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Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback turns a sedan into a sport wagon
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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OJAI, Calif. -- Stylists at the California design studios for Mitsubishi have devised yet another way to add spark and spice to that basic premise of a compact sedan from Japan bound for the North American market.
It all started when the Lancer sedan came ashore in 2002 as upgraded replacement for Mitsubishi's unassuming subcompact Mirage model.
Lancer measured bigger than Mirage and carried 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 plush cabin.
Then came Lancer Evolution, a high-performance version of Mitsubishi's sedan but motivated by a souped-up turbo engine and rigged with all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction.
Nicknamed 'Evo' in rally racing circles and on the Internet in aficionado chat rooms, this tricked-out four-door amounted to the sum of all performance and competition technologies developed by Mitsubishi's trophy-grabbing World Rally Championship (WRC) racing campaign of the past decade.
Now there's another variation spinning off the Lancer as Mitsubishi crafts an affordable sport wagon.
Take Lancer's notchback sedan package and whittle up a wagon-style tail section fitted with a rear cargo door and sporty cabin fixtures plus a four-pack engine pushing larger displacement and more horsepower and you'll get the idea for Mitsubishi's new five-door Lancer.
It's labeled as the Lancer Sportback.
Compared to Lancer the sedan, there's more room inside with about 25 cubic feet of space in the cargo compartment and split seatbacks on the second row that fold down to expand the back bay to more than 60 cubic feet.
That's big enough to house a mountain bike, snowboards and skis, or a heap of tents and backpacking gear.
And the Sportback looks way-cool in a sporty mode that seems separate from the traditional box-based station wagon.
Crisp sheetmetal shapes differ from that ho-hum sameness of designs for typical imported compacts. The stance is more aggressive, with wheels pushed to edges of the boxed body to stabilize the stance, scant overhangs front and back like sporty cars and the stair-step prow and windshield raked rearward to cheat the wind.
It presents a chin-forward face focused on a prominent twin-port grille flanked by oversized corner headlamp clusters in the shape of bowed triangles. A body-colored bumper thrusts ahead like a boxer's chin to cradle a ground-hugging air dam and deep-set foglamps.
The hood shows subtle cut-lines that add shape and depth to the prow, but flanks look sleek and flat with only modest fender flares evident around the wheels.
Roofline becomes a long tapered arch extending to the clipped-off tail that drops bluntly beyond a top-hinged cargo door to the back bumper.
Rear corners wear elongated narrow streaks of red-and-clear taillamps reminiscent of the bold vertical lamps defining sturdy Volvo wagons.
Flip up the rear lid, supported by hydraulic struts on each side, to access the generous cargo compartment.
A pair of doors on each side of the wagon leads into the passenger portion of the compartment.
Seat layout is familiar -- two buckets up front bordering a floor console and a bench for three in back with indentions for two.
Yet the slick design of the dashboard impresses us, as does the look and tone of materials used to dress the cabin.
Front seats and the rear bench are covered in premium cloth fabric with embroidery stitching on seat center inserts in contrasting colors.
Side bolsters on the buckets have contours for a comfortable fit. Driver's seat moves easily in multiple directions, and we have no trouble adjusting it to fit long legs and a tall torso.
The steering column also adjusts vertically, and we like the feel of the thick and padded four-spoke wheel.
The horizontal dash has scooped sections forward of each seat but it bulges in the middle to extend a central pod of audio and climate controls closer to driver and front rider. Three rotary dials for the air system are large and easy to use, yet the audio kit above these controls carries several dials that could be larger. A strip of plastic trim that simulates the look of brushed aluminum faces the center pod and console.
Analog gauges grouped beneath an arching cowl are big and bold, with central speedometer and tachometer. Faces of the gauges are white with easy-read black lettering.
Power controls for windows, side mirrors and door locks apply to Lancer Sportback in two trims -- LS and Ralliart.
The Sportback also has able power beneath the hood out of a 2.4-liter in-line-four engine with Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control (MIVEC).
The MIVEC device has two different profiles for the overhead cam with dual intake valves so the on-board hydraulic actuator can move to a more aggressive high-lift mode above a 3500-rpm engine speed. In effect, the high-speed cam lobe keeps intake valves open longer to pull more air into the combustion chambers and enhance the kick.
For Sportback LS, output amounts to 160 hp at 5750 rpm with torque of 161 lb-ft at 4000 rpm, while Ralliart goes to 162 hp at 5750 rpm plus 162 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
A four-speed electronic automatic transmission is the standard for either LS or Ralliart trim.
Winding two-lane roads through California's Santa Ynez Mountains, such as route 150 to Ojai, enable the Sportback to romp around curves, chassis blocking lateral body sway and the body remaining relatively flat.
A wide-track stance and front suspension with low longitudinal roll center contribute predictable stability to the car in corners, as a multi-link arrangement in back keeps rear wheels under control while damping road bumps.
The LS comes with lots of gear -- from air conditioning and a 140-watt audio kit with CD deck to a tilt steering wheel and remote keyless entry system.
Ralliart upgrades with sporty suspension tuning, V-rated tires and anti-lock brake system (ABS) plus exterior fittings like a front spoiler with foglamps, side and rear air dams, and unique sport bucket seats in the cabin.
Price points look good: $16,597 for Sportback LS and $19,197 for the Ralliart.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK Specs |
| Description: |
Compact five-door sport wagon
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| Model Options: |
Compact five-door sport wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
102.4 inches
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| Overall Length: |
191.3 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 2.4-L I4
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
LS: Power 4-disc
Ralliart: Power 4-disc
ABS/EBD
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| Airbags: |
LS: 2 (front)
Ralliart: 2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
22/28 mpg
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| Price: |
LS: $ 16,597, Ralliart: $ 19,197 |
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