9 August 2012
New car report; Looking good and priced right.
The Mitsubishi Lancer would have to rate highly as one of the most highly underrated cars on the market today. It’s a visually pleasing car with some subtle styling tweaks for 2012, and it continues to lead the pack for its balanced, clean lines and classic good looks.
With build quality that’s on a par with anything it competes with, plenty of space and reasonable comfort, pretty good handling and a decent ride quality it might seem surprising that the Lancer doesn’t rate higher on the medium car sales ladder.
However, New Zealand’s course chip open road surfaces cop a lot of criticism for making even the most well insulated cars rowdy, but with the Lancer, as competent as it might be, there’s no getting away from that intrusive road noise. So with that in mind, some additional sound deadening material wouldn’t go amiss.
But for motorway cruising, the town and around school run or inner city commute where a majority of running is on smooth seal, the noise level is more acceptable and it holds its own with many a medium car. And with a revised model range and some added equipment thrown in for 2012, the Lancer offers a great equipment package for the price.
Saloon or hatch
Kiwi buyers have the choice of four door sedan or five door hatch variants, both as handsome as each other. There’s also a choice of engines, spec levels and 5 speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions; the top end CVT models having flappy paddles mounted behind the steering wheel to shift between the six stepped ratios.
All models get Bluetooth and cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls, which naturally extend to audio functions too, with the audio system now having a USB port for audio and media device interfaces.
The range kicks off with the four door Lancer ES Manual. With a 2.0 litre 115kW/201Nm MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control) powerplant, the entry level ES is the most frugal of the line-up, consuming just 6.9L/100km and emitting 158g/km of CO2.
The Lancer ES is also offered with a CVT automatic transmission mated to the same engine. The convenience of the auto is offset only slightly in its thirst for the 91 octane fuel, with a claimed economy figure of 7.2L/100km and CO2 emissions of 165g/km.
ES models get sixteen inch steel wheels, manual air-conditioning and a 4 speaker audio system. Safety features extend to Isofix child seat anchorages and a knee airbag in addition to driver’s and passenger’s airbag. However, there are no side or head airbags at the entry level, although it still manages an ANCAP 5 star safety rating.
Stepping up to the SEi and VRX models will give you the added safety protection of side and curtain airbags, as well as a more lively 2.4 litre, 127kW/230Nm powerplant which emits 195g/km CO2 and consumes 91 at the rate of 8.5L/100km.
They’re also equipped alloy wheels; sixteen inch on the SEi and eighteens on the VRX, keyless start, front fog lights and heated leather seats, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and an upgraded 6 speaker audio system.
VRX especially punches above its weight
Sharing a number of features with Mitsubishi’s Ralliart, such as a bigger rear spoiler, larger brakes, a rear stabilizer bar and a more direct hydraulic steering setup in place of the electric power steering (EPS) on ES and SEi models, the VRX offers a level of driving dynamics that’s a cut above the rest.
One major advantage of buying any new car is having the peace of mind in knowing you are covered by a factory warranty. For most makes, this is for 3 years or 100,000km, but Mitsubishi promotes their warranty as being New Zealand’s best, and it’s hard to argue that it isn’t. The cover extends to 10 years or 160,000km for the engine, transmission and driveline, with 5 year or 130,000km bumper to bumper factory warranty.
Like all good things, there are a couple of conditions attached and the offer is only extended to the original owner, but for those who hold onto their new car for a few years, it’s a pretty good level of protection.
Towing weight for all models is rated at 1,000kg for braked trailers and 550kg for unbraked.
Pricing starts at $28,590 for the Lancer ES Manual, $30,690 for the Lancer ES CVT, up to $40,890 for the 2.4 VRX. Those who want the added grunt but can’t justify the fire-breathing Evo X can opt for the $51,990 turbocharged, 6 speed double clutch transmission-equipped Ralliart.
For the time being though, there’s a bargain to be had. The normally $36,990 price stickered SEi CVT Sedan is being offered for $29,990. Now, that must rate as the best value sub-30k car on the market at present, if you can put up with the out-of-town road noise.