The last generation Lancer had incredible street cred due to its Evolution VIII offshoot. A star of international road rallies and video games, the Evo got a lot of looks from “The Fast and Furious” crowd, kids and people I smoked at the light. However, the regular Lancer sedan that the Evo was based on didn’t raise an eyebrow even in sporty Rally Art trim.

For 2008 Mitsubishi opted to launch the Lancer GTS first and then the super-high performance Evolution which will arrive next spring as an early 2009. I was able to get behind the wheel of a Lancer GTS and noted the big improvements to the compact Lancer.

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Sizing one up

The Lancer sedan is classified as a compact sedan but it looks and acts bigger. The 2008 wheelbase is stretched to 103.7 inches from 102.3 inches, and overall width is increased from 66.7 inches to 69.4 inches. Overall length, however, is reduced by 0.6-inches.

The 2008 Lancer line comes in three flavors: DE, ES and the tip top GTS. The DE is the bare bones model, the ES fits in the middle and the GTS is the most aggressive Lancer you can buy. GTS models feature 18-inch alloy wheels, front and side air dams, standard fog lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome tailpipe tip.

For the entire line the bold, dynamic lines of the body give the car a bigger rounded look that approaches midsize class. The Lancer’s "shark-nosed" front end inspired by a jet fighter air intake has a distinct wedge-like profile and the crisp, taut lines are a nice break from the previous version’s economy look.

Inside, the larger look is supported by the fact that headroom increases an inch as does shoulder room. Hip and legroom also grow incrementally making the Lancer more comfortable for 2008. The driving position is good and there is plenty of room for four passengers.

Mitsubishi has made some nice improvements including seats that are nicely bolstered and rear seats that are comfy for full-size people. The faux carbon fiber accents sport up the fresh interior design. I also liked the night lighting package and the steering wheel had a nice feel.

Engine excels

In the engine department Mitsubishi does more with less. The ninth-generation Lancer's 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC 4-cylinder engine (borrowed from the Dodge Caliber) has some ponies at 152 at 6,000 rpm verses the 120 horsepower from last year, but again it feels like more. Torque is also up over its predecessor, with 146 pound-feet of peak torque at 4,250 rpm compared to the previous 130 pound-feet peak torque at 4,250 rpm.

Engaging that power comes via the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). In my experience CVTs are a hit and miss proposition. Nissan and Saturn offered CVTs but discontinued them due to less than satisfactory results. While I don’t have any long-term data on the Mitsubishi unit, I can say that during testing, I found the operation to be smoother than a traditional automatic. The driving force behind CVTs is gains in fuel economy and there is also a small performance gain as well. Lancer scores with new EPA numbers of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The CVT actually improves the standard 5-speed manual by 1 MPG in the city, and both transmissions achieve better mileage and performance figures than the less-powerful and lighter previous generation.

Cutting through the corners

Lancer's drive story starts with a new and highly rigid platform (again courtesy of the Caliber), that makes extensive use of high-strength steel. In GTS form the set up comes with a slightly firm sport-oriented suspension. The front suspension employs strut tower bars that enhance lateral rigidity for a natural and precise steering response. Through the new multi-link rear suspension set up Mitsubishi again delivers more than expected with ride and handling characteristics that you would attribute to a more expensive vehicle. With the optional CVT, I coaxed the GTS to an approximate zero-to-60 time of about 9.0 seconds.

My GTS' sport-tuned suspension employed different stabilizer bars and spring/shock damping rates than DE and ES models. Meaty eighteen-inch 215/45 R18 tires on attractive alloy wheels increased my confidence during aggressive twisty-road sessions and the body also stayed over the wheels. Big brakes also add to the GTS drive experience with 11.6-inches vented discs in front and 11.9-inches solid discs in rear backed with ABS and EBD.

Find a slot

The Lancer GTS competes chiefly with the sport-oriented Nissan Altima, and Mazda 3. While the refinement and driving qualities of those cars are a notch higher I do like the aggressive styling of the Lancer GTS better, and the value story is hard to ignore. My tester GTS had a base price of $18,490 and added the Sun and Sound package (roof, Sirius sat. and 650-watt stereo) for $1,500 along with the Navigation & Tech package (entry system, navi system) for $2,000. Destination charge added $625 for an as tested price of just $22,615. This is very reasonable for the styling performance and utility this sedan delivers.