Driving the underrated Mitsubishi Lancer GT

The Mitsubishi Lancer is one of the most underrated cars in the compact sedan class. Ask most people what compact they’d choose if they were to get one and chances are, you’d hear "Honda Civic," "Mazda3," or "Toyota Altis" as the reply.

Not that there are anything wrong about those popular cars, but including the current Lancer in one’s short list of compact sedans is certainly something no one would regret.

Granted the Lancer isn’t going to win beauty contests compared to the racy Mazda3 and Ford Focus Sport or the sleek new Civic. But this Mitsu is certainly far from ugly and, in the case of the GT model, dressed up with enough kit (front airdam, side skirts, rear under-bumper apron, trunk spoiler, front fog lamps, smoked headlamp covers, 5-spoke 16-inch wheels with 195/55-R16 tires) to make it look understatedly sporty in a BMW sort of way — tall and upright yet looking like it can run with waist-high sports cars all day. Perhaps the halo cast by the mighty Lancer Evo rally car does this.

Fortunately, this flagship Lancer has the power to justify its aerodynamic aids as well as its "GT" nomenclature. Under the hood lies a potent normally aspirated Euro2-compliant 2-liter DOHC 16-valve 4G63 powerplant that, in turbocharged form, powers the all-conquering Lancer Evo. But even without the turbo, the Lancer GT develops a worthy 135 ps at a relatively low 5750 rpm (most engines need to rev to 6000 rpm to develop max power) and a very respectable 18 kg-m of torque a 4500 rpm. The motor is mated to a 4-speed automatic with Mitsubishi’s Sportronic manumatic shifting.

On the road, this translates to a very relaxed drive at city speeds. A mere tip-in of the throttle allows the Lancer to merge with traffic effortlessly. Give it the boot, however, and the true nature of the Lancer GT comes to the fore, accelerating noticeably quicker than any 1.6- or 1.8-liter car and even most 2.0-liter midsized sedans (thanks to its lighter weight). While the GT is no bahn-stormer (you’d need a 2-liter variable valve timing motor for that), it could certainly keep up with energetically driven 2-liter-powered Civics, Mazda3s and Ford Focuses on the street.

The balance between ride and handling is another strong point. The damping of the front strut/rear multilink suspension is firm and the steering responsive enough (there is even a strut-tower brace to further stiffen the chassis) to make it an enjoyable drive on a winding road; yet the ride is supple enough to let your kids sleep peacefully in the back on a long drive. The ABS-aided four-wheel discs deliver strong stopping power.

Inside, there are yet more plus points. A high roof and upright greenhouse may make a car look less sporty, but it does make for generous cabin space. Head-, elbow-, and legroom are in generous supply. The sporty red-and-black bucket seats are comfortable and hug you in all the right places — much appreciated when you are attacking the apex of your favorite corner. White-faced gauges, faux carbon-fiber trim on the dashboard, a Ferrari-like airbag-equipped Momo 3-spoke leather steering wheel and a leather-wrapped shift knob up the sport factor of the interior.

Stuck in traffic? Well here is another Lancer GT "surprise-and-delight" feature: Hit a button on the MP3-playing Mitsubishi stereo head unit and watch the 7-inch LCD monitor slide out of the dashboard, ready to entertain you with your favorite DVDs. Now try and get all these delectable features in other compacts!