8 February 2011
Road test review
Having recently returned from the AA Energywise Rally, where dinner conversation focused on fuel economy, dropping into the local Mitsubishi dealer to pick up the Lancer Ralliart meant a polar shift in mindset from economy to performance.
The black Ralliart sitting in the dealer's driveway, with its 18" alloys, huge boot spoiler, air scoop on the bonnet and body kit, was more reminiscent of a WRC event than an economy run. Nevertheless we were thoroughly looking forward to experiencing the Ralliart. Slipping into the snug Recaro drivers' seat the cockpit only added to the enthusiasm, with features including alloy sport pedals, leather clad sport steering wheel and big alloy gearshift paddles.
Turning on the ignition revealed the previous driver had been testing out the Rockford Fosgate sound system with its 9 speakers, including subwoofer, putting out almost as much power as the 180kW turbo intercooled powerplant under the bonnet.
Buckling up and shifting the automated manual TC-SST (Twin Clutch, Sport Shift Transmission) gear lever into "D" revealed a transmission which shifts more positively than a traditional Automatic but just as user friendly in city traffic. If you feel like having a play, either the steering wheel paddles or the floor shift lever shift the cogs quicker and smoother than any traditional manual gearbox. This setup really does provide the best of both worlds.
Moving the console mounted switch from "Normal" to "Sport" provides an even more aggressive Automatic shift, holds onto gears for longer, gives a sporty downshift and sets the car up nicely for a swift getaway out of the corners.
Visually, the enthusiast will detect some minor differences between the Ralliart and the Evo X, but most people will find the two cars very similar in appearance. Sure, the Evo X has more trick gear. There's a twin scroll turbo as opposed to the Ralliarts' single scroll unit, more use of aluminium in the bodywork and suspension, 18" BBS instead of the Mitsubishis 18" Ralliart wheels and another 40kW of power. However both cars have 4 wheel drive leach-like road holding and 0-100km times within less than a half a second of each other.
So at $49,990 compared with the Evos' $67,990, is the Evo really $18,000 or 36% better?
One point to ponder is that Mitsubishi chose to build the Ralliart at all. That's not said in a negative way, we're delighted they did. However, this car is so close in feel and performance to their Exo X, we can't help but wonder if the Ralliart will steal some buyers away from the Evo X. Seat of the pants performance is almost on a par, and you'd walk away from the showroom with eighteen grand change in your pocket.
However, it's a sure bet the powers that be at Mitsubishi must have factored this in, with their main target being Fuji Heavy Industries and their Subaru WRX. At this point in time the Subaru has less power, less torque and a 5 speed manual transmission compared to the Mitsi's 6 Speed TC-SST. However, Subaru won't take the arrival of the Mitsi lying down and the next generation WRX will undoubtedly take up the gauntlet.
Bearing in mind we picked up the Ralliart in AA Energywise Rally mode with fuel economy still in mind, a check on the manufacturers' claim of 10l/100km was in order. A decent run with a mixture of twisty country roads, city driving and Auckland motorways revealed the computer readout was a smidgen under at 9.7l/100km.
It's fair to say the Ralliart encourages enthusiastic driving and it's unlikely you'll be driving it with economy in mind. In fact you may be tempted to bury the loud pedal on occasion, sending fuel consumption figures higher than Mitsis' claim. However, we have satisfied ourselves its possible.
Summary
Overall, the Ralliart is a well balanced drivers' car with more than adequate performance and road holding characteristics. On the practical side, its a 4 door saloon with ample boot space and a decent amount of leg room. The ride is firm with minimal body roll. It bridges the gap nicely between the Lancer VRX and the Evo X, being somewhat closer in spirit to the Evo.
It will appeal to the enthusiastic driver who appreciates balance, performance and a fair smattering of clever engineering with the TC-SST transmission. It won't tire you out shifting gears in traffic but can be enjoyed if you do feel like shifting cogs manually once you escape the city congestion. However, it's not a soft ride, so won't appeal to everyone.
Safety
The Ralliart has 7 airbags, including driver, passenger, 2 x side, 2 x curtain and driver's knee airbag. There are 3 point ELR seatbelts with front pretensioners and force limiters as well as Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body structure, which creates a protective shell around the occupants. Active safety features include ABS brakes, ASC (Active Stability Control) with ATC (Active Traction Control). The rest of the Lancer range boasts a 5 Star ANCAP rating. Although the Ralliart is awaiting ANCAP certification, Mitsubishi anticipate an equal rating.
Technical
4 wheel drive with 180kW single scroll turbo engine with 6 Speed TC-SST automated manual transmission. Active center differential with rear limited slip differential. 2 pot front 16 inch disc brakes.
Pricing
$49,990
Test drive top tips
Keep an eye on the speedo!