Contributing: Matt Freeman

Welcome to round two of our Lancer review. This time we’re playing with the new Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. The test car came fully loaded and was ours for a whole week. Be sure that we took all opportunities to push every button, kick the tires, and make sure that the GTS met and exceeded expectations.

First Impressions

The striking blue color of the GTS is reason enough to love this car, but if the review stopped there it wouldn’t be very convincing. The sporty rear wing, beefier front end, larger alloy wheels, and sportier suspension all play a crucial role in giving the GTS its appeal. The styling is aggressive but surely toned down from its bully sibling, the upcoming Lancer Evolution.

An important point to note is that most cars in this price segment come from the factory with a few notable exterior styling flaws. Whether it’s ugly amber lights or a spoiler that’s simply out of place, enthusiasts in this market often change these small details soon after purchase. As far as we’re concerned the Lancer GTS doesn’t fall into that category, and this step can be easily omitted.

The interior of the GTS gets even better. The clean styling of the aluminum accented dash is a phenomenal improvement over the previous lancer models. Our car was equipped with a navigation system, which is integrated with the impressive Rockford Fosgate sound system. Also included with the Nav package is a 30 gigabyte hard-drive that facilitates the storage of around 1200 songs. If you’re a technology junky and don’t think that’s enough, add an Aux input for an iPod or other mp3 player, a SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and Bluetooth compatibility to complete the lineup of cutting edge features.

Mitsubishi’s dedication to contemporary technology matches its commitment to safety. Standard Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, a fully redesigned and reinforced chassis, a pedestrian crumple zone, and seven airbags help the driver to keep the car in control and offer modern protection in the case of an accident.

For peace of mind the GTS comes with Mitsubishi’s 5 year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. All this and more makes the car a bargain that can be had for somewhere in the low $20,000 range.

Driving Impressions

After driving the ES our GTS test-car felt more disconnected from the road. This is simple to explain. Unfortunately, the GTS was equipped with a CVT transmission. Most customers will find that the CVT doesn’t belong in this car. Still, those in the market for an automatic with a manual shift mode should look no farther as the CVT more than adequately fills that role. However, if you are looking for a better driving experience and prefer three pedals to two, then do yourself a favor and opt for the 5-speed manual. That being said, the CVT was very smooth and quite comfortable around town or on the throughway. The CVT’s Manual mode is fun to play with especially when using the paddle shifters, but can make driving feel more like a video game than most people would appreciate.

When busy running errands, the car preformed without a hitch. There’s plenty of room to store most items, we found no annoying day to day quirks, and the gas mileage is awesome (33 miles per gallon average). Especially in traffic you’ll never find yourself saying, “I can’t find any good music.” The aforementioned AM/FM Radio, CD player, Aux/iPod input and SIRIUS subscription offer a truly staggering array of acoustic options.

Getting five adults in the modestly sized Lancer isn’t a gymnastics routine and all passengers reported being quite comfortable. Power was readily available from the 2.0 liter, 152 hp MIVEC engine. Highway driving was smooth as mentioned before in our ES review, and the car was composed at all speeds, feeling more Autobahn ready than other similarly priced Japanese cars. Handling characteristics were clean and precise. While the ES model had noticeable body roll, the GTS’s sportier suspension and tire setup helped make it much more stable and controlled. Still, it was not so firm as to be considered harsh over rougher portions of road.

Conclusion

There isn’t much more to do or say then give the usual praise given for a car that exceeds our expectations. The price is fair and the GTS is by far the best version in the current model line up. Choose a manual or CVT wisely, and enjoy great standard features while picking from phenomenal options. Overall the Lancer GTS was fun car to drive for a week and if this is any hint of what to expect from the Evolution X, then Evo fanatics get on that waiting list!