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4.5

Mitsubishi Lancer

Starts at:
$15,995
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4dr Sdn Man DE FWD 4dr Sdn Man ES FWD 4dr Sdn CVT ES FWD 4dr Sdn Man GT FWD 4dr Sdn CVT SE AWD 4dr Sdn CVT GT FWD 4dr Sdn TC-SST Ralliart AWD Shop options
New 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer
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4dr Sdn Man DE FWD 4dr Sdn Man ES FWD 4dr Sdn CVT ES FWD 4dr Sdn Man GT FWD 4dr Sdn CVT SE AWD 4dr Sdn CVT GT FWD 4dr Sdn TC-SST Ralliart AWD Shop options
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Key specifications

Highlights
Gas I4
Engine Type
25 City / 34 Hwy
MPG
148 hp
Horsepower
5
Seating Capacity
Engine
148 @ 6000
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
2.0L/122
Displacement
Gas I4
Engine Type
145 @ 4250
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
Suspension
Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear
Not Available
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Not Available
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
MacPherson Strut
Suspension Type - Front
Weight & Capacity
N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
2,866 lbs
Base Curb Weight
N/A
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
16 gal
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
Safety
Standard
Stability Control
Electrical
130
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
Brakes
Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
N/A
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
Not Available
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
8.000 x -TBD- in
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness

Notable features

New Premium Package for SE AWD
Choice of four-cylinder engines
Manual or CVT automatic
Standard front-wheel drive
High-performance, AWD Ralliart version

Engine

148 @ 6000 SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
2.0L/122 Displacement
Gas I4 Engine Type
145 @ 4250 SAE Net Torque @ RPM

Suspension

Multi-Link Suspension Type - Rear
Not Available Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Not Available Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
MacPherson Strut Suspension Type - Front

Weight & Capacity

N/A Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
2,866 lbs Base Curb Weight
N/A Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
16 gal Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
N/A Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
N/A Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
N/A Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.

Safety

Standard Stability Control

Electrical

130 Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

Brakes

Yes Disc - Rear (Yes or )
N/A Brake ABS System (Second Line)
Not Available Drum - Rear (Yes or )
8.000 x -TBD- in Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
Pwr Brake Type
Yes Disc - Front (Yes or )
4-Wheel Brake ABS System
10.900 x -TBD- in Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness

Photo & video gallery

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
5 years / 60,000 miles
Corrosion
7 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Less than 5 years / less than 60,000 miles
Basic
Remainder of original 5 years / 60,000 miles
Dealer certification
123-point inspection

The good & the bad

The good

Angular good looks
Cabin design
GT's handling
Acceleration with 2.4-liter

The bad

Lots of noise
Gas mileage
GT ride quality
60/40-split folding rear seat not standard (DE)
Air conditioning not standard (DE)

Consumer reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.5
Interior 4.2
Performance 4.5
Value 4.5
Exterior 4.6
Reliability 4.7

Most recent

Very Reliable Car

This car never gave me any issues. Is very reliable and rides very smooth. I have made modifications to it listed in my listing. This car is for someone who enjoys cars and making modifications. The exhaust is louder than stock, but not too loud that the ride is not enjoyable.
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

Love my Lancer

Glides down the road. Hard to restrain from dipping through traffic. Sound system better than one I have at home. When my old Lancer got multiple refusals of repairs from mechanics, I searched for a new one, holding my ground to all who advised me against a Mitsubishi. I love my Lancer, and feel xxxx bad xxx to own a second one of this specially made for me kind of a car! Feel safe in the car, great gas mileage, quick pick up, the shape of the car seems to be an extention of my actual body as it is too easy to swoop the vehicle down the road. Would recommend.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer review: Our expert's take

By Carrie Kim


Unless your family is need of a budget-friendly compact vehicle that offers all-wheel drive, there aren’t many other reasons to consider the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer.

I don’t enjoy picking on an underdog, but the Mitsubishi Lancer is in the competitive compact sedan segment. With a ho-hum driving experience, dated interior styling and not a whole lot of storage space, the Lancer didn’t give my family much to be excited about. My small family of three actually enjoys compact vehicles, but the Lancer fell flat for all of us.

The five-seater does have good looks and handling going for it. I couldn’t complain about its responsiveness or maneuverability. But it had a light feel as I drove it, meaning that it didn’t feel particularly connected to the road. My test car, a Lancer SE, had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

This car comes in many forms, from the sedan I tested to the rally-inspired Evolution and the Sportback hatchback. The DE base trim starts at $16,790, including a $795 destination charge. My SE model, which had standard all-wheel drive, an upgraded stereo system and a power sunroof, came in at $22,640.

EXTERIOR
The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer looks good and has much more aggressive styling, especially when compared to the Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sentra. The Lancer grabs attention on the road with its pronounced grille.

My biggest pet peeve with the Lancer’s exterior was trunk access. There’s no handle or button on the outside to open the trunk, so you must use the key fob. The trunk never seemed to open the first time when I pushed the key fob button; I clicked it multiple times before it’d open. Once the trunk finally responded, it was barely cracked open, so I had to lift it up manually. It’s a minor detail but a major inconvenience, especially when you’ve got three bags resting on your forearm and you’re carrying a kid in the other. I need easy access to the cargo area as I run errands, and this would be a deal-breaker for me.

The Lancer’s trunk is on the smaller side. In my test car, one of the upgrades included a large subwoofer in the trunk, which will delight your tweens and teenagers, but is a bummer for parents needing room for a stroller and groceries. I made it work, but I definitely could’ve used more trunk space. A 60/40-split folding backseat is available on the base and standard on the higher trims.

Aside from my beef with the trunk, the Lancer got the job done. My 2-year-old daughter, who vehemently exerts her independence these days, got into the car on her own just fine thanks to its low step-in height. Its attractive angular design doesn’t interfere with the door openings either; I didn’t have to watch my head too much when leaning in to get her strapped into her child-safety seat.

The Lancer SE has a 168-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder that’s paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It gets an EPA-estimated 22/29 mpg city/highway and uses regular unleaded gasoline. I averaged 23 mpg during my weeklong test drive of mostly city driving.

SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): None

INTERIOR
While the Lancer’s exterior looks modern, its interior has dated features and a straightforward, no-frills looks. Even my upgraded SE model test car had a rental car feel to it.

My test car had a few upgrades, including a power-operated moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and rudimentary Bluetooth connectivity. It was particularly lackluster as many competitors offer multimedia systems with touch-screens in their compact sedans. A 6-inch touch-screen for Toyota’s Entune system can be found in a midlevel Corolla, and it has a lower starting price of $18,975. My midlevel Lancer didn’t have an USB input, which made me feel like I was inside an older vehicle.

The Lancer did surprise me and my family inside the cabin; things felt cozy but not cramped. My daughter and I did just fine in the car as we ran errands around town, and when my husband joined us, we had enough room. However, don’t count on the Lancer as a frequent five-seater — even if it can technically fit three in the backseat — it would be a tight squeeze.

Additional storage is what you’d expect in a compact car: four cupholders, small door pockets in the front doors with bottleholders and a skimpy center console.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

SAFETY
The 2013 Lancer has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It received the top score of Good in front-, side-impact, rear and roof-strength crash tests. The Lancer also received an overall safety score of four stars out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It earned four stars of five in front-, side-impact, rear and roof-strength crash tests.

There are two sets of lower Latch anchors in the Lancer’s outboard seats. They were easy to access thanks to sizable slits in the seat upholstery. A rear-facing child-safety seat could really eat up the front passenger’s legroom, but families with kids in forward-facing seats, boosters or those who have graduated from their car seats will fit comfortably in the backseat. Find out how the 2013 Lancer performed in Cars.com’s Car Seat Check.

The Lancer SE has standard all-wheel drive, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, an electronic stability system with traction control and seven airbags, including side curtains for both rows and a driver’s knee airbag.

Get more safety information on the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer here.

Read more

Safety review

Based on the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
4/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
3/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
4/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4/5
Overall side crash rating
4/5
Rollover rating
4/5
Side barrier rating
4/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
3/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
12.1%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
3/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
12.1%
Risk of rollover

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