The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is a four-door, five-passenger compact sport sedan that is both shorter and wider (by 2.6 inches) than previous models. Built on the same platform as the Outlander SUV, all three trim levels (the DE, ES, and GTS) are outfitted with a 2-liter, inline four, generating 152 horsepower. The unit is configured as a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (the first CVT offered in a Mitsubishi in the United States.)

This ninth generation of the Lancer line has an opening MSRP of approximately $17,900. It will make the zero to sixty jump in 7.7 seconds and requires 117 feet to brake bake down to a stop. The entry-level base DE model includes sixteen inch steel wheels, disc brakes on the front and offers an option for anti-lock brakes (including EBD) in the A/C & Power Package. (Which also adds power doors and windows.) The base audio unit is an AM/FM/CD combo unit (140 watts) with the ability to play MP3s.

The only available color for the vehicle's interior is black, a fact that is compensated for with a steering wheel and shift knob wrapped in leather and a sporty set of guages. Compared to other cars in its class, the Lancer's interior is somewhat spartan, but it is functional and clean in a minimalist sense.

This is a case of an automaker in the midst of a re-tooling of its product offerings to attract more buyers. The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer plays a key role in that intended rebirth, making a bold statement with an aggressive front grill and an over-sized spoiler to the rear. There's a lot of value here in a sub-$20,000 package, making the Lancer more than worth a test drive.