Lancer GTS

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

I got to spend some quality time with the Lancer GTS this weekend. Honestly, I knew almost nothing about this car before it showed up at our offices. Of course everyone knows about the EVO, but did you know you can get a car based on the same body and platform for as little as $14K? The GTS adds a bigger motor (a 168 hp 2.4 liter vs. the 152 hp 2.0 liter on the base), 18″ wheels, sports suspension and a wing but still keeps the price tag just south of $18k.

To me the Lancer really hits the sweet spot in size between the Civic and the Accord. And for Civic LX money you get a much sportier car. Ok, so it’s maybe not as refined as a Honda, but who cares?

Continue reading after the jump!

Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows I prefer RWD cars. The GTS definitely has quite a bit of torque steer under hard acceleration, but the little inline four has plenty of power to keep things fun, the five speed’s ratios are nicely spaced and the shifting is pretty slick. The suspension is tight and the brakes are solid. Oh, and the turning radius on this car is very impressive for a FWD car this size.

In the safety department, the Lancer got almost a perfect score on the IIHS crash tests, which is impressive. And gas mileage is pretty good at 21 city 28 highway.

I really like the no fuss black interior, and the fake carbon fiber accents worked for me. Seats are comfy and easy to adjust, and visibility is excellent. I really like the dash design, but the GTS has the cheesiest volume and tuning controls I’ve ever seen in a car. The stereo sounds a bit lackluster as well.

Of course looks are subjective, but the Lancer has a bit too much front overhang for my tastes, and of course I think the wing is silly (I didn’t see wing delete on the GTS option list). The pointy nose never really grew on me, either.

Last week I mentioned how quiet the car is when you’re sitting at a stoplight, and honestly, it was kind of creepy. It’s not a hybrid, after all! Conversely, the car seemed a bit loud and boomy on the freeway–a lot of tire noise in the cabin. That could get old.

Still, if you’re looking for a sporty and economical car that you can use to haul kids and take to the autocross on the weekend for less than $20k, it’s gonna be very hard to beat this.

Next up, Ryan and Weston will share their thoughts on this cool little car.