Photo: Mitsubishi

2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART

The new-generation Lancer Ralliart sedan is much more sporty than before. In fact, it’s now a slightly tamer version of the fiery Lancer Evolution. The two cars share the same engine, but the Ralliart’s develops 54 fewer horses, and its dual-clutch transmission lacks the S-Sport mode. On the other hand, it has a larger trunk and sells for a lot less than the Evolution. Interior and trunk Pronounced side bolsters on the Recaro seats combined with wide doorsills that collect dirt make entry and exit difficult. The seats are very comfortable, even without lumbar adjustment. The well-defined bolsters at both trunk and thigh level hold the occupants very snugly in place. Heavily built people may find the fit is tight. Headroom and legroom are adequate for most users. The driving position is very good but would be even better with a telescoping as well as a tilt steering wheel and with adjustable seat height. The 2010 model will correct both of these shortcomings. Getting out of the back is harder than getting in because there’s a lack of room between the B-pillar and seat cushion. The bench seat is comfortable for two adults. Legroom is good, but headroom is a bit tight for tall people. The trunk opening behind the 60/40-split backrest is a bit low. Trunk capacity is relatively modest, mostly because it lacks height. The opening is average in size. Convenience and safety features The cabin is very well finished throughout and the quality of materials is quite good. Soundproofing is acceptable for the type of vehicle. The various storage spaces are small and their overall capacity is unimpressive. Gauges and controls are well laid out, but most controls, and the glove compartment, are not illuminated at night. The climate control system is efficient. The turn signals are inaudible. Safety features include seven airbags (two front, two side and two curtain airbags plus an airbag for the driver’s knees), four-wheel antilock disc brakes, good headlights and five head restraints. The rear restraints don’t adjust high enough for tall people. Visibility is good in all directions except on a three-quarter-rear angle, because of the wide C-pillars. The big rear wing can hide a following vehicle from view. It is hard to judge distances when backing up. There is a near-constant dash-top reflection in the windshield, and a constellation of lights creates a dance of luminous dots in the windshield at night.

In U.S. government tests, the Lancer obtained five stars out of five for driver protection and four out of five for front-passenger protection in a frontal impact. In side-impact tests, it earned five stars for front-occupant protection and four for rear-passenger protection. It scored four stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Lancer a Good rating, its highest, for driver protection in an offset frontal collision and for all-occupant protection in its rear and side crash tests. Engine and transmission The Ralliart debuts with a milder version of the Evolution’s 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine. It outputs 237 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. Needless to say, with that much power on tap the Ralliart delivers very energetic, instantly responsive acceleration and pickup at all times. Though maximum torque only occurs at 3000 rpm, you don’t have to wait to feel the turbo engage. This engine is sufficiently flexible for normal driving; it doesn’t have to be running at high rev speeds to deliver decent acceleration. However, we’d like throttle response to be more linear. This four-cylinder is noisy in strong acceleration. It meets strict Tier2/Bin 5 emissions controls standards. It performs almost as well as the Evo version. With a 55-litre fuel tank and an average consumption of 11L/100 km (our test results), fuel autonomy is rather limited. The automatic six-speed TC-SST Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift is the only transmission available for the Ralliart. It can select two gears at a time. One gear is engaged by one of the two wet multi-plate clutches and the other is pre-selected, waiting to be engaged by the second wet multi-plate clutch. The shift is manual or automatic, depending on the mode chosen by the driver, and occurs with no perceptible delay. There are two modes, Normal and Sport. In Sport mode, shifts occur at higher engine speeds when the transmission is in automatic, and the transmission blips engine rpm speed before it downshifts.

This transmission generally shifts smoothly but in cold weather, until it warms up, gearshifts can be abrupt. You can shift gears manually either with the shifter or the wheel-mounted paddles. In both modes, automatic and manual, gearshifts are ultra-rapid. Feeding power to all four wheels is the Mitsubishi Super All-Wheel Control system (S-AWC) that not only controls torque distribution but is also integrated with an active vehicle control device. The integral transaxle divides torque between the front and rear wheels. A toggle switch positioned on the dashboard lets the driver choose between three traction modes: Tarmac for dry, paved surfaces, Gravel for wet or rough surfaces and Snow for snow-covered roads. Torque distribution is roughly 40/60, 50/50 and 60/40. If wheel slippage is detected, the system can direct up to 100% of torque to a single axle. The limited-slip front and rear differentials distribute torque as required between the wheels of the axles they drive. The system is very efficient, in all situations. On the road The four-wheel independent suspension delivers a firm ride to match the sporty character of the car. Needless to say, the reaction on some bumps is on the harsh side, not forgetting that the 18-inch tires have a 45- profile. All the same, the ride is generally comfortable. On winding roads the Ralliart transforms curves into straight lines thanks to its excellent road holding and stable handling on nearly all types of pavement. It drives with a sturdy feel. The power steering is well weighted, stable, precise and very quick. It transmits a bit of road sensation and has a large turning circle. The four-wheel disc brakes are powerful and resist well to fade.

Inspection Our inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre showed that the Lancer rests on a sturdy platform that is relatively well protected against corrosion. The holes in the grille under the front bumper are big enough to allow debris to get through and damage the turbo air exchanger cooler. The bottom of the fuel filler pipe lacks protection. The wiring for the ABS braking system is very well secured. The engine’s overhead camshafts are chain driven. Conclusion With a more civilized suspension and more practical trunk, a lower price and engine performance that almost matches that of the Evolution, the Ralliart offers a superior price/performance ratio. In addition to the sedan model, the Ralliart is also available as a five-door hatchback, called Sportback. PROS: high-performance engine, comfortable front seats, efficient automatic transmission, superior handling, solid structure, very good warranty CONS: trunk capacity, difficult front entry and exit, several controls not illuminated, rear wing restricts visibility, openings under front bumper, inaudible turn signals

2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART Engine: 16-valve, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, turbo Horsepower: 237 hp at 6,000 rpm Torque: 253 lb-ft from 2,500 to 4,750 rpm Transmission: 6-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 263.5 cm Length: 457 cm Width: 176 cm Height: 149 cm Weight: 1,570 kg Tires: 215/45R18 Maximum towing capacity: not available Airbags: dual front, plus two side, two curtain airbags, one airbag for driver’s knees Fuel consumption: Natural Resources Canada rating: City: 12.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) Highway: 7.9 L/100 km (35 mpg) Test result: 11 L/100 km (26 mpg) Test temperature: 7°C to 22°C CO2 emissions: 4,944 kg/20,000 km Fuel tank capacity: 55 litres Fuel requirement: premium grade gasoline Acceleration: 0–100 km/h: 6.2 seconds 60–100 km/h: 4.8 seconds

Competition: Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Dodge Caliber SRT4, Mazdaspeed3, Nissan Sentra SE-R, Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen GTi Warranty:

Full basic coverage: 5 years/100,000 km Powertrain: 10 years/160,000 km Surface corrosion: 5 years/100,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 5 years/100,000 km (full coverage);

8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system).

Factory replacement parts:

Rear bumper: $958 Front brake disc: $156 Brake pads: $118 Muffler: $480 Front fender: $315

Price according to trim level: $32,998 Main options:

Premium Package: $5,000 Price as tested: $37,998 Freight and preparation: $1,560 Dealers: Quebec: 20 Canada: 65 © May 2009. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec