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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is not the Lancer you may have known in a previous model year. I have driven many Lancers, with mixed experiences, but I will admit there was no doubt in my mind just a few days into my all-new Lancer GTS test that this 2008 model would be my favorite.
With value-based pricing still a real selling point, equipment levels fighting to be the "biggest" or the "boldest" or the "safest" in the class, the compact sedan class, like most classes, is highly competitive. This Lancer goes a long way to setting itself apart from the competition.
Designed with a shorter overall length, wider track and longer wheelbase, I found my Lancer tester to deliver stable handling characteristics while remaining as fun to drive as anything in the compact sedan class within $5,000.
Going a long way to making the Lancer stand out was the GTS trim. Featuring attitude-adjusting exterior cues such as 18-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels, rear spoiler, sporty front bumper extension and side sill extensions that added to the perceived girth of this slim sedan
Inside the Lancer you have room for five passengers. The GTS offers standard paddle shifters on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Front seats are comfortable, yet firm. Personally, I would have liked to have a little more side bolstering to lock me into place for hard turns.
Sightlines are acceptable for the driver and gauges and dash elements are easily seen and everything was well within reach. The center console offers decent storage while upholders could have been a bit wider for larger cups.
Rear passengers will have some tighter legroom, but for two adults it is just fine. The 60-40 split rear seats offer storage and hauling options.
The all-new Lancer GTS brings a 16-valve, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 146 pound-feet of torque) to the show, a 26 percent increase in output over the previous engine.
To accommodate the additional power for this new Lancer, it sports a redesigned five-speed manual transmission, which is standard; a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available as an option. My tester had the CVT and I found it to be up to the task of keeping up with the demands I placed on it.
My Lancer had a fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. These are new EPA ratings and this is right where the rest of this class hopes to be.
There is great news when it comes to safety equipment on the Mitsubishi Lancer. Offering one of the most comprehensive safety packages in the compact class, the Lancer has seven airbags, including front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, dual front airbags, plus a driver's knee airbag.
The Sun and Sound equipment upgrade on my tester was worth every penny. A 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate, nine-speaker system, featuring Sirius Satellite radio, auxiliary audio jacks for your iPod and in-dash CD player, offered plenty of awesome sound while the big power sunroof let in all the fresh air and sunshine you could want.
The Lancer is offered in DE, ES and GTS trims. Prices start with the DE at $13,990; my GTS tester was based at $17,490, though an optional Sun and Sound package ($1,500) and Nav and Tech packages ($2,000) escalated the price to a still-reasonable $22,615.