2013 Mitsubishi Lancer update

By Alborz Fallah
August 23rd, 2012

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The Mitsubishi Lancer has been updated for the 2013 model year with the introduction of a new variant and multimedia interface improvements across the range.

The current generation Mitsubishi Lancer has been around since 2007 and this year’s changes are expected to be its last update before the next generation is released.

The $23,990 Mitsubishi Lancer LX fills the gap between the base model ES (which has dropped down to $19,990) and the sports-themed VRX ($29,990). Although unchanged from the outside, the Lancer ES now comes with a new audio system that utilises Bluetooth 2.0 with voice activation as well wireless telephone and streaming audio. There’s also a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls.

The automatic version of the ES, which is equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and is $2000 more than the manual, is now equipped with a feature designed to stop the vehicle from rolling backwards on hills in the time it takes the driver to disengage the brake pedal in favour of the accelerator.

For $4000 over the ES, the LX gains 16-inch alloy wheels, exterior changes such as chrome touches for the radiator grille, boot lid accent (on sedan) and door handles, as well as a reversing camera, parking sensors, keyless entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, power driver’s seat and climate control. In addition, a new 6.1-inch colour touchscreen multimedia system is included as well.

Both Lancer ES and LX models are powered by the same 110kW/197Nm 2.0-litre MIVEC four-cylinder engine and are available with either a five-speed manual or CVT, using 7.1 litres per 100km or 7.3L/100km respectively. The Lancer VRX gains all the changes to the LX as well as Rockford Fosgate speaker system and a larger 125kW/226Nm 2.4-litre MIVEC engine. It’s available as a manual (8.8L/100km) or CVT (8.9L/100km).

As part of the changes Mitsubishi has dropped the VR and Aspire variants in favour of a more streamlined product offering. The Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart remains unchanged with a starting price of $44,490. All new models will go on sale come September 1.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer manufacturer’s list prices:

Mitsubishi Lancer ES 5MT $19,990
Mitsubishi Lancer ES CVT $22,240
Mitsubishi Lancer LX 5MT $23,990
Mitsubishi Lancer LX CVT $26,990
Mitsubishi Lancer VRX 5MT $29,990
Mitsubishi Lancer VRX CVT $32,240
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart TC-SST $44,490

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Henry Toussaint

They should have kept the Aspire, that was an Underated but good car!
- Noddy of Toyland
  
  But stupidly expensive, and not that far from the ES or one of the million special edition Lancers.
  - Henry Toussaint
    
    Quite true, at least the price could of been 32k, competing with the Elantra Premium, Focus Titanium, Cruze SRI-V, Mazda 3 SP25…..
- Able
  
  I agree, the Aspire was a good lux-spec small car with pretty much everything as standard. Now the only Lancers with xenon headlamps are Ralliarts/Evos…
- MisterZed
  
  I think they sold a few hundred Aspires a year. Hardly worth the bother – who would pay $35k on a Lancer? rofl.
  - DAVIDZ
    
    ALMOST as stupid as anybody buying ANY hyundai over $15…lol ROFLx3
    - MisterZed
      
      I can guarantee you it’s better than your rubbish Chinese made TV set that will last about 3 years before carking it.
      - DAVIDZ
        
        my panasonic is made in japan…thanks for your concern!!
      - MisterZed
        
        *claps*. So is my Sony.
      - Gibbut
        
        it must be 20 years old then. check the back, i bet you it isnt made in japan.
      - Henry Toussaint
        
        Well, mine is Samsung (Korean)…
      - Yetiman
        
        Duh…most TV’s are made in China.
      - Gibbut
        
        yep, misterzeds sony will be made in china too
      - MisterZed
        
        No, my Sony was made in Japan.
Kampfer

Mitsubishi Lancer VRX CVT @ $32,240. I’d pick new Civic Sport over this.
- Richard
  
  Why would you pick either?
Stagger Lee

Where’s the vr gone?
- MisterZed
  
  No one bought the VR. 85% of Lancers sold are the base model ES, the rest being VR-X or Evo.
picky

the LX seems good value, but they all sound dear with an ad for the $21888 activ on the side – fail
- DAVIDZ
  
  active is the older my12 model and limited edition
  - Razor
    
    Put the LX and Activ side-by-side and you’d think the activ at $21888 was the more expensive of the two (in terms of value for money)
guest

Have they fixed the dodgy cvt gearbox ? I have searched around and found a lot of complaints about there reliability and just stop working as your driving along in some cases.
- DAVIDZ
  
  yeap, and world best 10 year warranty on the powertain/gearbox, its bulletproof
  
  more arm chair experts??
  - MisterZed
    
    Oh, that’s right, exept it’s non-transferrable to the next owner. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi’s 5-year warranty is only valid to 130,000km, while Hyundai’s is unlimited km.
  - StevenA
    
    There are numerous people making rubbish comments here that arent factual, lets stop the hate related comments and stick to the facts, Lancer has a bullet proof reputation and there is nothing dodgy about it, as for reputation,
    ”GUEST” your comments are baseless and I think you had better take a very close look at Toyota’s reputation and realise that they have been in very big trouble in recent years where people have DIED!.
    - Noddy of Toyland
      
      Steven pls. Produce the facts that suggest the Toyota ‘unintended acceleration’ accidents were Toyota’s fault, and not drivers pressing the accelerator instead of the brake in a dangerous situation. Mitsubishi has had problems with the CVTs, read Ask Smithy in the Weekend Carsguide.
- DAVIDZ
  
  YOU ARE ALL CONFUSSED, THATS VW
DAVIDZ

anybody who buys a i30 over a $20k japanese built hyundai needs his/her head read…period
- Guest
  
  Mate, the i30 is a pretty darn good car. No need to keep bashing Hyundai for some reason. You need to open your mind a lot more. Mitsubishi don’t exactly have an entirely good reputation. Why go for them? Because they’re made in Japan? Not all Japanese manufacturers are the same… There are good ones (Toyota, Lexus) and there are ordinary ones (e.g. Mitsubishi). Currently, I’d rather buy a Hyundai over a Mitsubishi anyday, and it seems a lot of people in this country would agree to that as well.
  
  That 10 yrs powertrain warranty is for the first owner too. Its not transferrable (not many first owners keep their cars for 10 years either). I’m sure there are other small fine prints to it too
  - Yetiman
    
    Yeah right, Veloster is horrible. I’ll take the Evo or ralliart.
  - coconut
    
    Mate I agree I own a Vr lancer and the issues are many – ABS sensor died 1.5yr in ownership and it took them 4 months to fix it, poor resale value due to discounts, poor paint quality, interior prone to scatches and highway handling is so-so. Also poor dealership manners didnt help.
- MisterZed
  
  Anyone who would rather have a pissy CVT than a proper 6-speed automatic needs to be examined.
- MisterZed
  
  Anyone who’d rather a CVT than a proper 6-speed automatic needs to be examined.
  - JamesB
    
    When it comes to auto, CVT is better than 4-speed, probably just as good as 5-speed, but 6-speed is ideal.
  - Open Your Eyes
    
    true… cvt sux
- salakutta
  
  You’ve got to be kidding. Mitsubishi are rubbish compared to Hyundai these days… light years behind in design AND reliability.
  - EUguest
    
    Hyundai reliability, blahhahahahaha
    Thats the only car I’ve seen rusting in places no other cars in the world do(right after warranty ends). Seen in Europe on last few generations of Hyundai.
    And fact that Hyundai based everything they made on Mitsubishi products could still be contradictory to claim that Hyundai is better. We will see Lancer an i30 in lets say 5 years(taking 2008 as example), for rust, engine and drivetrain check, you will see who’s winner.
JamesB

The Ralliart is a very capable car but hugely underrated. It should follow big brother Evo’s footsteps in price reduction. $39,990 is a much better proposition.
- Razor
  
  And a manual gearbox is a must, especially if Mits want to compete at all with the WRX. A manual Ralliart at sub $40k would be awesome.
TG

LX badge was used on povo pack Pulsars years ago, lol.

What is this obsession with leather? I like mid and top of the range stuff, but I won’t buy if it has leather. Make it a delete option for luxury cloth and it’ll be a different story.
- Gibbut
  
  yep leather is rubbish. id rather cloth any day, its easier to look after, lasts longer, and here in the heat, doesnt get hot in the sun.
  - Henry Toussaint
    
    Leather is easier to clean, but that’s about it….
Curtis

should kept the vr or atleast use the vr alloys on the lx and give it foglights