is a big step up from the Mirage and should be a good contender if given the right promotion.