With 120 horsepower, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that comes on ES, LS, and O-Z Rally models is by no means the strongest in its class, but Mitsubishi has tuned it to generate more muscle at low- and mid-range speeds (130 pounds-feet of torque at 4250 rpm). It feels quite zippy around town, leaps off the line, and feels downright aggressive when running though second and third gears. It cruises comfortably at high speeds and there's still power left for passing.
The manual transmission has a short stick and shifts quickly. It feels tight and precise, even sporty. The available four-speed automatic transmission uses electronic controls and adapts shift points to the individual style of the driver. We drove it and were impressed by the smooth and quiet shift work, but noticed the automatic subtly dampened Lancer's spirit, as automatics tend to do.
The 2.4-liter engine that comes in the Ralliart and Sportback models has lots of low-rpm power, generating 162 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. It's very responsive around town and generates 162 horsepower. With its strong torque, the 2.4-liter engine works very well with the automatic, making for a responsive combination. When cruising in traffic, it quickly yet unobtrusively downshifts with a touch of the throttle. It seems unfortunate that the Sportback models are only available with an automatic as a five-speed manual seemed more appropriate for the bright yellow Ralliart Sportback that we drove.
The Lancer Evolution is very fast. We've driven them on roads and on racing circuits. The steering is super quick. The Evo turns in very quickly and eagerly takes a set going into corners. The suspension is very tight, very well controlled. The car is stable and fast going through the corners with excellent grip from the Yokohama A-046 tires. It feels stuck, planted to the pavement. Squeeze the throttle down. Incredible grip allows hard acceleration while still coming out of the corner and it rockets toward the next apex. The brakes are excellent. Its all-wheel-drive setup is a huge advantage whenever grip is even slightly compromised: bumpy pavement, wet pavement, snow, ice. A second set of tires is recommended for winter use (and we'd recommend a second set of wheels to go with them). Also, putting grippy tires on a four-wheel-drive rally car means buying tires a bit more often.
The Evolution feels like a competition car even when cruising. Whine from the driveline and rumble from the tires are faintly reminiscent of the sounds that rally cars make. The tires tend to follow ruts in the road similar to the way competition tires behave. This is a serious sports car so a few compromises must be made. The Evolution rides quite well compared with aftermarket suspensions, however. Next Page