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I have a question for you: Do you look over your shoulder to admire your car as you’re walking away from it? Not just after purchasing, we all admire (or loathe) our choices and glancing at it is human nature. What I am talking about is the allure of a good looking machine that draws your eye months (or even years) after you get it.

Frankly, there are only a handful of vehicles which I consider this attractive and/or unique; fewer in the affordable price bracket of $20,000 or less. Aesthetics are a very important part of a car, one that has eluded many designers of late. I swear; some of the new designs out there are so random and awful that we are forced to call them “unique.”

I still remember my knee-jerk reaction to the Saturn Ion 4-door a few years back. It was one of those times that I wanted to say, “Well, I’m sure it has a great personality.” Nearly every automaker is guilty of producing some hideous machines that they call, “avant-garde,” while the rest of us look for the ugly stick used to beat it into shape.

Ah, but now there is something sweet to behold. No, it’s not another cube/mesh/flame surfacing/ new edge/ egg and potato blemish on our streets – it’s something else. Imagine a slick design that stops your gag reflex and brings you back to your childhood, when you had super-car posters on your wall. Why? Because those super-cars LOOKED COOL!

The 2008/2009 Mitsubishi Lancers look cool. This car has great lines and stands out from every other machine on the road – period. Everything from the shark inspired (or F-86 fighter plane) front end to the well rounded fender bulges. Even the angry looking headlights look great. Here is the good news: it’s a nice drive too! No, it’s not a road rocket and you won’t get the feeling that you’re in the monster Evo X (even though they share many of the same components). In the Lancer, you can get a sporty, damn good looking car that is loaded for cheap.

If you are okay with a mellow 2 liter, 4 cylinder putting out 152 horsepower (143 in California) and 146 lb feet of torque, then the Lancer DE might be up your alley. I would recommend the 5 speed manual over the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) if you want the most oomph out of the power-plant. However, the CVT is perfectly happy buzzing you along all day – and it does buzz a bit.

The 2009 model adds more power to the top of the line GTS with the addition of 16 horsepower. This, along with great looking 18 inch wheels and nifty paddle shifters added to the CVT, gives you a slick ride. I still recommend the 5 speed manual if you want the most out of the GTS (and want to save about a grand), but the CVT is a fun toy that feels like it’s actually shifting (which it is not).

Some of you may remember the older Lancer, but do not think for a moment that this car shares any similarities with its predecessor. Older Lancers (other than the Evos), were not pleasant in any way and I was never comfortable sitting in them. Sitting in this car is a pleasant experience. Although slightly shorter in overall length, the Lancer’s wheelbase is longer, wider and the roof is higher. Regardless of the dimensional differences, I felt it was similar in driving position and overall comfort to the Mazda 3 sedan (which is still one of the best out there).

The only downside to the interior is the use of some rather cheap plastics and not quite enough sound deadening. I like the simple temperature controls and the excellent driving position. This is a great car for tall people or people with long legs as the center council is narrow and the foot well is acceptably wide. Backseat comfort is nice with enough room for two adults and one child (or two baby seats and one adult). Even the trunk is spacious and the rear seats fold down 60/40 for maximum utility – shamefully, not many cars in this bracket have that option.

There is another minor issue with the accelerator given its extreme sensitivity. You need to carefully push as you begin to move or you will get a jerky start. The clutch is a bit on the light side too – I would recommend that Mitsubishi add more heft to both pedals. Regardless, it is something which is fairly easy to get used to.

When I first saw the new Lancer up close, I struggled to compare its looks to other cars. When I first drove the Lancers, I had that same dilemma. Then I remembered seeing a review in a European car magazine about the lovely Alfa Romeo 159. Yes, the Lancer looks quite a bit like one of the best looking, reasonably priced, European sedans out there.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same interior nor does it make the same sweet sounds as the Alfa Romeo. The biggest shame is the solidity of the chassis. No, there is nothing wrong with the structure. In fact, it is several times stiffer than its predecessor. It is a shame because this car can handle so much more. It’s like having a race-horse cursed with stubby legs.

I will say it now, if Mitsubishi dropped a 200 - 250 horsepower engine mated to a six-speed transmission into this thing, it would triple in sales and take little if nothing away from the Evo X (rumor has it that is exactly what they intend to do, but it has yet to be confirmed). This chassis is so robust that all you would need is a more aggressive suspension.

Still, shifting through the gears in the current GTS is downright gratifying. The same could be said for the base model DE. Both of these models look great and I wager you could make a base model DE look incredible with some aftermarket wheels. On the other hand, the beefier suspension and standard features of the GTS are a compelling deal-maker.

When I drove the Mitsubishi Lancer DE around corners, it took a lot of prodding to get the car to over-steer. Once it did, recovery was as easy as removing my foot from the accelerator. Highway cruising was very nice and I felt fairly secure despite the wind and road noise. The taller side walls on the DE’s less aggressive rubber made for a better highway ride than the GTS. Also, the DE was just sporty enough to make things interesting in the bends.

The GTS is a bit more serious and feels great when driving fast. The lower profile tires made a little more noise and the steering was more sensitive than the DE, which aided in its upper level, sporting pretensions. It is nice to feel the road and the steering in the GTS did not disappoint. The additional 16 horsepower was not as apparent to me as the wider tires and tighter suspension. It felt just about as quick in town as the DE. Merging onto the highway and passing traffic was another story. Each one of those hidden ponies made their presence known.

You can get a well rounded base model DE for around $17,000 and if you go full tilt for the loaded GTS expect to pay around $25,000. Either way, you get a lot for the money. Consider this: the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo 4-Door LT, loaded with many options, will cost about $16,000. Now, that’s a 103 horsepower wee little Aveo. Not a terrible car, but you can forget about looking over your shoulder and smiling after a few days. The additional $1,000 for the base Lancer is well worth it.

Adding to the aforementioned value is a 5 year, 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty along with a 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Not too shabby – and you get 5 year/unlimited mile roadside assistance to boot. Don’t forget the seven airbags that come standard (front, side, rear sides and a driver’s knee airbag).

Don’t be fooled by what you may have heard about the component sharing between Chrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. Yes, they do share several bits and bobs (even the co-developed 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder mill), but the execution of each project from each automaker follows a completely different philosophy. Look at it this way: The homely Compass might be slightly related to the Lancer – but so are wolves and chiwawas – and the Compass is no wolf!

Can you tell that I am impressed? The Lancers are one of those cars which makes its drivers look a little better, and that is a hell of a compliment considering what your average human can look like. This is also a car that caters equally to men and women. It’s great for a driving orientated person to take pride in. So, altogether – the new Lancers are nice driving cars covered in a sexy, masculine shell.

Tags: Cars News //