2009 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Pros

Great MPG, Fun to drive, front leg room, safety, price

Cons

accel with cruise control is craaaazy, man!

Purchased As New

Mitsubishi never gets any love. You always see Toyota, Honda, and now even Hyundai making the headlines. But on the side, the fact is Mitsubishi has been building great automobiles. After 8 trouble-free years, I traded in my Eclipse for a Lancer. I was so happy with the quality of the Eclipse that I knew I wanted to stick with Mitsubishi.

But times had changed in the 8 years. I now have a family. Gas prices are up. CA passed no cell-phone laws. And of course, safety is more important than a "sporty" look. So, if you're reading this review, I'm going to guess that mpg, safety and affordability are what's important to you, along with good looks if that is possible. You have done all the comparisons. You have narrowed your choices to the Corolla, Civic, Ford Focus, and possibly the Elantra or Sonata. I bet you didn't even think about Mitsubishi, at first, did you?

You simply must throw the Lancer in the mix and give it a test-drive. It is Mitsubishi's answer to the above-mentioned class of vehicles. So, here is my 2 cents.

This car is flat-out fun to drive. It doesn't go 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, but it will go 0-73 in about enough time for you to realize that the CHP is behind you and pulling you over. (This happened to me exactly 4 days after I bought the car). So did the CHP give me a break because I was driving a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer and not quite used to the speedometer? Hell no.

The shift to passing gear is smooth and quick. Leg room is excellent in the front. Back seat leg room is decent. Seat adjusts up and down, as well as back and forth. It rates very high on safety, which is of utmost importance for me. If you've never had a car with bluetooth, I would recommend paying the little extra for it because it is the BOMB!

The only thing that I have found "interesting" about the Lancer is its acceleration rate when going uphill while on cruise control. It's typical of cars to accelerate, but you're going to find yourself tapping the break a few times and saying "Whoa, Nellie".

So, to sum it up, I really like this car. I can be the safety-conscious person that I have become, and still have a fun car to drive. But, as with all reviews, don't take my word for it. Put this car in your list of test drives.

- Dan