Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback - toothless shark?
A sporty look and suspension, as well as extensive standard equipment, are hallmarks of the Japanese hatchback. The only thing missing is the aggressive styling of the "spicy" supercharged petrol engine.
Aggressive shark-mouth styling and a standard rear spoiler are hallmarks of the Lancer hatchback. It is this 5-door body variation that will become dominant and will account for as much as 70% of Lancer sales in our country - like other models on the European market.
The Sportback, produced in Japan, received richer standard equipment than the sedan version. Each buyer gets, among other things: ABS with EBD, Active Stability and Traction Control (equivalent to ASTC, ESP), 9 gas bags, manual air conditioning, remote central locking and all power windows. In addition, incl. parking sensors and one-button rear seat backs, all the more useful because, despite the external dimensions, they are closer to the middle class than the compact (4585x1760x1515 or 1530 - the version with high suspension), the trunk is not very impressive - 344 liters after removal of the sloping floor or 288 liters and compartment for storage on flat items.
The suspension is tuned in a sporty way - hard, but without excessive rigidity. The car, built on the same plate as the Outlander (and Dodge included), holds up well on the road and is comfortable to drive on well-paved roads. Even on country and rural dirt roads with a hard surface, there are no problems with “shaking” of travelers, although it is difficult to talk about comfort then. The front seats deserve praise, thanks to which our backs almost rest. There is plenty of room for rear passengers as long as there are only two of them.
The gasoline engine is the result of a collaboration between Mitsubishi, Mercedes and Hyundai - with a volume of 1,8 liters and a power of 143 hp. - a suitable unit for people who do not expect sports performance. At low revs, it is quiet and economical, effectively accelerates the car, but as a naturally aspirated unit it does not stand a chance compared to the turbocharged engines that have gradually conquered the market. The continuously variable CVT transmission will justify itself when driving in dense city traffic. For off-road driving, it is better to choose a manual transmission - it works quickly and smoothly. The average fuel consumption should be in the range of 7,9-8,3 l Pb95/100 km, depending on the equipment variant.
140 hp diesel (traditional Volkswagen 2.0 TDI engine with unit injector) provides significantly better performance - good dynamics in road conditions and ease of overtaking on the road. However, it is impossible to remain silent about the noise that accompanies its work - a rattling noise is constantly heard, which may not suit some users. You must check it yourself. The gearbox is a Mitsubishi design and it looks like the clutch too - its "traction" is felt more lightly than in the German prototype.
Average fuel consumption when driving at the maximum speeds allowed by law on multi-kilometer sections of the road from the suburbs of Warsaw towards Lublin and back (average 70-75 km / h), with almost the maximum use of engine dynamics during acceleration and fairly fast starting from the headlights, According to the computer it was 5,5-6 liters of diesel / 100 km, depending on the traffic intensity and the temperature of the day. In the evening, on an empty road, with the same average, it was possible to drive even lower than the factory 5-5,3 l / 100 km (this is easier to do when driving in five, and use sixes only for braking or driving downhill). During dynamic driving with frequent overtaking, fuel consumption was about 8 l diesel fuel/100 km. In city traffic, it will be similar (according to the manufacturer, 8,2-8,6 liters, depending on the version), but you can achieve a better result. The manufacturer estimates the average fuel consumption at 6,2-6,5 liters of diesel / 100 km.
The Shark-mouthed Sportback lacks sharp teeth in the form of a turbocharged gasoline engine with around 200 hp. However, if someone is satisfied with the sporty appearance, and the car rides quite calmly or does not mind diesel noise, then the Lancer hatchback is an interesting proposition. It will work well as a company car, as well as for a family of 2-4 people, but rather not during a holiday trip due to a small trunk. The importer estimated the cost of a well-equipped basic Inform version with a 1,8-liter engine at PLN 60,19 thousand. PLN, and the cheapest option with a diesel engine is PLN 79. The richest version 2.0 DI-D Instyle Navi costs 106 thousand. zloty.
