Call it "Lancer Lite": Driving the new 1.6 Lancer EX

MANILA, Philippines - Flagship models may get all the glory with their whoop-a$$ stereos, low-profile tires and upsized engines, but in reality the bread-and-butter variants are those with the smaller engines and trimmed down features to cut down the price. In Mitsubishi’s case, the triple-diamond had been enjoying quite a bit of success with its flagship Lancer GT-A in its 2-liter category for compact cars. Still, the pointy end of the model line needed a little more help from its base to make a bigger contribution to the bottom line.

Enter the 1.6-liter variant. There was a time not so long ago when it was all the engine one really needed in a small family car. Thrifty on the gas yet spunky enough for the demands of everyday driving, it kind of lost its luster with the advent of 1.8 and 2-liter variants.

The Lancer EX 1.6 uses an all-new, aluminum-block 4A92 16-valve, DOHC design with Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC). The system optimizes performance by adjusting the timing of the intake camshaft, advancing or retarding the cam timing to alter the distribution of power and torque throughout the rev range. A conservative cam profile is used for low-power, city or “eco” driving style, while more aggressive timing is used for more urgent matters. Peak output is rated at 117 ps at 6,000 rpm with peak torque of 154 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Mitsubishi claims fuel economy of up to 21 km/l, done at a constant 90 kph with a manual transmission. In our own preview drive, part of which was a fuel efficiency contest of roughly 100 kilometers with three persons on board and the A/C on, we managed 14 km/l. The highest recorded among the media was 17 km/l. Not bad at all for a 1.6-liter engine.

The Lancer can be had with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic in the base GLX, with the latter a standard feature in the midlevel MX. While 4-speeds don’t seem like much when the competition already use 5- and 6-speed automatics, the Lancer does benefit from INVECS II technology. Aside from reduced shift shock and power lag in between gear changes, this adaptive system creates an intelligent profile. It monitors the road and driving conditions, observing the driving behavior, and thus anticipating the driver’s next move whether to shift early or hold a gear through a turn.

Aesthetically speaking, the Lancer’s wedge-shaped profile continues to look good despite having been around for several years now, and the telltale sign that you’re looking at the “Lancer Lite” instead of the GT-A is the tire profile: 60-series Dunlops versus the GT-A’s sportier 45-series Yokohama Advans. It also lacks the body kit of the GT-A, but still gets some nice touches like a chrome tailpipe finisher, smoked type tail lamps, and color-keyed side mirrors.

The Lancer EX 1.6 carries a sporty interior theme with a blackout cockpit highlighted by its signature twin-pod instrument panel and standard Multimedia Entertainment System with its 8-inch touchscreen LCD. The grainy plastic of the dashboard is accented by a swath of matte black across the middle in the GLX (gloss black in the MX), while the silver base of the 4-speed automatic shifter provides a nice contrast. The MX variant benefits from a 3-spoke leather steering wheel. Door trim panels are also wrapped in leather, while the seats are done in black-and-gray fabric.

A 4-hour-long stint both as a passenger and driver in the Lancer EX 1.6 gave pleasing impressions of a fun driver’s car. The seats are firm and supportive where you need them, and I like how the non-intrusive angle of the outboard, rear passenger headrest plus good back support let me doze off upright (not the easiest thing to do). Legroom at the back is good, but not great, and best limited to just two adults just like most other small cars. Trunk space is on the small side for a compact car, however. Gym bags and medium-size suitcases will fit, but balikbayan boxes and large coolers may be a challenge.

When it was my turn to drive, the familiar feel of Mitsubishi’s precise steering made carving up and down Nasugbu’s switchbacks a pleasure. The softly tuned, all-independent suspension coupled with modestly sized 16-inch 60-series tires means it’s possible to elicit some wheelspin in the tighter corners done at full power, but the suspension is disciplined enough that after the initial dive or roll there’s no follow-up bobbing. It’s a soft setup, but gives good feedback that you always know what’s happening under the tires. The 4-wheel disc brakes have good stopping power and come with ABS. Overall, this “base” Lancer has a nice, well-balanced chassis that’s rewarding to drive for those so inclined, and has the potential for a more aggressive setup if upgraded with aftermarket wheels, tires, and suspension bits.

With two other passengers on board and going up Nasugbu’s 10-14-percent grades, the Lancer 1.6 wasn’t exactly charging up the hills but neither was it gasping for breath or screaming for mercy. Mitsubishi does make some of the most robust inline-4s in the industry, and the 1.6 MIVEC acquitted itself well with reasonably spritely performance and—just as important—a pleasingly sporty engine note that never sounds ragged even at the redline.

Admittedly, the 4-speed is a bit of a letdown if you’re expecting paddle shifters or more ratios but that’s what the GT-A is for. As it is, the 4-speed is a good partner for the engine with quick and quiet shifting if you just let it be in “Drive.” The dogleg “3-2-L” gate takes getting used to and not really much fun if you’ve gotten spoiled on those “+/-“ gates.

Mitsubishi is holding the line on price, keeping this “Lancer Lite” competitive with a starting price of P825,000 for the GLX with manual transmission, P855,000 for the GLX automatic, and P930,000 for the Lancer EX MX with upgraded GPS navigation and High Intensity Discharge Headlamps. Dual SRS airbags are standard.

It’s a price point that’s chock full of good choices these days, ranging from the Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra to the stalwart Toyota Altis, and all-new Honda Civic and Ford Focus. Buyers looking for a sporty yet economical sedan would do well to check out Mitsubishi’s thrifty-but-sporty compact sedan.