Competes With: Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen R32, Mazda Mazdaspeed 3

Test Drive: 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart

Automobile manufacturers put extraordinary effort to bridge the gap between their base models and their upper level performance automobiles. Some do an admiral job, while others struggle to make the grade. Mitsubishi has achieved its lofty goals and mastered filling the gap between the base Lancer and the Evolution X with the introduction of the Lancer Ralliart.

This sport sedan gives driving enthusiasts the best of both worlds by offering up gobs of power from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, excellent handling, big brakes and a transmission that handles twisting back country roads as well as it handles stop and go commuter traffic. The Lancer Ralliart wraps the best of both driving scenarios together in a compact and economic package.

The Engine

Power delivery from the solid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, fortified by an intercooled single spool turbocharger, is quick and sure. Slow throttle inputs are smooth and deliver even power. But where this Lancer shines is quick throttle input as the full 237 horsepower and 253 lb-ft. of torque are sent to all four wheels. The Ralliart jumps to the task with the sureness of automobiles priced in the stratosphere.

With the huge strides in electronic computer controls this powerful engine is just as easy to drive in commuter traffic as it is on a twisty mountain pass road. Performance is helped enormously by Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch Sporttronic Shift Transmission (SST). This has developed into one of the best such systems to be found in any vehicle but particularly in a compact automobile. In short, this is a manual transmission equipped with an electronic clutch system that can be manually shifted by the driver or automatically by the computer control.

The driver, simply selecting normal or sport settings via a switch on the center console, can regulate the aggressiveness of the automatic gear selection. The normal position might be more properly labeled as economy because it is perfect for commuter driving with the shifts being wider spaced and smoother in transition. Sport on the other hand is aptly named. Selecting this position the shifting becomes quite obviously more aggressive. Each gear is held longer to a higher engine speed, and the downshifting becomes much closer to how we would manually shift during more athletic driving. Set the shifter in "Drive," and allow the control module to optimize shifting. From stop and go traffic situations to full tilt aggressive sport driving, the SST works wonderfully. We actually got to the point of leaving the shifter in “D” and trying to fool the system into making less than correct shifts to no avail. No matter what we tried, the system picked the right gear for the situation. What a delight.

Ride & Handling

After just climbing from behind the wheel of the over-the-top Lancer Evolution X we found the suspension system in the Ralliart to be more forgiving yet quite responsive during hard cornering. The reason for the softer compliance comes from the fact that most suspension components are derived from the GTS, which uses steel instead of the Evolution’s forged aluminum assemblies. The difference between GTS and Ralliart comes in the form of suspension tuning. The front MacPherson strut and multi-link rear assemblies get more aggressive tuning for the more aggressive use the Ralliart will surely see.

There is little brake dive on hard braking, which this car does quite well; Mitsubishi equipped it with large vented rotors in front and nearly as large solid rotors on the rear. Steering feedback through the redesigned leather wrapped steering wheel is just right for this car, not harsh but just enough to give driver the feel for the road.

Exterior & Interior

The Ralliart receives more aggressive styling to the front-end than standard Lancers, which is already in-your-face, thanks to the hood and top of the grille projecting shark-like out over the bumper and lower valance. Saving weight and to pay homage to Mitsubishi’s racing heritage, the aluminum hood comes directly from Evo X. The expansive grille fills competitors' rear view mirrors, and is sure to send shivers down the hardiest soul as if about to be eaten by that shark. Black rear combination lights extend the trendy look for Ralliart.

The slight sacrifice made in body ridigity for the sake of offering the 60/40 split fold down rear seat negligible. According to Bryan Arnett, Manager Product Strategies the minor loss of the diagonal bracing between interior and trunk will go unnoticed, but the lack of offering the versatility of fold down seats would not.

We would opt for the Recaro Sport Package at $2,750 because the Recaro seats are so supportive and comfortable that the seats alone are worth the price. But we aren’t telling Mitsu that. The package also includes a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system with Punch control, 9 speakers with subwoofer, six-CD/MP3 in-dash changer, SIRIUS Satellite Radio with six-month service and xenon HID headlamps.

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