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Mitsubishi models, news & reviews
0
Handling
3
Performance
Usability
4
Feelgood factor
2
Readers' rating
2.5
By Jed Maxwell
First Drives
23 June 2008 09:40
The entry-level 1.5-litre is the surprise of the bunch. It’s smooth, refined and feels surprisingly gutsy considering its modest 109bhp output. The 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine is poky enough for a car this size with a healthy amount of mid-range torque, but it’s not the most refined unit – there whole cabin reverberates to the motor’s clattery idle and there’s plenty of ignition clatter on the go.
Buyers looking for a well priced and decently equipped alternative to the Ford Focus and its more familiar rivals should give the Lancer a look. Beneath its bodywork the Sportback is mechanically identical to its saloon sister car – which means a talented chassis with engaging handling and a decent ride quality. Only that horribly low-rent interior lets it down. It may not be as striking as the saloon, but the hatchback is certainly the more versatile.
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Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 1.5 GS1 (2008) CAR review
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ga41 says
RE: Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 1.5 GS1 CAR review
1 8 0 0 kg
24 June 2008 09:06
farmersboy says
Sneaky - when I made my first comment the article was only one page long and made no mention of the 1.5......
24 June 2008 07:29
callanish says
The Lancer is forgettable when talked about as a purchase outside of the GTS. The interior alone wouldn't be allowed even in lowly modern Korean cars. It seems Mitsubishi focused all their attention on brilliant dynamics for the high end version and what we ended up with is a subpar everything else for the lower models.
24 June 2008 02:21
waleed21 says
Can the weight figure be right? 1800Kg is more like a bigish (pigish) SUV.
23 June 2008 19:46
Brand0 says
The pricing dictates that this car will be battling with lower-end premium players - the usual suspects, but it's USP being 'better bang for your buck' is not what the premium market looks for in a car - well, not as a priority anyway. In fact, the premium buyer is looking for the kind of sophistication that this car and it's image are still at odds with. Even a bit more chrome might have helped in the looks department. As it is, when you look at this car it doesn't appear to be bursting with tech and quality and the way they've done the grill make it look like an aftyer thought - almost as if they've just put that chrome border on top of the original grill to AUDIfy it. At least Audis look like they were always meant to look that way.
23 June 2008 13:18
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