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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Safety Review

June 17, 2009

SAFETY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

outward visibility aft and to the right-rear isn't great
ConsumerGuide

Good, frontal offset
IIHS

Five stars, front and side driver impact; four stars, front and side passenger impact
NHTSA

The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer performs well in crash tests, but base versions have optional anti-lock brakes—a feature that today is standard in many of the cheapest cars.

After putting the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer through its full battery of tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards it a full five stars for front and side impact driver protection, and four out of five stars for front and side impact passenger protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests affirm these results, as the IIHS bestows its highest rating, "good," on the Lancer 2009 for frontal offset collisions.

The Auto Channel points out that the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer uses "Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) unibody construction to disperse impact energy," and it shows in crash-test results. One important safety characteristic that is hard to incorporate into crash-test ratings is driver visibility, and unfortunately, visibility from within the Mitsubishi Lancer isn't all that great. ConsumerGuide finds that "outward visibility aft and to the right-rear isn't great, and it's made worse by the available rear spoiler" on the GTS trim.

The 2009 Lancer also brings a full complement of safety features. Edmunds observes that the 2009 Lancer features a "solid array of airbags, including front-seat side airbags, full-length head curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag." Cars.com adds that "ABS is optional on the DE base trim and standard on the ES and GTS," a disparity that leads Kelley Blue Book to "recommend taking that step up" to the ES if you have the means.

Conclusion

The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer boasts decent crash-test scores, but the lack of stability control and, on the base models, ABS is a negative.

SAFETY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:outward visibility aft and to the right-rear isn't greatConsumerGuideGood, frontal offsetIIHSFive stars, front and side driver impact; four stars, front and side passenger impactNHTSA The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer performs well in crash tests, but base versions have optional anti-lock brakes—a feature that today is standard in many of the cheapest cars. After putting the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer through its full battery of tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards it a full five stars for front and side impact driver protection, and four out of five stars for front and side impact passenger protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests affirm these results, as the IIHS bestows its highest rating, "good," on the Lancer 2009 for frontal offset collisions. The Auto Channel points out that the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer uses "Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) unibody construction to disperse impact energy," and it shows in crash-test results. One important safety characteristic that is hard to incorporate into crash-test ratings is driver visibility, and unfortunately, visibility from within the Mitsubishi Lancer isn't all that great. ConsumerGuide finds that "outward visibility aft and to the right-rear isn't great, and it's made worse by the available rear spoiler" on the GTS trim. The 2009 Lancer also brings a full complement of safety features. Edmunds observes that the 2009 Lancer features a "solid array of airbags, including front-seat side airbags, full-length head curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag." Cars.com adds that "ABS is optional on the DE base trim and standard on the ES and GTS," a disparity that leads Kelley Blue Book to "recommend taking that step up" to the ES if you have the means. ConclusionThe 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer boasts decent crash-test scores, but the lack of stability control and, on the base models, ABS is a negative. 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER STYLING | [8 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "Lancer ES projects a far more polished appearance” Edmunds: "dashboard is not nearly as exciting as the Lancer's sporty, shark-nosed exterior” Car and Driver: "Chic and truly spacious interior" The appeal of the 2009 ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

The base Jetta comes with a long list of standard features and 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, but its torquey flat-four engine provides good performance, and it comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Sentra is one of the cheapest models; although it starts at a price substantially higher than the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer's, 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. However, 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. Each of these rivals is considerably quieter and more refined inside than the Lancer.

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See the Mitsubishi Lancer in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

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