Car Reviws |
| 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 23 Feb 2011 07:34 AM PST         
INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I'm not completely against the CVT, but in this case, with the Lancer, it does take all the fun away. With a manual, this car is quite an entertaining ride. Otherwise, this is not a terrible car. The Sportback body doesn't bother me. It actually looked pretty good last night in the parking lot when it was clean before heading out into the remnants of the snowstorm. I was hoping for the turbocharged version, but this is just the GTS, which is still semiquick. The cabin in the Lancer Sportback is loud. There seems to be little sound-deadening material. The back seats were down, so I think that added to the road and wind noise, but you could clearly hear the engine through the firewall. The car took a long time to heat up and just got warm on my 20-minute drive home; I never took my gloves off. The heated seats worked fine, though. The front-wheel drive was great for the ride, but that CVT just keeps screwing stuff up. When you gas it hard, the revs skyrocket and the car goes, but if you hit a slippery spot, the power just dies. You can turn the traction control off but that just seems to confuse the car. The revs will shoot up, the tires will spin wildly, then the trans will slow down and the power leaves. It's strange. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: I'm pretty sure Mitsubishi is trying to sell consumers on the notion of this being a "sporty" hatchback with the Sportback name and all, but visually, it just screams "practical" to me. As I approached the car, I was thinking about all the stuff I probably could fit into the back of this thing, such as my snowboard and the rest of the necessary gear for a weekend on the slopes. If the designers curved the back end a little more, I think it would add a little more spunk to the exterior and make it look closer to "sporty" than it does now. If you want a sporty hatchback in both looks and performance, may I recommend the Mazda Mazdaspeed 3? The interior looks decent for this price range, and there are seat warmers in this test car, which made me smile on my frigid commute. As Jake noted, it's extremely loud going down the road. More sound insulation is a must. It was roomy, though, with my two backseat passengers last night staying nice and comfortable. I also have to copy Jake in regards to the CVT: It did nothing to help this car and actually made me dislike it. With the throttle floored, the engine just groans really loud and takes off slowly. The fun factor of this car is low with this transmission. Sure, it gets decent mileage, but I'm somebody who needs a car to give me something in the entertainment department, too. NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This is a spritely little hatch and I enjoyed my one-night stint in the Lancer Sportback GTS. I really like the looks. The hatch has function and a styling dimension that adds to this car. Conversely, the nose has an aero look up front. It's sleek, well-done and a bit athletic. So how does it drive? The 168-hp output is surprisingly solid and is more than adequate for a car that just tops 3,000 pounds. Like Jake, I'd opt for the turbo, which really is a runner. I had this car in Ralliart form more than a year ago, and with the forced induction and dual-clutch, it was a hoot to spirit around open roads. I still remember it. This base Lancer is less invigorating, but you can inject some anger into it by aggressively laying on the throttle, and it's more than up to the task for gusty passing on the expressways. Hard launches are also on its punch card, and the Mitsu is more than onboard for those. Now, is it blindingly fast? No. But it's a fairly light car that does feel quick. That's also helped by the chassis, which is rock solid and sporty. There's little dive under braking and the steering has weight to it with nice pickup off center. It handles curves and maneuvers with poise and sport. The CVT felt jerky at times, especially when hammering the gas. Otherwise, it was fine for me. Inside is an average cabin. The steering wheel has a sleek leather wrapping, and the gauges and knobs look sporty in keeping with the overarching theme of this line of vehicles. The hard plastics do look inexpensive. Overall, I like driving Lancers. They're sporty, they have an athletic demeanor and they can be pushed. I'd take a manual or the dual-clutch Ralliart any day, but my only disappointment from my stint in the GLS was a traffic jam. On a bright, sun-drenched morning, I was stuck in traffic for more than half of my commute in, handcuffing my need for speed. 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS Base Price: $21,455 As-Tested Price: $24,755 Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; FWD, continuously variable transmission Output: 168 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 167 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm Curb Weight: 3,076 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/24.3 mpg Options: GTS Touring package including leather seating surfaces, 710-watt, nine-speaker stereo with 10-inch subwoofer, satellite radio with three months of service, 6CD/MP3 in-dash head unit, HID headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, auto on/off headlamp control, heated front seats, power glass sunroof ($3,300) |
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