Mitsubishi Lancer 2016 Review
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Part of the Japanese automaker’s line-up since 1973, the Mitsubishi Lancer is a C-segment sedan that competes against established rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. Aimed at the budget conscious crowd, the Lancer is dedicated to satisfying the basic need of passenger transport and nothing more.
Key Features: | |
Engine | 2.0L / 4-cyl |
Transmission | CVT |
Power | 148 Hp / 197 Nm |
Top Speed | 200 km/h |
Price | AED 39,900 |
Exterior
Brutish in its stance, the tenth-generation Lancer flaunts a multitude of jagged contours along its bodywork to connote a macho aura. Taut headlamps and a protruding grille suggest aggression – an aesthetic trait that is increased tenfold in the GT variant and now-discontinued Evolution X.
Lacking the rear spoiler to compliment the tall roof, the basic variant comes across as bulbous, especially when sat on a set of puny 205/60 R16 wheels. Pretentious in its design, the Lancer lacks the subtlety and elegance of its chicer rivals.
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Interior
Flimsy plastics of all shapes and sizes come together to form the cabin of the 2016 Lancer. Sporting a two-tone color scheme, the econo-sedan is home to beige cloth seats and faux carbon fiber trim. Several blank switches and exposed nuts and bolts around the cabin, work as a testament to the shoddy build quality and dreadful attention to detail.
With a steering rack that prohibits telescopic adjustments, a lack of rear A/C vents, and a wheelbase that is 66mm shorter than that of its rivals, “comfort” isn’t a term that one would, or even should, relate with the Lancer.
Safety & Features
Awarded a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, the Mitsubishi Lancer fares well on the safety front with features such as ABS, Traction Control, two airbags, and an Engine Immobilizer being standard across the range. On the entertainment side of things, the Lancer hasn’t got much to offer apart from a dreary 4-speaker audio system with USB, CD, and AUX compatibility.
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Drive
Residing under the tapering hood of the Lancer, is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that in that traditional Mitsubishi sense, is far from fuel efficient. Mated to a droning CVT transmission, the Japanese sedan directs its power to the front wheels and hits the 100 km/h mark in a painstaking 9.5-seconds.
Bearing an output of 148 Horsepower and 197 Nm of torque, the 2016 Lancer feels lethargic on the move and averages a berserk 12.2 liters / 100 kilometers – a figure that is associated with significantly larger displacement engines.
With a longer wheelbase and wider track than previous models, the tenth-generation variant benefits from greater stability when cornering. Riding on a MacPherson strut suspension up front and a multi-link system at the rear - which falls on the softer side of the spectrum - the Lancer tends to bottom out on speed breakers in and around the city.
Mushy brakes and a light steering, the drive offered by the Lancer bears no semblance of sportiness – a stark contrast to its deeply sculpted exterior. With just 148 horsepower, it also pales in comparison to the Elantra’s and Civic’s 156-and-158-horsepower output.
Verdict
For those in search of technology, there stands the Hyundai Elantra; For those in search of quality, there stands the Honda Civic; For those in search of unwavering reliability, there stands the Toyota Corolla. So, with a price tag of AED 39,900, the only thing that’s evident, is that the Mitsubishi Lancer EX isn’t that EX-ceptional after all…
Pros:
- Bright halogen headlamps
Cons:
- Limited mirror adjustment gives birth to sizeable blind spots
- Dreadful CVT transmission
- Terrible quality of materials lets a lot of road noise into the cabin
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