2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Mitsubishi Lancer looks sportier than it is but holds up well with plenty of value and technology features.
The Lancer Evolution is a hotted-up answer to the Subaru Impreza WRX, but even the more pedestrian, non-Evolution versions look the part of hardcore rally racer. The car's nose and grille point aggressively down, and large vents accent the front fascia. Higher trims like the GTS get fog lights set into the lower bumper and aero bodywork to complete the racy look.
Though the lower trims get hubcaps and more pedestrian bodywork, the Lancer’s rising beltline and smooth lines give a sleek look to all versions of the car. Larger wheels on the top trims fill the Lancer’s wheel wells and make it appear truly aggressive, especially with the addition of the rear spoiler.
Just one engine appears under the hoods of every 2008 Lancer. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine makes power specs of 152 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to make the Lancer a solid commuter, but not enough to live up to its sporty styling. Acceleration off the line is limp, but once up to highway speeds, the Lancer can pass with ease.
That lonely engine comes paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the latter of which seems to suck the power right out of the engine under acceleration. The five-speed manual has a solid feel and quick shifting action. In the GTS, Mitsubishi’s Sportronic CVT is added.
Apart from the Evo GSR or MR models that come with all-wheel drive (AWD), Lancers come with a front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain. Fuel economy estimates are 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 7.0 on the highway with the manual transmission, whlie choosing the CVT reduces city figures to 9.5 L/100 km.
Compared to competition from Nissan, Volkswagen, and Honda, the Mitsubishi feels more spacious, but it still leaves much to be desired in the headroom department. Tall passengers will find decent legroom, but people nearing the mid-six-foot range will find that there are limits to the Lancer’s abilities in both the front seats and rear seats.
The Lancer excels with materials quality, but some cheap bits show through. Build quality is strong for the segment, but the cabin allows more than a little road noise to seep through.
Cargo space and storage are generously spread throughout the Lancer’s cabin. There are useful and roomy spaces in the doors, glove box, and centre console, though the optional subwoofer drastically cuts into the 328 litres of trunk space. Without the subwoofer, the trunk is spacious, but taller or longer cargo items will run into conflict with the Lancer’s low trunk opening.
Air conditioning, cloth seats, and power windows are standard on the Lancer DE. Optional equipment includes 16-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic climate control, a sunroof, and power locks with keyless entry.
The Lancer’s sub-$17,000 Canadian starting price is fair for the equipment provided on the base model in Canada. Stepping up to the mid-level ES trim adds $3,100 to the Lancer’s price tag, but it also brings more of the creature comforts and operational features that most people expect. The range-topping Lancer GTS trim starts at $21,698 and includes all the bells and whistles. This is where the Lancer’s value proposition is strongest, and the price is still well within most people's budgets.
Note: Images show a US model.
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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Pricing
Trims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4 · 140 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.9 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Door sill trim: scuff plate
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 4
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Hard Drive: 30GB · In-Dash CD: DVD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Rockford Fosgate · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: Sirius ready · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 4 · 650 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.9 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: simulated alloy · Dash trim: simulated alloy · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Hard Drive: 30GB · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Rockford Fosgate · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: Sirius ready · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 140 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.6 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.9 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: simulated alloy · Dash trim: simulated carbon fiber · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent