Vehicle: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart TC-SST
Price as tested: CDN$33498
Performance: Other than the Lancer Evolution and Ralliart, Mitsubishi also introduced the Lancer Sportback for 2009. Unlike the outgoing Sportback, the latest iteration is more of a hatchback than a wagon. Have we seen this route before? Subaru has successfully transformed its Impreza wagon into a hatchback.
The subject to this edition of test drive is the Lancer Sportback Ralliart. Ralliart is basically a detuned Evo with the same 4B11 powertrain and sophiscated AWD system. When it comes to Ralliart’s performance, it has 237 ponies and 253 lb/ft of torque based on the same 2.0 liter turbocharged DOHC 16-valve wih MIVEC. Although its 54 hp and 47 lb/ft of torque less than the Evo, it doesn’t mean Ralliart is anything short of power. In fact, its complete opposite. What it offers is the similarly responsive and willing powerhouse that is completely lag of turbo lag. Usually a detuned version has more turbo lag based on the same motor, not so with the Ralliart. When it comes to refinement and flexability, its equally impressive with the Ralliart as with the Evolution. The top-end won’t feel breathless thanks to Mitsubishi’s variable valve timing or MIVEC. Matched with Ralliart’s 4B11 is the same TC-SST dual clutch gearbox as the Evo. When it comes to shifting speed and efficiency, nothing beats dual clutch gearbox.The paddle shifters have encouraged the use of dual clutch gearbox behind the steering wheel.
Handling: While the base Lancer’s fundamantal is nothing to ashamed about, when it comes to chassis stiffness and rigidty. Ralliart is a step forward over the GTS without losing anything from the flagship Evo. That best sums up how good the Ralliart drive. Its sophiscated AWD system has worked exceptionally well with all the electronics. It acts as a first line of defence before stability control steps in. That means the electronic stability control won’t rear its ugly heads until driver got really wrong with the Ralliart. When it comes to active safety, this AWD with ASC have worked like a guardian angle for both enthuisasts and daily driver looking for a safe compact car. Lancer Ralliart’s another aspect of a good hot hatch is the suspension is firm without being harsh. While its firm enough for any enthuisasts to attack black-top mountain twisties, its rebound damping didn’t lose anything when it needs to ride out all the roughness of what we called poor Canadian roads. Body rolls are well-controlled. Understeer is minimal although its quite obvious when start to take liberties on the limits. The steering provides decent feedback and response, its also surprisingly precise for its own goods.
Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and ABS, Ralliart’s braking performance is about as good as it gets. The stopping distance is short, while pedal feel and moduation are on par with anything in its class. ABS won’t step in unnecessarily.
Interior: What really seperates Ralliart from standard sedan is the versatile of a hatchback. It got a much-needed wash/wiper for rear windshield during rainy weather. As you open the hatch, it got a low liftover with wide side sills for loading cargos into the hatch. Combined with the fold down rear seats, you can put anything including a refrigator into the back of the Ralliart.
The rest of the interior is typical Lancer. That means cheesy interior plastic with tacky carbon fiber trim on the dashboard. However, those standard Recaros have awesome support.
Because of the swoopy roofline, Sportback has lost some of its rear headroom although legroom remains decent in this class of compact car.
Conclusion: If you are simply looking for a practical Mitsubishi hatchback, Lancer Sportback GTS offers a good enough package especially it finally comes standard with 2.4 liter instead of 2.0 liter in the base Lancers. However, one has to get used to its noisy CVT during initial acceleration.
While Ralliart is almost like a perfect package, its price tag is hard to swallow consider Mitsubishi’s brand image and reputation over its classier rivals namely VW GTI and Acura CSX. Both offer better quality, especially in the cabin, than the Ralliart. Even though Ralliart’s drivability is nothing like a “poor man’s Evo”, its market positioning is more like a “neither/nor” when compare side-by-side with lesser GTS and flagship Evolution. What we are really looking forward is the Lancer Ralliart Evo.
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 3/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 3/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 2/5
Overall rating: 3/5