2012 Mitsubishi Lancer SE
DAMASCUS, Md. (MarketWatch) – The good news is that Mitsubishi continues to improve its products. The less-than-good news is that the competition does the same.
But there are some impressive things about Mitsubishi's(7211) new SE model that puts it on the major-league playing field, albeit a turf it must share with intense competitors.
The newest engine is just the shot in the arm the Lancer needed -- a 2.4-liter, inline 4 that cranks out 168 hp at 6,000 rpm and 167 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm. That is 20 more horsepower over the base 4 and a gain of slightly better than 20 pound-feet of torque.
Enter a freeway, and the value of the extra power is apparent. The Lancer quickly fits into fast-moving traffic and settles down nicely at cruising speed, hampered little by the standard CVT tranny. I would guess zero to 60 in the 8-second range. The car had no problem scooting around downtown Washington, D.C., either.
Sharp exterior styling gives the Lancer a contemporary look. The seats are all-day comfortable and it was easy to get settled behind the leather-wrapped wheel despite a lack of telescoping. There was lots of room for a 6-foot-tall driver. Two 6-foot adults can be accommodated to the rear, and that surprised me.
The radio and ventilation controls could not have been easier to use, with real-world knobs that the majority of drivers can identify with. There was no navigation system in the test car. Rear visibility was excellent.
Interior materials continue to lag behind the increasing trend to fancier insides, even among economy models. There were a lot of hard plastic surfaces, yet the Mitsu at least offered stitching along the top of the dash panel, and nice touches when on door trim. We did experience a passenger-side seat belt that locked in the fully retracted stage. Two days later it seemed to have found its own solution and worked just fine.
The Lancer also seemed to have perfected the idea of max sun glare. It made seeing the speedo and tach more difficult even with white numerals on a black background. A between-the-instruments information display was mostly invisible during the day, as was the time display.
Handling was slightly better than I expected, and the Lancer can be fun on twisty back roads. In my one week test I got 24 mpg on regular unleaded. That was in line with the EPA rating of 22-29.
The standard four-speaker audio system was just okay, until you consider the bottom line for this car. And that was one of its strong suits. The upscale SE model went out the door for $20,990 with no options. That price includes delivery and handling.
The Lancer still trails the Hyundai (005380) Elantra, Nissan (NSANY) (7201) Sentra and the fun-to-drive Mazda (MZDAY) (7261) 3 series, but if you're looking for a sharp-looking, four-passenger car with comfy seats, good economy and ride, it's worth a spin. If you live in snow country, the SE's standard all-wheel drive might make it more appealing.
Notes
The 2013 Ford (F) Escape is a huge improvement, with outside styling and vastly better interior. The test model I drove through city traffic was comfortable and seemed to have plenty of power. The new interior treatment made the Escape look more expensive that its $25,000 asking price. There will be plenty of models and options for customers to consider depending on their needs and pocketbook. I look forward to driving one for a more extensive test.
Mazda is closing down the assembly line on the rotary engine RX-8 sports car. It will go to the big garage in the sky loved by enthusiasts. But it was tough on oil consumption, emissions and gas mileage.
Vehicles tested for this column are on loan from the auto companies through local distributors.
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