MotorMouths

At a great price, the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback features turbocharged, all-wheel drive excitement in a stylish package which is still useful on a daily basis.

The Mitsubishi Ralliart is one of the most entertaining and satisfying cars I’ve tested in quite some time, it should make any Subaru WRX shopper think twice.

On the road, and not on the ragged edge, the 2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart can run with the best in its class. Get closer to the ragged edge, and not so much.

For those that want a spirited daily driver but need a practical little hauler, the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is a great two-in-one choice.

Know the Lancer Ralliart by its enemies: Subaru’s Impreza WRX, Volkswagen’s R32, and the frisky Mazdaspeed3. Three big-caliber cars in the bang-for-buck arms race.

If the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS is a poor man’s racer, bully for the poor man, who seems to be a lot more abundant nowadays.

Once the Lancer Ralliart spools up, you might forgive that cheap interior. Want to outrun a BMW 328i xDrive or an Audi A4 for $27 grand? This is your car.

Unless you plan to visit the track regularly or can’t live without that third pedal, the Lancer Ralliart looks like a good Evo alternative that won’t dig as big a hole in your bank account.

By combining more aggressive sheetmetal, more invigorating performance and compelling in-cabin technologies, however, the 2009 Lancer is well-positioned for newfound success.

The 2009 Ralliart is a real hodge-podge of Mitsubishi bits (Mitsubitties?) from three other cars. It sounds like a mongrel, butchered car. In practice, it’s actually surprisingly-well executed.

Not just a stronger and sticker version of the basic Lancer, the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is truly a baby EVO. In fact, the Ralliart trumps the globally renowned Lancer Evolution in several ways – notably usability and price.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is bigger and about 200 pounds heavier than the comparable WRX but is a sharper stick for jabbing at your favorite roads.