Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 GS2 Auto 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine develops 141bhp and 131 lb-ft of torque. This translates into a top speed of 114 mph, with 0-62 mph arriving in 11.7 seconds.

The light steering is fine driving around town but offers little feel through corners and body lean is prominent. These factors are not eased by the ride quality either, which is uncomfortable at most speeds. The Lancer is short on refinement too. Wind noise is well muffled, but there is plenty of road noise, even at low speeds.

The Lancer 1.8 GS2 Auto's exterior is more stylish and sporty than some of its rivals. The materials in the cabin are solid and durable but feel a little cheap.

The GS2 comes with alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, stereo, electric mirrors and electric front and rear windows as standard. Metallic paint will cost you an extra £420 and, disappointingly, sat-nav is unavailable.

The Lancer is longer than most of its rivals and is closer in size to many models from the class above. Therefore the car offers plenty of legroom in the cabin. Rear headroom could be improved upon and the boot space could be better considering the car’s size. Only 344 litres of boot space is available with the seats up, increasing to a more generous 1,349 litres when the seats are down.

All Lancers are equipped with driver, passenger and front-side airbags and one underneath the steering column to protect the driver’s knees. All models come with an alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks to keep thieves at bay. Mitsubishi has a steady reliability record, meaning the Lancer isn’t likely to leave its owners stranded at the roadside.

The car comes with a three year warranty with unlimited mileage. The dash is simple, clear and well-laid out. The driver’s seat adjusts in two directions, but the steering wheel does not alter for reach unlike most of the Lancer’s rivals.

The Lancer is one of the cheapest cars in its class, priced at £16,399, and is good value considering the equipment on offer. The fuel economy is reasonable but its carbon dioxide emissions are higher than average making it an expensive company car choice.

The Lancer has reasonable running costs but comes under the high cost road tax band J thanks to CO2 emissions of 191g/km. It incurs a high insurance premium coming under the insurance bracket of 21. The fuel economy is fair but not the best in its class, at 35.3mpg. Weak resale values must also be taken into consideration.