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By
EWAN KENNEDY
13 February 2006
Mitsubishi Lancer now has a 2.4-litre engine that’s
pushing it high in the performance stakes as well as giving it a very
strong position in the Australian sales race. We’ve just spent a week
road testing one and it’s not hard to see why buyers are falling in
love with it.
For a mere $20,990 you get a small-medium
machine that can easily be used as a family car, even if the
children have reached the large-teenager stage. There's good
legroom in the back seat and carrying four adults is not a
problem. A good-sized boot will swallow their luggage with nary a
whimper and the square shape of the rear of the sedan means it’s
very easy to load.
In many countries, cars of this size are
routinely used as family cars, indeed in many places even smaller
cars are the norm. Australians are gradually picking up on this
way of doing things due to rising fuel prices and as a means of
reducing the amount of greenhouse gas being emitted.
Ride comfort is good and the levels of
refinement are of the same grade as offered in a typical
six-cylinder family car only a decade or so back.
This new Mitsubishi Lancer 2.4-litre engine has
115kW and 220Nm giving it plenty of punch for quick overtaking. As
well as providing the safety of fast acceleration if that’s the
best way to get out of trouble in a particular circumstance.
This engine is not only the largest in its class
but pushes up into the full-medium car segment as well. Indeed it’s
not that long ago that the Mitsubishi Magna was powered by a
2.4-litre engine and many people found it to have adequate
performance. That Magna engine had less performance than the
Lancer one, as Lancer has Mitsubishi's latest MIVEC system of
variable inlet-valve timing for greater efficiency.
Toyota uses a 2.4 engine in its Camry and Mazda6
has a 2.3-litre unit, so the lighter Lancer is right up there with
the big boys – for many thousands of dollars less.
We found the fuel consumption of the Lancer 2.4
to be similar to that of the typical 1.8 or 2.0-litre engine of a
car in this class. That’s not unusual as vehicle weight plays a
large part in the amount of fuel needed to shift a car along. Only
if you drive the engine hard to get sports performance from it, is
the consumption likely to rise.
On test we found the Lancer 2.4 would typically
use nine to eleven litres per hundred kilometres in city and
suburban driving. That figure could fall below eight litres per
hundred with a little care on the open road.
Naturally, Mitsubishi has upgraded the braking
system to cope with the higher performance potential of the bigger
engine. The car stopped securely with little effort even when
worked hard over a reasonably prolonged period.
If there's a downside to the Lancer it’s the
somewhat uninspiring shape. The body has been around for a while
now and is looking its age. Of course, these things are in the eye
of the beholder, so the decision is yours.
As well as the engine changes for the Lancer, Mitsubishi has also
modified the appearance and added to the standard equipment
levels. The ES 2.0 gets a chromed rim on its radiator grille, as
well as a sport shade of black trim and cruise control. The latest
2.4 ES gains 15-inch steel wheels (up from 14-inch), power windows
on the rear doors as well as the front, and sporting white-faced
instrument dials. Fifteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the
Lancer LS as tested (which only comes with the larger engine),
there are leather facings on the steering wheel, handbrake and
gear shifter, and a pseudo-wood garnish on the dashboard.
The biggest change to the Lancer range is that
the VR-X now has an Evo-inspired grille and revamped interior
trim. A six CD in-dash stacker adds to the attractiveness of the
audio system. As you would expect from the sporting model in the
range, it comes only with the new, bigger engine.
Mitsubishi Lancer is a fine car with high build
quality and plenty of performance. Those who don’t feel a need
to buy a large six-cylinder family car will find this
fully-imported Japanese car makes an excellent substitute.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
ES 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $19,990
ES 2.4-litre four-door sedan - $20,990
ES 2.4-litre five-door wagon - $23,490
LS 2.4-litre four-door sedan - $24,490
LS 2.4-litre four-door sedan - $24,490
VR-X 2.4-litre four-door sedan - $28,990
VR-X 2.4-litre five-door wagon - $31,490
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Not offered on 2.0 ES, standard on all other models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: $2000 option on 2.0 ES, $2500 option on
all other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: $1500 option on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Mitsubishi Lancer LS
2.4-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.378 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: SOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 87.0 x 100.0mm
Maximum Power: 115kW @ 5750rpm
Maximum Torque: 220Nm @ 3500rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.058:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4535mm
Wheelbase: 2600mm
Width: 1695mm
Height: 1415mm
Turning Circle: 9.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1285kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 50 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, trailing arms, coil
springs
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
City Cycle: 10.9 L/100km
Highway Cycle: 7.8 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years/130,000km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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