Lancer Sportback

lLok beyond the performance Evo model, and the Mitsubishi Lancer has never been a big seller in the UK. But could that all be about to change with the introduction of a new hatchback version, complete with some of the hot saloon’s styling cues?

Thanks to an agreement with Audi, the company has been permitted to use the Sportback name for its five-door. And from the C-pillars forward, it’s identical to the Evo X.

Inside, the cabin is standard Evo, so while it’s well laid out and easy on the eye, the plastics are hard, and nowhere near the quality of the VW Golf’s. Still, the car is well equipped, the large boot opening is practical and the rear seats fold flat with the pull of a single lever.

On the road, the Sportback shines. The handling is sharp, but not at the expense of ride comfort. And while the Lancer is slightly prone to understeer near the limit, the steering has plenty of feedback.

We drove the 1.5-litre and 1.8-litre petrol cars – the latter with manual and auto boxes. And although the 141bhp 1.8-litre CVT auto is slow and noisy, the 108bhp 1.5-litre proved surprisingly good – not fast, but sweet and fun to rev. A 2.0-litre diesel is available, too.

Rival: Ford Focus
still the hatch to beat, the Focus trumps the Mitsubishi for build quality. However, in terms of driving dynamics, it’s not as far ahead of the Lancer as it once was.