CTC Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer DE

[CD_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2008 Mitsubishi Lancer DE


Day 1:

Click Image to Enlarge

Well, lucky me: two back-to-back sedans in the $20,000 range, the last one being the Chevrolet Cobalt I reviewed about a week and a half ago.  I can't ask for anything better than having two similarly equipped cars in the same price range to compare back-to-back; it really makes my job much easier than trying to remember what the last car was like from my notes.  More...

[initial_D]

The price and the exterior is plenty attractive, very sure Mitsu will have a low finance rate in 6 months or less, before the year end.

looking forward to the driving impressions. ... no references the S2K or M3 please.

[wing]

What?  It's not as fast as the S2k

Honestly though it IS in the same category as a Mazda3, but not mine so that wouldn't be fair.

[PJungnitsch]

Should be an interesting comparison to the Cobalt, similarly priced 4 door sedans both from automakers trying to make a comeback. It sounds as though GM will have to continue to rely on price, long warranties and low financing to sell Cobalts. Is Mitsubishi stuck in that same boat (without that handy GM dealer network) or can the Lancer directly compete with Civics and Mz3's?

[mmret]

Should be an interesting comparison to the Cobalt, similarly priced 4 door sedans both from automakers trying to make a comeback. It sounds as though GM will have to continue to rely on price, long warranties and low financing to sell Cobalts. Is Mitsubishi stuck in that same boat (without that handy GM dealer network) or can the Lancer directly compete with Civics and Mz3's?

Styling might win over a few of the younger crowd, its quite a bit edgier than the Cobalt on that front.

[Snowman]

  No keyless entry, that is a downer for sure.

[inco]

On the good news front - it doesn't have I-Drive either! 

[CSH]

While testing please compare the following with the cobalt and let us know what you feel:

1) Quality of interiors and based on what you see the interiors of which will hold up longer.
2) Cabin noise, engine noise.
3) Which car gives the riders less troubles (bumps) over rough roads and potholes.

If one was to buy which one would be better

Another question to ask is it built well enough to compete with the Civic, Mazda 3 and the Corolla or Mitsubishi still has some way to go to be there

Thanks,

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I like that the interior is black. Sure, maybe a bit basic or too black, but black plastics in this price range look richer than lighter ones IMO.

They've come a long way with regards to styling. I expect them to continue marketing much like the domestics, with deals to be had. It'll take time and nobody's standing still.

[carcrazed]

Interesting that they gave you DE instead of ES or GTS fully loaded.
The steering wheel w/o audio control looks really awkward.
I'd personally go for the DE over Cobalt any day.

[Jameswbl]

like the styling a lot...way better than the up coming impreza....

cant wait til the EVO gets here...will give the STI run for its money

[dasiuyan]

the styling is pretty good, it caught my attention while driving one day.... but i remember it was a lighter colour (red?) which definitely look better (in my memory) than the test car's black

[dasiuyan]

by the way, the tail light or even the whole back of the car remind me of the new Alfa Romeo 159

[Giant Dwarf]

I like that Mitsu has taken some chances with the styling -- it certainly stands out -- and in Evo form is likely to be extremely aggressive in its appearance (if the Evo concept X is anything to go by).  However, the side profile in real life reveals an unusually high and long nose on this little beast.  This picture doesn't http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc_gallery/index.php?level=picture&id=1654  quite show it (Wing, if you can park it so the background is in contrast to the body colour and take a direct profile shot, you may see what I mean).

Overall though, kudos to Mitsubishi for bringing what appears to be a decent car on paper.  I await Wing's driving report...

[initial_D]

EVO would be 4 times the car, twice the money? 

[carcrazy]

I like the new Lancer overall and I think if you compare trim by trim with Mazda3, it's there, for few hundred bucks less.
One thing I don't personally like is the CVT. The engine is too noisy and seems slow for my taste but I would be interested to see how it compares to the Mazda3 2.0 and Civic from this stand point.
All I can say is that my Mazda3 GT is superior form any stand point. But again it has a bigger engine and it is a higher trim compared to the DE I drove.
However, I think an upcoming model with a 2.4L would take care of the engine noise and it would give more power. I would also like to see a higher trim without the wing and body kit and eventually with an auto box with manual mode. This package would fit the bill for me. The GTS's handling seems to be outstanding - comprable or better than Mazda3.
I think the new Lancer is a legit competitor for the Mazda3 and Civic.
Looking forward to seeing Wing's driving impressions.

[Thinking Out Loud]

I have a 2004 Lancer Sportback and the 2.4 160 horses really makes it move.  The new look is really aggressive - might be considering one in Feb 08 when the lease comes up......

They really have to get their pricing in line tho - tear a page from Hyundai and Kia - they may be Japanese but they are still considered a newbie in the Canadian buying mind's eye.  BIG content at a lower price - worked for Mazda 10 years ago, working for Hyundai now.

Plus they keep noting all the new dealerships opening up - but fail to mention the Dealers that packed it in - Woodchester (closed months after we got it) - Streetsvile is now a Hyundai shop.  The one in Oakville never seems to have more than 10 cars on hand, and is parked right next to a Chrysler shop with a hundred shiny cars on the lot.

[ghost]

there's a new Mitsu dealership (converted from a previous used car dealershop) near my area. I saw a few new Lancers at the lot. Nice looking. If the EVO X shows up, I'm gonna go in for a test drive.
The new Lancer is a great step up from the previous frumpy econobox.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Kia's done OK since they crossed tho border with the original Spotage and Spectra - a two car line-up go figure - compared to the 'experienced' Lancer Mitsu brought up to kick things off in Canada.  Better than the old Mirage that the US had, I can tell you that much. 

$19 large for their base, entry level, manual transmission product offering reminds me of VW going uplevel and keeping the old product around - Mitsu better have something one rung down the price ladder.

Something comperable to Yaris/Fit/Versa - if they 'start' in Corolla/Civic/Sentra/Mazda 3 territory.  Toyota never left - although I wish the Echo  was 'lost', Nissan and Honda forgot - but figured it out (late) to return  , and Mazda needs another GLC - if you can remember that far back !

I price shopped the 2006 Galant Ralliart to a Camry SE V6 and they were neck in neck mid $35k.  12 months later you can get a used Galant at half-price  and the Camry.... is well... a Camry. 

LEARN from Hyundai.  You can't win head to head with Honda and Toyota.  The Gallant Ralliart at the same price as the non-6 Camry SE (say, a $4,000 price differential ala Hyundai) - and BOOM - now you're hustling units. 

[carcrazy]

Just a note on the price. The 19K+ includes the $1,245 destination. Base DE starts at $16,598, with $1,800 for the ABS and A/C package and $1,100 for CVT tranny.
Still $200 under Mazda3 GX ($16,795), but way too close IMO.
Base Elantra GL is $15,595 so here it is where I think the Lancer DE should have started from.