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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Review

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Had plenty of heads turning in its direction
Cars.com

An aggressive face and Volvo-ish profile
Motor Trend

Chic and truly spacious interior
Car and Driver

The Mitsubishi Lancer has emerged from a recent redesign with a nicely tailored shape that appeals to reviewers across the Web, including those at TheCarConnection.com.

The exterior styling on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is aggressive and certainly stands out among its rivals, without seeming too far-fetched like, say, the Honda Civic. Cars.com reviewers write that they rarely test "a sub-$20,000 car that gets stares, but the Lancer GTS" does just that and had "plenty of heads turning in its direction." The Auto Channel raves about the "huge upside-down trapezoid grille, bisected by the bumper" that dominates the Lancer 2008's front end and combines with "faux brake ducts for a scowlingly aggressive look." Reviewers at The Detroit News add that, aside from the front-end restyling, the "wedge-shaped body" and "raised beltline add to its speedy character," while "even the spoiler doesn't look out of place, appearing more tasteful than gaudy." That spoiler is available only on the "top-level GTS," according to Kelley Blue Book, and they note that other styling differences among the three available trim levels (DE, ES, and GTS) include "black door handles, black mirrors and 16-inch covered wheels" on the "base Lancer DE." Kelley Blue Book adds that the "Lancer ES projects a far more polished appearance, with 16-inch alloy wheels, color-keyed door handles and mirrors and a chrome grille surround."

Although reviews read by TheCarConnection.com contained nothing but praise for the exterior of the new Mitsubishi Lancer, the interior didn't fare as well. Kelley Blue Book feels that, despite the "contemporary, minimalist styling" inside the cabin of the new Mitsubishi Lancer, it "falls short of the category's best in terms of richness and refinement," especially on the DE and ES. However, Car and Driver reserved higher praise for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, writing that the interior "features clean, stylish aesthetics" and even describing it as "chic." Unfortunately for designers at Mitsubishi, reviews of this sort definitely seemed to be in the minority, as more often than not, reviewers sided with ConsumerGuide's assessment that some controls can be "an uncomfortable reach and its dashboard screen hard to read in sunny conditions." Edmunds adds that the "dashboard is not nearly as exciting as the Lancer's sporty, shark-nosed exterior," though they praise the "clean, straightforward design." Reviewers at The Detroit News summarized the interior by saying that "when you sit inside, you don't feel inspired to take on the highway, you feel like taking a nap."

Conclusion

The appeal of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer’s styling lies more outside than inside.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Lancer buyers are likely looking for a small sport sedan, but on a very tight budget. The Sentra is one of the cheapest ones; although it starts substantially higher than the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, the base Sentra S comes a lot better equipped, with a six-speed manual, anti-lock brakes, and conveniences like steering-wheel controls, air conditioning, and keyless entry. But the Sentra's interior doesn't feel as inviting and sporty as the Lancer's. The Honda Civic is also a bit more expensive, but it includes a much more refined, more rev-happy, and more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine, along with an equally slick-shifting manual transmission. The base Jetta is another alternative; it also comes with a long list of standard features, and it stands out for its torquey five-cylinder engine, available electronic stability control, and rear side airbags. The Impreza is another sporty sedan that might be considered; it isn't quite as fuel-efficient as the Civic or Sentra especially, but its torquey flat-four engine provides good performance, and it comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Next Steps:

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See the Mitsubishi Lancer in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

Comments (2 total)

  1. nice ride

    By lewis cowie | Posted: Jul 4th 2008, 11:47:28 AM

    i love evos

  2. In love!

    By Alicia | Posted: Nov 30th 2008, 11:54:35 AM

    I have a 2008 Lancer and I love it!

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