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Mitsubishi Lancer - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ranks 20 out of 29 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 48 published reviews and test drives of the Mitsubishi Lancer, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

While the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer is a favorite in the automotive press for its aggressive exterior styling, decent handling and comfortable front seats, it has some drawbacks. The Lancer's reluctant engine and low-quality interior don't compare well with other compacts.

The automotive press has mixed feelings about the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer. Reviewers agree that the Lancer has the best looking exterior in its class and they love the comfort offered in both the front and rear seats. That said, they tend to complain about the lack of power coming from the Lancer's engine and the sluggish automatic transmission.

The Lancer is in a class led by cars known for their affordability and daily-driver-oriented performance, and so it falls squarely into that category with an engine that gets the job done but could hardly be called "sporty" and an automatic transmission that's on the slow side. If you want a car that will get you around town but that is also sporty and fun to drive, take a look at its big brother, the Lancer Evolution. The main difference between the two, besides the considerable price difference (around $15,000 more), is the engine.  The Evolution has a 2 liter, 4-cylinder engine that hammers out 291 horsepower, meaning it packs a considerable punch.  Performance oriented drivers should also check out the Mazda3 which is a class leader for performance and only a few thousand more expensive than the Lancer.

Other than its engine, the main shortcoming of the Lancer is its miserly interior.  Although its strengths are comfortable front seats and impressive cargo capacity (in the hatchback version), most of the materials are low grade and some controls can be confusing and hard to read.  If you're looking for a more refined interior, and are willing to spend a bit more, consider the Volkswagen Rabbit. Meanwhile, if you want something with even better cargo capacity, the Honda Fit, which is in the same price range as the Lancer, is worth a test drive.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer comes in 4 trims.  The DE and ES are the base and mid-level  models while the GTS and Ralliart are the two top-of-the line trims. New for 2010 is the Lancer Sportback, a five-door hatchback version of the Lancer available in GTS and Ralliart trims.

• "The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer is a solid and sporty alternative to economy sedan best-sellers, even if it doesn't quite match their overall refinement." -- Edmunds
• "You just can't go from an Evo anything to a non-Evo anything else and find it nearly as inspiring. It was like dating Pamela Anderson for a while and then going out with Pamela Anderson's lesser-known half-sister, Gladys. Gladys is reliable and roomy, if a little soft. But she's no Pamela." -- AutoWeek
• "Lancer Evolution models are strong performers that aren't punishing on the street, but high prices detract from their appeal. Other Lancers ride and handle well enough, but their engines lags in power and refinement." -- Consumer Guide
• "Although the Lancer feels well-built where it counts most, the interior styling, materials and noise levels don't convey the same sense of refinement delivered by competitors like the MAZDA3 or Honda Civic." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The Ralliart is softer, but that's what you'd expect from a car with a good balance between everyday commuting and occasional canyon carving -- a balance backed up by a high level of standard equipment, including Bluetooth, an MP3 input and almost everything else you can imagine." -- Popular Mechanics
• "The Ralliart boasts a fun-to-drive personality plus everyday driving conveniences like auxiliary ports for gadgets, steering-wheel controls, keyless entry/ignition and ample trunk space to humor your most impulsive shopping trips." -- Mother Proof

Lancer Performance - 7.7 (Good)

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer was never meant to be a high-performance machine like its supped-up counterpart, the Lancer Evolution. Still, it fulfills its mission well as a daily driver. "While we knew that the Lancer...wouldn't be a hard-core driver's car," says Automobile Magazine, "we do wish it carried a greater amount of the Evolution's DNA." Read More

Lancer Exterior - 9.1 (Excellent)

The automotive press agrees that the Lancer's exterior styling, with its bold front-end design and sleek rear, is a winning combination. As Kelley Blue Book says, "Taller, wider and more aggressively styled than the previous-generation Lancer, the...Lancer commands a much larger presence on the road." Read More

Lancer Interior - 7.0 (Good)

Where the Lancer falls behind is in its interior. Though reviewers enjoy the comfortable front seats and the cavernous space offered in the Sportback trim, they complain loudly about most everything else. As Automobile Magazine puts it, "When is better just not good enough? When it's the interior of a base Mitsubishi Lancer." Read More

Lancer Safety - NA

Although the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer has not yet completed all of the government and insurance industry crash tests, it does well in driver and passenger safety for both front-end and side impact crash tests. Read More

Lancer Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer has one of the more comprehensive warranty packages in the business. It includes a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Read More