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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

Overview

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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Review

By KBB.com Editors

Although the high-tech, high-performance Lancer Evolution is among the most respected, most sought-after enthusiast cars on the planet—a bona fide "bargain exotic" at its sub-$30,000 starting price—the Lancer sedan on which it's based has never amounted to much more than an also-ran in this country's currently-burgeoning small car market. By combining more aggressive sheetmetal, more invigorating performance and a host of compelling in-cabin technologies, however, the all-new Lancer arrives well-positioned for newfound success.

You'll Like This Car If...

The all-new Lancer will prove most appealing to those who appreciate both its sporty demeanor and the combination of in-cabin technology not offered by any other car in the category.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Although the Lancer feels well-built where it counts most, the interior styling, materials and noise levels don't convey the same sense of refinement delivered by competitors like the MAZDA3 or Honda Civic.

What's New for 2008

The sportier, more tech-savvy 2008 Lancer is entirely new from the rubber to the roof.

Driving the Lancer

Driving Impressions The laws of physics dictate that it's easier to make a small car handle well than it is to give it a smooth highway ride. Still, we were impressed with...

just how tenacious and composed the Lancer GTS proved to be on twisty roads. We also liked the fast shifts afforded by the paddle shifters and six artificial "gears" of the optional continuously variable transmission—although it's important to note that Lancers with the five-speed manual transmissions are more than a second quicker to 60 mph, according to Mitsubishi. Out on the highway, we preferred the less aggressive setup of the ES model, which resulted in a more comfortable, less noisy—but still not quiet—ride. Beneath the din of wind and tire noise that we counted as a Lancer weak spot, however, was a reassuringly solid compact sedan.

Favorite Features

30-Gigabyte Hard Drive
Lancer's hard drive-based navigation system responds more quickly than more common DVD-based units. It also allows you to store up to six gigabytes of digital music taken directly from CDs, or about 1,200 songs.

Keyless Entry and Start
The available FAST-Key system lets you unlock and start the Lancer without ever touching the key/transmitter.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Details

Interior

Swathed in contemporary, minimalist styling and plenty of mid-grade plastic, the new Lancer's otherwise attractive passenger cabin falls short of the category's best in terms of richness and refinement. Each of the Lancer's three distinct trim levels features unique seat fabric and trim pieces, and the top-level GTS features a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, chrome interior door handles and more deeply bolstered sport seating.

Exterior

Taller, wider and more aggressively styled than its predecessor, the new Lancer commands a much larger presence on the road. With a front end inspired by the air intakes of fighter jets, the base Lancer DE is adorned with black door handles, black mirrors and 16-inch covered steel wheels. The Lancer ES projects a far more polished appearance, with 16-inch alloy wheels, color-keyed door handles and mirrors and a chrome grille surround. The top-level GTS is further distinguished by 18-inch alloy wheels, front and side body extensions, fog lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome exhaust outlet.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

A base Lancer DE includes a four-speaker, 140-watt CD/MP3 sound system, power windows and a trip computer, but not air conditioning, power locks or anti-lock brakes (ABS). If the ES model is within your reach, we'd recommend taking that step up.

Optional Equipment

Some of the Lancer's most desirable options include a Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, hard drive-based navigation and audio system, FAST-Key keyless entry and start, 650-Watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system, automatic climate control and a sunroof. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) serves as the automatic transmission option.

Under the Hood

The only powertrain decision facing a Lancer buyer is whether to stick with the five-speed manual or go for the continuously variable transmission (CVT). CVT-equipped GTS models include steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and six simulated gears that give drivers the control of a quick-shifting manu-matic. The GTS also includes 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and bigger brakes. Lancers sold in California are PZEV rated and deliver 143 horsepower and 143 pound-feet of torque.

2.0-liter in-line 4
152 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
146 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/34 (manual), 25/31 (automatic)

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles for sale near you.

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. See your car's value

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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 273 Ratings for the 2008 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.0/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

8.9/10
Comfort

8.8/10

Styling

9.2/10

Own it and love it!

By Tinytot (MO) on Friday, May 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 83,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owned my 2008 Lancer ES since they first came out. I have had only a few minor maintenance issues. The warranty covered them all. It is a very dependable vehicle. I get better gas mileage then they say this car's average is. Maybe it is because mine is a manual and I drive for the most part normal to conservative. I drive a mixture of in town and on the highways, and I consistently get 28-32 mpg. The best I have ever gotten was on a back country road with my speed ranging 50-60 mph was 38 mpg. I am very happy with my car and never giving it up! :)"

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More fun than BMW 335i

By mrbigglesworth (WA) on Sunday, May 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 14,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "cornering, acceleration, wet weather handling"

Cons: "cheaper interior materials, not as sleek as bmw"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I used to have a Mini Cooper S, A4, and test drove the BMW 335. Hands down, the Evo MR is the most fun to drive. It's pretty much like a race car but mine's loaded with all the options so I don't feel like it's a huge step down from my A4 (except for the cheaper interior materials and lack of power seats). My next car will need to be an M3 otherwise anything else feels like a step down in performance!"

2 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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Most fun car i'v ever owned

By Zbrose (FL) on Friday, May 03, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 16,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Will put the biggest smile on your face :D"

Cons: "Spark plugs and clutch are weak."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Perfect car for those looking for performance. This car makes you feel like a real race car driver. The power and handling is like nothing on the road, for the price range. I plan on keeping this one for a very long time. A simple boost controler and tune will scare the living heck out of your passengers. With that and a few bolt ons its easy to get into the 350-360 awhp range."

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Love this car!

By EVO Owner (OH) on Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 20,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "Handling, traction/stability, performance"

Cons: "Poor mpg, uncomfortable for long trips."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I should probably start out by saying that I've been obsessed with the EVO X ever since its debut in 2008. I didn't care too much for the previous models because of how "boxy" they looked (same applies to the STI, although with the STI, they're no longer boxy, but the EVO X styling just did something for me). But I've always had a huge amount of respect everytime I would drive by an older gen EVO or STI knowing how much power is just waiting to be unleashed under the hood. Finally in 2011, I built up the courage to pursue my dream car. I found a wicked white EVO X with heated leather seats, moonroof, and navigation. Granted this is pretty much fully loaded, it was still very rare to find this combination. Prior to this I had test drove a used 2008 with 50000 miles on it and I was very impressed with the feel and responsiveness. Shortly before that, I had the opportunity to drive a BMW 330xi with the 300 hp twin turbo engine. Needless to say, I preferred the EVO X. I've had the car for about a year and a half now and I'll list the pros and cons that I've found in the sections below. Pros: - Amazing handling: This car handles like a dream. Nice tight steering and it feels like you're very much "one" with the car at all times. - S-AWC: The traction/stability control on this thing is out of this world. Let's just say it saved my life one time when I was taking a curved ramp a little too fast and it was wet from rain. My tail end started to lose grip and just as I thought I was about to wipe out and crash, it was as if the car knew exactly what was happening and it fixed itself. Within half a second, I had regained traction and avoided what could've been a miserable accident. - Performance: With the 291 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, the accelerator is just begging to be floored. Sometimes I really have to constrain myself from driving like a maniac. Cons: - MPG: Unfortunately with any performance vehicle, that performance comes with a price and typically it's less than desirable gas mileage. I average about 20 mpg and with having to use premium fuel, I end up coughing up quite a bit to keep this car going, especially since this is my daily driver. - Comfort: Again, just about any high performance vehicle will be equipped with a sports suspension, which is quite a bit tighter than the average suspension. So with that you tend to feel every bump in the road. Add to that the hardened recaro bucket seats (which I love by the way, but they just make you feel every bump even more), than this car becomes less then ideal for long-distance driving. Overall, I bought this car fully aware of the cons, but to me the pros greatly out-weigh the cons and to me it was worth every penny. I plan on keeping this car for a long long time."

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One of the worst cars ever

By bolshevik (International) on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 53,000

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 4/10
Styling: 4/10
Comfort: 3/10

Pros: "Only that it is a pretty car"

Cons: "Almost everything about it is bad"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I bought this car used with little mileage, so far I had to spent over a thousand dollars in fixes. The mechanics of the car are true low-quality Mitsubishi; I had to replace an engine valve, do engine clean-up, injection cleaning, and the car is still failing. I've replaced the tires, had it aligned and balanced and the car vibrates over 60Mph and has strange metallic noises and instability. I also have a Toyota Yaris 2008, over 115K miles on it and I haven't had to put a SINGLE dollar on the car except for the oil and tire maintenance. It makes me feel that Mitsubishi has even worse quality than American cars. This car is so bad that I'm willing to go on a negative loan, lose all I've paid and put the remaining of the Lancer on a new loan even if I have to pay double what I pay now. It is very likely what I will end up doing."

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Best bang for buck

By ghost (NY) on Thursday, February 21, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 3,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 7/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, performance, price"

Cons: "Interior, ride comfort, cabin noise"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Price and performance are always my main 2 concerns. This car delivers in leaps and bounds. Faster than it's competition, the STi (cheaper as well), more space than it's other competitions 370z/mustang/etc, and not to mention it's way better looking. Highly recommended"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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See all 273 reviews