Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer SE 2.4 AWD. It gets thumbs up from consumers as well. They were impressed with the warranty which is one of the best in the industry at 10 years or 100,000 miles powertrain and bumper to bumper 5 year or 60,000 miles.
I thought it was just me but consumers have wondered why the company doesn’t blow its own horn more about their great warranty and more for me, why don’t they market more aggressively. It may not be true, but seems that Mitsubishi doesn’t do as much advertising as many of the other brands.
General Information:
Parts from the US / Canada 0%, Japan 99%, engine and transmission is from Japan. It is assembled in Kurashiki, Japan. Classification is Compact. Cars from Nissan:
Handling & Performance:
168 horsepower doesn’t sound like much but it is plenty and gets you from zero to 60 mph in about 7 seconds. And a real plus is fuel economy of 30 mpg which makes it well balanced in power and cost of operation. The CVT transmission gives it smooth undetectable shifting from speed to speed / gear to gear. And that is makes it the efficient car that it is.
A continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is a type of automatic transmission that provides more useable power, better fuel economy and a smoother driving experience than a traditional automatic. While an automatic transmission has a set number of gear ratios (a.k.a. speeds), usually 4, 5 or 6, the CVT can constantly change the relationship of engine speed to car speed. You never hear or feel the transmission shift, but simply raises and lowers the engine speed as needed, calling up higher engine speeds (or RPMs) for better acceleration and lower RPMs for better fuel economy while cruising.
Styling:
With an Icon grill design Mitsubishi is quickly identifiable. And this is in answer to Laura’s question, “why do all cars today look the same”? True enough that unless you do what I do and have occasion to go to car shows, test drive and track testing, it would be more difficult to tell one from the other.
Fit and Finish:
Very good.
Cost:
Excellent pricing for a 4-door sedan even for a compact.
Conveniences and comfort:
Good selection of available features generally but the test car I drove did not have a Bluetooth phone connection. That I think should be standard on ALL brands just like seatbelts are required, so should things like Cruise Control and Bluetooth connectivity. We simply do not get along well without our cell phones and while in the car not having Bluetooth is more dangerous than no seatbelts or airbags. Cruise is a necessary feature since it helps to even out the flow of traffic by encouraging consistent speed. It is the speeding up and slowing down that causes accidents and the more radical the changes the worse the accidents.
Consumer Recommendation:
A perfect compact family sedan that is economical and a well handling car. I would surely include the VW offerings in your search. And if you can upgrade the TDI (turbo diesel) is a great option. Of course the Korean cars should impress you as well – Hyundai and Kia.
Recognized Competition:
Mitsubishi Lancer $20,000, Audi S4 $20,000, Dodge Dart SE $16,000, Ford Focus $18,000, Honda Civic LX $19,000, Hyundai Elantra $17,000, Kia Forte SX 19,000, Mazda 3 SV $17,000, Nissan Sentra S CVT $17,000, Subaru Impreza 2.0 $20,000, Toyota Corolla LE $18,000, Volkswagen Golf 2.5 4-Door $20,000, Volkswagen GTI $25,000, Volkswagen Jetta $19,000.
Good News:
Priced well, economical to operate with about 30 mpg fuel economy, smooth CVT transmission and generally comfortablejoe.
Bad News:
No complaints.
Standard Equipment:
2.4 liter 168 horsepower inline 4 cylinder, continuous variable transmission, front side and side curtain airbags with driver knee airbag, LATCH system, tire pressure monitoring system, engine immobilizer, anti theft alarm, active stability control and traction control, all wheel drive, ABS brake system with electronic brake force distribution, air condition, steering wheel mounted cruise and audio controls, audio with CD and MP3 with 4 speakers, tilt steering wheel, 8-way adjustable driver seat, heated front seats and mirrors, 60/40 fold down rear seat, power windows, locks and mirrors, 12 v outlet, remote keyless entry, auto headlights, 15” alloy wheels.
Gas Stats:
$4.29 / Gal avg. Feb. 23, 2013
For more information.
22 City and 29 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $20,295.
Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
