2009 Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback Review
December 8, 2008 by Matt Brogan
While up front, the VRX has seen an engine upgrade since release with the inclusion of a 2.4-litre, four cylinder now making a serious impression in the power stakes for the category. With 125kW developed at 6000rpm, the sexy hatch is a strong performer with the INVECS III CVT gearbox doing a good job at keeping the car humming under heavy acceleration.
The 226Nm of torque on offer too is reasonably strong and there aren’t too many situations where the gearbox has to change ratios when cruising at highway speeds, even with four adults and their luggage on board. It is however a little slow off the mark which takes some time to adjust to, though after a week you’ll barely notice.
The only trouble seems to be that come fill up time the ADR results seem to be telling fibs. The claimed 8.9 litres per 100km (combined) is unrealistic with my week returning 10.4, a peculiar result given I spent the majority of the time on the open highway with the cruise on, which brings me to my next point.
Despite all the niceties on offer the Lancer Sportback has one very evident flaw on the open road, one I’d personally walk away from the car on because of – and that’s road noise. It truly is atrocious. Wind, tyre and road noise are all evident, and all at the same time, even on well sealed roads I’ve travelled quite regularly the noise was simply unacceptable. Good thing the premium stereo was optioned.
The drive though is a laugh and the Sportback handles really well. The strut front, multi-link rear is well set up and therefore a lot of fun, and being so enjoyable you need to be mindful that the bigger engine really does throw the pace on rather quickly, and not to get too carried away.
Understeer will push in to the equation at the silly end of the scale – as with most front wheel drives – though the ESP makes short work of any off road dalliances, and with strong brakes offering a very positive feel to stopping, should see any one not being too stupid quite able to keep it on the black stuff.
Steering is reasonable, offers enough feedback to keep you informed, though I’d have like a little more. It’s light enough at car park speeds to make manoeuvring a cinch, though I’d have thought reverse parking sensors should have been included standard on the gadget list – especially given the restricted rearward vision (available as a dealer fit cost option).
So it’s comfortable enough, competitively priced, it’s very well specced, drives well, is safe as houses and very attractive – but when you consider the road noise and fuel consumption fall well short of expectations, I’ve had to knock half a steering wheel off the total offering. Four out of five.
CarAdvice Overall Rating: 
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 2,359cc DOHC four-cylinder (16 valve)
- Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm
- Torque: 226Nm @ 4100rpm
- Induction: Multi Point
- Transmission: CVT
- Driven Wheels: Front
- Brakes: Disc with ABS, EBA & EBD
- Top Speed: Not tested
- 0-100km/h: 7.9 seconds
- 0-400m: Not tested
- CO2 Emissions: Not available
- Fuel Consumption: 8.9 litres/100 km
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 59 litres
- Fuel Type: 91RONpetrol
- ANCAP Rating: Five star
- Airbags: Front, side, knee & curtain
- Safety: ESP with Traction Control
- Spare Wheel: Space saver
- Tow Capacity: 1000kg (Tare)
- Turning Circle: 10.0 metres
- Warranty: Five year/unlimited kilometre
- Weight: 1435kg (Tare)
- Wheels: Alloy 18 x 7.0-inch
Road Test the Rivals:
- FIAT Ritmo (from $24,990)
- Ford Focus (from $20,490)
- Holden Astra (from $20,990)
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- KIA Cerato (from $19,490)
- Mazda 3 (from $20,990)
- Nissan Tiida (from $17,990)
- Peugeot 308 (from $25,990)
- Proton Persona (from $16,990)
- Renault Megane (from $25,490)
- Subaru Impreza (from $24,490)
- Toyota Corolla (from $20,990)
- Volkswagen Golf (from $25,490)
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The interior looks amazing whne the sat nav is optioned but dowdy without
good looks? very subjective assessment there, i prefer the impreza hatch – this one looks a bit ‘elongated’.
Which model of the lancer’s has the crome ring around the grill at the front? There’s one in the basement of my building – I think they look really nice. Also, 0-100 in 7.9s? That’s pretty quick for a hatchback.. would be nipping at the heels of a GTI
I had a Lancer Aspire for a week & I was shocked at how much fuel it guzzled, more then my V8 daily driver so I’m glad it wasn’t just me they are thirsty little buggers.
Nicely equipped car but you could tell it was a cheapy underneath & the throttle lag scared the hell out of me, if you floored it & then got off the throttle it would take far too long for it to register & stop accelerating.
I saw a new VRX sportback on the weekend and I was very impressed with the level of features etc .. so much so that if I was going to replace my 02 Subaru Impreza RS; I would be tempted by a fully optioned Lancer [with both sat nav ans the awesome RF ICE System if possible]. The new Lancer range – designed by Aussie Adrian Arcidipane looks s–tloads better than the current Subie.
although i’d most likely go for either the Lancer Evo MR-SST or the Ralliart Lancer.. Subaru have lost their way ATM
The steering wheel looks familiar. It is from the current Accord Euro.
But the hand brake is on the wrong side! I hate that in cars.
Phil, I presume you mean a Swift GTi.
You can’t possibly be referring to the Golf GTI. Why ?
Because
1) this is 100kg heavier
2) this has 125kw @ 6000 vs 147kw @ 5000
3) this has 226nm @ 4100 vs 280nm @ 1750
4) this has CVT auto vs DSG
Doesn’t matter how you do your sums, this can not nip at the heels of the Golf GTI. More weight, less torque, less power, and both torque and power coming in at much higher revs can not be overcome by wishful thinking.
I doubt that Mitsubishi sees this as a competitor for the GTI anyway.
It’s a riced up $20,000 car, not an engineered $40,000 car, not even engineered for its own price bracket.
Reckless1, I was just referring to the quoted 0-100 time. Nothing else. You have to admit thats quick compared to its competition (SP23, Corolla Levin etc..)
I’d still prefer the VRX Sedan over the Sportback.
What about you guys?
A sedan lancer or sportback?
Have recently test-driven this & SP23 & Impreza RS. Pretty impressed with the VRX – found it very quick with the 2.4L engine, grips on hard corners nicely, and plenty of gadgets inside. Downside for me is the annoying right armrest on the side – far too low (I’m 6′2″), and really hard & uncomfortable. Does anyone know if this could somehow be modified? Didn’t personally notice much in the way of road noise – less quiet than the Impreza but quieter than SP23. VRX’s interior is fine with me – low priority in my decision-making. Does have a ‘drony’ engine on hard accelerations, but this doesn’t bother me. Seems a reasonable balance between the SP23 and Impreza RS. More roomy and more compliant ride than the SP23 (SP23 rides too hard for me). Much quicker than the Impreza’s sluggish 2.0L engine, but lacks the class-leading handling of the Subie. None of them are perfect – if Impreza came with a gutsier engine I’d get it without hesitation.
Andrew: I agree the RS needs a better more powerful engine.
Infact the Impreza RS used to have a 2.5 Litre Boxer engine. I can’t understand why Suabru stopped putting the 2.5 litre in the RS after the 02 Bug-eyed model [which I currently own] and reserved it exclusively for the WRX – because despite having 1/2 a litre more they have only increased the power of the WRX by a couple of Kws.. compared to what it had with the 2.0 Litre engine.
I mean i’ve added a few moderate enhancements to my Subie such as a K&N air filter and it produces almost as much power as a Rex. which is why I call my RS a “non turbo” Rex
The hand brake on the left of the center console does scream out of a shodding right hand drive conversion. Was this supposed to be a euro version?
Peugeot are famous for these half ditched attempts, like indicators still on the left side of the wheel, which are a real pain to use when driving a manual, or windscreen wipers that pivot to the left and leave a big unwiped section for taller drivers.
Surely they would fix this for the Evo and ralliart editions where more spirited use of the handbrake is common.
Thanks for the info Wheelnut. So is it possible to modify a 2.0L impreza RS to increase the engine’s power? If so, please explain in very simple terms as I am very ignorant with these sort of things. If I could modify the 2.0L so that it would perform to an equivalent of 2.3L then I would be happy.
I don’t like it. Now it looks like a Subaru.
Saw a rally art version of this hatch in the city the other day. Front looks good. The rear and side profile is ho-hum. Terrible really. Matt Brogan – subjective opinion or not – you need to get your eyes checked if you really think this is a looker. Got to be one of the worst hatch designs I have ever seen. What were Mitsubishi thinking when they approved this monstrosity of a design?
sedan lancer more more more more amezing then sportback..i agree with u duck
THIS IS PERFECT.I LOVE IT.BUT THE BACK IS TOO SLANTED