MotorMouths

The Lancer GT is compelling for its price, fuel mileage, driving characteristics, and good looks. If you don’t need all-wheel drive, turbocharged acceleration or rigid cornering, the GT has the style of the Evo for half as much.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS has a sportier look than most suburban runabouts, but lacks real sporting performance.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Ralliart is a middling member of the hot compact class. It has neither the horsepower nor the pavement grip of the class leading Eco or WRX STi, which is exactly why it’s the smarter buy.

Aggressively styled with its chiseled body, the Lancer Sportback looks as if it came straight from Europe. Sadly, there’s little actual performance to back up those sporty looks this year. What remains is a competent hatchback but not much else.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS makes an interesting alternative to all-new compacts like the Focus, Cruze and Elantra, provided you value performance above refinement and fuel efficiency.

I certainly wouldn’t count out the Lancer from my consideration list if I were shopping in this segment, but a few more MPGs and a bit more pricing flexibility may help the Lancer stand out in a soon-to-be-crowded field.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is a sporty alternative to conventional and more conservative economy sedans, but lacks the refinement and fuel economy that most shoppers are looking for.

The Mitsubishi Lancer SE does everything competently and nothing exceptionally. It won’t turn heads with its styling, and won’t make anyone jealous of its driver. It won’t impress, and won’t repel anyone. It’s an appliance of a car.

For all of its sales significance, the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer ES we recently took for a spin doesn’t feel like an automaker’s pride and joy.the Lancer is slowly sliding further behind its ever-evolving, better-quality peers.