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Mitsubishi Lancer comes to the compact class in three trims
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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NAPOLEONVILLE, La. -- Down by Bayou Lafourche between Napoleonville and Thibodaux, center of Cajun culture in southern Louisiana, the manicured lawn fronting historic Madewood Plantation on one sunny day resembles a car park that caters solely to one particular make and model.
Clustered hodgepodge in various colors for three different trim designations, a dozen or so sedans decorating the lawn bear the name of Lancer.
They represent an impressive new entry to the competitive compact class of imports for America coming from Mitsubishi of Japan.
We select a vivid yellow version -- the O-Z Rally, its label lifted from a brand of flashy wheels by O-Z Racing.
In addition to the branded alloy wheels, this sporty Lancer wears add-on fixtures inspired by Mitsubishi rally racers, such as extensions for bumpers in front and back plus curvy low side air dams.
A spoiler wing flies off the tail, while the cockpit installs rally-style round gauges with white faces in the instrument panel and a five-speed manual stick shifter on the console ringed by trim in a silver shade that looks like brushed aluminum.
Fire up the four-pack engine, with special tuning to muster more muscle at those lower and mid-range speeds needed for city drivers, and we roll off the lawn and head down a narrow blacktop strip tracing the path of a bayou.
Lancer pounces out of the lot, then surges through second and third shifts as we quickly reach the speed limit -- and a memory for past encounters with local officials reminds us to keep this drive legal.
The sport-tuned Lancer demonstrates it can take an aggressive tack around the rare Cajun curve as we follow a bend in the bayou. Its reinforced chassis checks the car body's tendency to sway laterally through the curve so Lancer's passenger compartment remains tight and flat.
Aiding this agile attitude, the platform's wide-track stance in conjunction with an independent front suspension system biased toward a low longitudinal roll center contribute predictable stability for Lancer when it's steered through a curvy course. Likewise, the independent multi-link rear suspension holds back wheels in line while also damping vertical movement prompted by pavement bumps.
The bottom line: Lancer feels substantial in motion, despite its compact size. It charges off the line, glides over lumpy pavement, hangs hard around corners, and runs confidently at higher speeds.
It's also quiet in the cabin, as testament to the sophisticated structure Mitsubishi has devised for Lancer and extensive measures to insulate and isolate the passenger compartment from external noises and mechanical vibrations.
Such refinements indicate Mitsubishi has experience constructing this car -- and so it does. Although Lancer is a new sedan for North America, the Lancer name has appeared on Mitsubishi's compact sedans marketed in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East through six generations of production tracing back to 1973.
Since 1974, Lancer has also been the name applied to Mitsubishi's raucous rally car, with scores of first-place victories captured in rally races around the world.
The new Lancer for 2002 comes ashore in North America as upgraded replacement for Mitsubishi's unassuming subcompact Mirage sedan. It's bigger than Mirage and totes a larger and more powerful engine, with a more substantial structure supporting the slick exterior package and more sophisticated mechanical hardware aboard, plus luxury equipment standard in a rather cushy cabin.
The enlarged structure -- adding four more inches of length compared to the wheelbase for Mirage -- puts Lancer in the center of the compact class of imported sedans. Measure all of them and Lancer ends up with the longest body, while the expansive passenger cabin scores best-in-class legroom for front seats.
Crisp new sheetmetal shapes set Lancer apart from the bland sameness of most compact sedans.
Lines look sharp and the overall style is strong and aggressive, with wheels pinned at corners of the package to balance the stance. Body parts extend only briefly over front and back edges in the manner of racers as the two-step face and windshield tip backward to suggest swift movement.
Lancer's prow projects a forceful image dominated by a broad grille with surrounding chrome bead. Way-big headlamp pods behind clear polycarbonate lenses at the corners, as the fat front bumper and low air dam stretching across the bottom resemble a jutting chin.
The hood carries two cut-lines that add shape and depth, but side panels seem flat with only modest fender flares apparent around the wheels.
Lancer's cabin is an expansive space with ample room for passengers in a layout that puts two buckets in front of a bench for three. Seats wear premium cloth fabric that reveals subtle silk embroidery stitching on center inserts. Bucket side bolsters curve with contours of a body and the driver's seat moves eight ways for a good fit.
The linear dash with scooped sections ahead of each front seat swells in the center to position a center set of controls for audio and climate systems closer at hand. Gauges in the instrument panel include a large speedometer and tachometer dressed with black faces except for O-Z Rally, which gets the black-on-white rally gauges.
Mitsubishi makes three versions of Lancer, all powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that hits 120 hp and ties to either the standard five-speed manual transaxle or an optional four-speed automatic with electronic controls.
Lancer ES has the lowest price point but comes with an attractive list of preferred equipment. Standards include air conditioning, the tachometer, an audio system with CD player in the dash and power to operate the windows, external mirrors and locks on four door.
Lancer LS is the luxury edition with additional equipment provided, such as a remote keyless entry system and cruise control, the rear seatback split 60/40 in sections with a fold-out armrest installed plus cupholders, carpeted mats on the floor, two more speakers for the audio system and variable controls for the intermittent windshield wipers. Also, there are external modifications like body-colored door handles and mirrors, and aluminum alloy wheels with larger 15-inch tires.
Lancer O-Z Rally with O-Z Racing wheels and sporty body panels stocks the five-speed manual stick shifter, with a cockpit in black monotone plus the brushed aluminum trim.
Optional gear in packages goes with each model, such as more features for the ES, ABS brakes and dual side-impact airbags for the LS, and that tail spoiler for O-Z Rally.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER Specs |
| Description: |
Compact four-door sedan
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| Model Options: |
Compact four-door sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
102.4 inches
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| Overall Length: |
177.6 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 2.0-L I4
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
ES / O-Z: Power disc/drum
LS: opt. ABS
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| Airbags: |
ES / O-Z: 2 (front)
LS: opt. 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
M/5: 26/33 mpg
A/4: 24/30 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 14,442 to $ 17,192 |
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