Skip to main content

2003
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Starts at:
$28,987
Shop options
New 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

Start your comparison

Expert 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

A beast in the ‘burbs
Watch out, neighbor: Mitsubishi’s Evolution is a growling race car disguised as a family sedan.

There are many things to enjoy about the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi’s egregiously overpowered perversion of its four-door family sedan: its swallow-your-tongue acceleration (0-60 mph in about 5 seconds); its Power Rangers-on-meth face; the prospect that, in Kansas and Florida, state law requires that you call it the Lancer Creationism.

My absolute favorite is the child-seat anchor system in the back. Taking baby Cody to the Whole Foods in this thing would be as wild as a ride in the clothes dryer.

This car is a Size 14 foot crammed in a Size 8 pump, 50 pounds of smack in a 5-pound gob, a 105-millimeter Howitzer round crammed into a .25-caliber Beretta. Or maybe it’s another piece of munitions entirely: You don’t drive the Evo so much as pull the pin, count to three, and throw. “One … two … BOOM.”

For a test drive, drag your recliner up to the nearest PlayStation 2. Digital versions of the Evo and its direct competitor, the Subaru WRX Sti, slug it out on Sony’s World Rally Championship 3 video game with screamers like the Peugeot 206, Citroën Xsara and Ford Focus RS.

An aside: I am amazed that WRC racing is not more popular in the United States (the races are shown on a cable channel called Speed TV). In these timed-stage rally races held around the world, highly modified compact cars with all-wheel-drive rocket over hill and dale and, occasionally, off cliffs. Rally racing requires consummate car control and no detectable levels of self-preservation. You think eating worms has a fear factor? I once asked Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher – no coward in a race car – if he thought maybe he would like to try world rally. “Certainly not!” he said. “In a formula car there are only a few places on a track where bad things can happen. In rally, bad things can happen everywhere.”

The Evolution VIII – the heraldic numerology denotes the eighth iteration of the Evo, though the car came to the U.S. in 2003 – is a reasonably civilized version of the race car. The full-race Evo is about 557 pounds lighter and 30 horsepower more puissant. The race car has bigger brakes and wheels, full-race suspension and an interior stripped to the steel walls.

Even so, the street-legal Evo feels plenty racy, from its tooth-chipping ride to its deep-bolstered Recaro seats that grab you around the ribs like King Kong cuddling Fay Wray. The steering feel is darty and hypersensitive, like that of a big go-kart, requiring only two turns from full left to full right lock. The ventilated Brembo brakes – with their showy red calipers peeking from behind the Enkei alloy wheels – are amazing, precise and powerful. This car looks naked without a big number decal on the door.

First impression: The car is as solid as a granite headstone. Every panel in the unitiz ed steel body is seam welded – as compared to spot welded, the practice in the regular Lancer – and the chassis is heavily reinforced from the suspension mountings to the floor pan. When you slam the door the sound is like a sledge striking a tractor tire – doompf.

The Evo’s styling is similarly like a sledge, right between the peepers. Cops will follow it like it’s trolling with doughnuts. From the windshield forward the bodywork is Evo-specific – the swollen fenders and hood are aluminum, not steel, and the lower front fascia has three oversized inlets. Behind the center aperture you can see the huge air-to-air intercooler that helps chill air being fed from the turbocharger (cooler air is denser and nets more horsepower).

One of the Evo’s unique features is its water-spray system. You can spritz the intercooler by way of a console-mounted switch to help lower engine intake air temps – it’s also fun if you want to spray people in the crosswalk. And for those whos doctors recommend more carbon fiber in their diet, a foot-high spoiler is an option.

Beautiful? Heavens, no. It’s a pig in a tracksuit.

Inside, the Evo is pretty straight-ahead, a cheerless, black-and-gray arrangement of climate and audio controls in the central stack (the “RS” competition package deletes the stereo system in the interests of weight saving). A small competition-style Momo steering wheel and handball-sized gearshift knob enhance the go-fast ambience.

None of which prepares you, really, for the moment you spark the fuse of the Evo. Under the hood is Mitsubishi’s 2.0-liter dual-overhead-cam four-banger (alloy head, iron block), race-prepped with forged aluminum connecting rods and pistons churning a forged steel crank. Under the magnesium valve covers, most of the valve train has been lightened to reduce reciprocating masses and increase revs. A twin-scroll turbocharger force-feeds air into the engine like it’s making horsepower pâté.

It all adds up to 271 horsepower that comes on with the gentle modulation of a Dremmel tool – zzzziiiIINNNGG!!!!

Never has ugly been so fast.

Snick the short-throw five-speed into first gear and slip the clutch. The car is noisy. The clutch churrs, the synchros whine and the all-wheel-drive running gear scuffs like sandpaper across the back of a violin. The Evo has plenty of low-rpm turbo lag, but just keep your foot down. When the revs climb into the power band (about 4,500 rpm) the car goes into banshee mode. The feeling of the steering wheel pulling away from your hands is like the sensation of a water ski towrope pulling you off a dock.

Our test car – a 2003 model that had been soundly thrashed by every disreputable car buff book in Southern California – was utterly unfazed by abuse. The five-speed slotted with greasy precision in every gear gate, and soon thereafter a wild blurt of velocity followed. Mitsu claims the car has a top speed of 150 mph, which seems a bit high for a five-speed with a 4.529 final drive ratio. In any event, few four-doors have the casual criminality, the license-losing licentiousness of the Evo.

Because it’s all-wheel drive, the Evo isn’t easy to launch cleanly. All that traction under the 17-inch Yokohamas tends to bog the engine at launch. I tried to verify the manufacturer’s 0-60 mph acceleration in an empty parking lot. I came close (5.2 seconds), but I had to cruelly drop the clutch at over 4,000 rpm to do it. Ouch.

The AWD system (viscous-coupling center differential, open front differential and a limited-slip diff in the rear) apportions torque 50-50 between the front and rear ends of the car. In the dry-pavement paradise of L.A., you have to cook the car pretty hard to really get much handling benefit out of the AWD system. Meanwhile, the soft-compound tires feel magnetized to the asphalt. The cornering loads in this car must be close to 1 G. When I started my test run I had a full can of Coke. Now I can’t find it.

The Evo’s suspension – Macpherson struts in front, multi-link in back – comprises forged aluminum wishbones, control arms and links, and all manner of heavy-duty bushings, stabilizer bars, strut braces and lateral cross-members. All this suspension work gives the car a tensed, hard-edged feel. Ditto the ride: ride compliance, such as it is, seems to be coming from the bushings.

On a road course, this thing will chew the hind end out of a Porsche Boxster and a Nissan Z-car and half a dozen other cars that like to think of themselves as fast. Isn’t that delightfully perverse?

I think one of the things that makes the Evo – in fact, all the little tuner cars – so fascinating is the spectacle of metamorphosis. The Evo is a dumpy little Lancer that’s run into a phone booth, George Reeves style, to emerge faster than a speeding bullet, a strange visitor from another planet.

Don’t we all want to do that? *

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII

Wheelbase: 103.3 inches

Length: 178.5 inches

Curb weight: 3,263 pounds

Powertrain: 2.0-liter DOHC inline four, intercooled and turbocharged, five-speed manual transmission, viscous-coupling center differential (50/50 torque distribution), open front differential, mechanical limited-slip rear differential

Horsepower: 271 horsepower at 6,500 rpm

Torque: 273 pound-feet at 3,500

Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds

EPA rating: 18 miles per gallon city, 26 mpg highway

Price, base: $29,999

Price, as tested: $29,999

Competitor: Subaru WRX STi

Final thoughts: Primal scream therapy for the whole family

Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution review: Our expert's take
By

A beast in the ‘burbs
Watch out, neighbor: Mitsubishi’s Evolution is a growling race car disguised as a family sedan.

There are many things to enjoy about the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi’s egregiously overpowered perversion of its four-door family sedan: its swallow-your-tongue acceleration (0-60 mph in about 5 seconds); its Power Rangers-on-meth face; the prospect that, in Kansas and Florida, state law requires that you call it the Lancer Creationism.

My absolute favorite is the child-seat anchor system in the back. Taking baby Cody to the Whole Foods in this thing would be as wild as a ride in the clothes dryer.

This car is a Size 14 foot crammed in a Size 8 pump, 50 pounds of smack in a 5-pound gob, a 105-millimeter Howitzer round crammed into a .25-caliber Beretta. Or maybe it’s another piece of munitions entirely: You don’t drive the Evo so much as pull the pin, count to three, and throw. “One … two … BOOM.”

For a test drive, drag your recliner up to the nearest PlayStation 2. Digital versions of the Evo and its direct competitor, the Subaru WRX Sti, slug it out on Sony’s World Rally Championship 3 video game with screamers like the Peugeot 206, Citroën Xsara and Ford Focus RS.

An aside: I am amazed that WRC racing is not more popular in the United States (the races are shown on a cable channel called Speed TV). In these timed-stage rally races held around the world, highly modified compact cars with all-wheel-drive rocket over hill and dale and, occasionally, off cliffs. Rally racing requires consummate car control and no detectable levels of self-preservation. You think eating worms has a fear factor? I once asked Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher – no coward in a race car – if he thought maybe he would like to try world rally. “Certainly not!” he said. “In a formula car there are only a few places on a track where bad things can happen. In rally, bad things can happen everywhere.”

The Evolution VIII – the heraldic numerology denotes the eighth iteration of the Evo, though the car came to the U.S. in 2003 – is a reasonably civilized version of the race car. The full-race Evo is about 557 pounds lighter and 30 horsepower more puissant. The race car has bigger brakes and wheels, full-race suspension and an interior stripped to the steel walls.

Even so, the street-legal Evo feels plenty racy, from its tooth-chipping ride to its deep-bolstered Recaro seats that grab you around the ribs like King Kong cuddling Fay Wray. The steering feel is darty and hypersensitive, like that of a big go-kart, requiring only two turns from full left to full right lock. The ventilated Brembo brakes – with their showy red calipers peeking from behind the Enkei alloy wheels – are amazing, precise and powerful. This car looks naked without a big number decal on the door.

First impression: The car is as solid as a granite headstone. Every panel in the unitiz ed steel body is seam welded – as compared to spot welded, the practice in the regular Lancer – and the chassis is heavily reinforced from the suspension mountings to the floor pan. When you slam the door the sound is like a sledge striking a tractor tire – doompf.

The Evo’s styling is similarly like a sledge, right between the peepers. Cops will follow it like it’s trolling with doughnuts. From the windshield forward the bodywork is Evo-specific – the swollen fenders and hood are aluminum, not steel, and the lower front fascia has three oversized inlets. Behind the center aperture you can see the huge air-to-air intercooler that helps chill air being fed from the turbocharger (cooler air is denser and nets more horsepower).

One of the Evo’s unique features is its water-spray system. You can spritz the intercooler by way of a console-mounted switch to help lower engine intake air temps – it’s also fun if you want to spray people in the crosswalk. And for those whos doctors recommend more carbon fiber in their diet, a foot-high spoiler is an option.

Beautiful? Heavens, no. It’s a pig in a tracksuit.

Inside, the Evo is pretty straight-ahead, a cheerless, black-and-gray arrangement of climate and audio controls in the central stack (the “RS” competition package deletes the stereo system in the interests of weight saving). A small competition-style Momo steering wheel and handball-sized gearshift knob enhance the go-fast ambience.

None of which prepares you, really, for the moment you spark the fuse of the Evo. Under the hood is Mitsubishi’s 2.0-liter dual-overhead-cam four-banger (alloy head, iron block), race-prepped with forged aluminum connecting rods and pistons churning a forged steel crank. Under the magnesium valve covers, most of the valve train has been lightened to reduce reciprocating masses and increase revs. A twin-scroll turbocharger force-feeds air into the engine like it’s making horsepower pâté.

It all adds up to 271 horsepower that comes on with the gentle modulation of a Dremmel tool – zzzziiiIINNNGG!!!!

Never has ugly been so fast.

Snick the short-throw five-speed into first gear and slip the clutch. The car is noisy. The clutch churrs, the synchros whine and the all-wheel-drive running gear scuffs like sandpaper across the back of a violin. The Evo has plenty of low-rpm turbo lag, but just keep your foot down. When the revs climb into the power band (about 4,500 rpm) the car goes into banshee mode. The feeling of the steering wheel pulling away from your hands is like the sensation of a water ski towrope pulling you off a dock.

Our test car – a 2003 model that had been soundly thrashed by every disreputable car buff book in Southern California – was utterly unfazed by abuse. The five-speed slotted with greasy precision in every gear gate, and soon thereafter a wild blurt of velocity followed. Mitsu claims the car has a top speed of 150 mph, which seems a bit high for a five-speed with a 4.529 final drive ratio. In any event, few four-doors have the casual criminality, the license-losing licentiousness of the Evo.

Because it’s all-wheel drive, the Evo isn’t easy to launch cleanly. All that traction under the 17-inch Yokohamas tends to bog the engine at launch. I tried to verify the manufacturer’s 0-60 mph acceleration in an empty parking lot. I came close (5.2 seconds), but I had to cruelly drop the clutch at over 4,000 rpm to do it. Ouch.

The AWD system (viscous-coupling center differential, open front differential and a limited-slip diff in the rear) apportions torque 50-50 between the front and rear ends of the car. In the dry-pavement paradise of L.A., you have to cook the car pretty hard to really get much handling benefit out of the AWD system. Meanwhile, the soft-compound tires feel magnetized to the asphalt. The cornering loads in this car must be close to 1 G. When I started my test run I had a full can of Coke. Now I can’t find it.

The Evo’s suspension – Macpherson struts in front, multi-link in back – comprises forged aluminum wishbones, control arms and links, and all manner of heavy-duty bushings, stabilizer bars, strut braces and lateral cross-members. All this suspension work gives the car a tensed, hard-edged feel. Ditto the ride: ride compliance, such as it is, seems to be coming from the bushings.

On a road course, this thing will chew the hind end out of a Porsche Boxster and a Nissan Z-car and half a dozen other cars that like to think of themselves as fast. Isn’t that delightfully perverse?

I think one of the things that makes the Evo – in fact, all the little tuner cars – so fascinating is the spectacle of metamorphosis. The Evo is a dumpy little Lancer that’s run into a phone booth, George Reeves style, to emerge faster than a speeding bullet, a strange visitor from another planet.

Don’t we all want to do that? *

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII

Wheelbase: 103.3 inches

Length: 178.5 inches

Curb weight: 3,263 pounds

Powertrain: 2.0-liter DOHC inline four, intercooled and turbocharged, five-speed manual transmission, viscous-coupling center differential (50/50 torque distribution), open front differential, mechanical limited-slip rear differential

Horsepower: 271 horsepower at 6,500 rpm

Torque: 273 pound-feet at 3,500

Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds

EPA rating: 18 miles per gallon city, 26 mpg highway

Price, base: $29,999

Price, as tested: $29,999

Competitor: Subaru WRX STi

Final thoughts: Primal scream therapy for the whole family

Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America

Safety review

Based on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
4/5
Frontal passenger
4/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
2/5
Side rear passenger
4/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
7 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

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

Compare similar vehicles

Select cars to compare for more detailed info.
  • 2003
    4.9
    Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
    Starts at
    $28,987
    18 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Turbo Gas I4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 2006
    4.7
    Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
    Starts at
    $28,679
    19 City / 25 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Turbo Gas I4
    Engine
    All-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 1992
    4.6
    Nissan 300ZX
    Starts at
    $29,705
    -
    MPG
    -
    Seat capacity
    -
    Engine
    -
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 1993
    4.0
    Mitsubishi Eclipse
    Starts at
    $11,719
    -
    MPG
    -
    Seat capacity
    -
    Engine
    -
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • 2016
    4.4
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    Starts at
    $17,595
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Engine
    Front-wheel drive
    Drivetrain
    Compare
  • Compare more options
    Use our comparison tool to add any vehicle of your choice and see a full list of specifications and features side-by-side.
    Try it now

Consumer reviews

4.9 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.1
Performance 4.9
Value 4.8
Exterior 4.7
Reliability 4.7

Most recent

  • Best car I’ve ever had

    It’s a really fun car fast and really great to drive. Through the time I owned it I had lots of fun racing my friends or randoms off the street. And it’s a very reliable car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Fun exciting car to own!

    This car is magnificent, best bang for the buck. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Very fun and always puts a smile on my face!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Amazing !!!

    The best Performance Sedan of all Time ! There is a video on internet show a Mitsubishi Evolution 8 vs a Lamborghini Murcielargo... you can see how fast this car is compared a one exotic 200k + car.
    • Purchased a Used 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
    0 people out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Overall Great Car!

    This car has been amazing to me. It is comfortable on long trips, has some pep to it, its good looking and simple, and it has been super reliable as long as you take care of it.
    • Purchased a Used 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
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Very nice car

    This is a fun car. The car is very clean and well maintained and with the mods and power the price isn't too steep.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Eleven years later... still smokes the competition

    I'm the original owner of a 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII. For the performance, pound for pound, there is no other sports car that can be found for the money. I have 159,000 miles on the the odometer. This is the original engine, original internals, original transmission, original transfer case, and original differential. I replaced the clutch at 35,000 miles because I increased power to 415hp at the crank. It has remained at this power level for eight years with trips to Atco and Englishtown. I recently tracked the car in July 2013 at New Jersey Motorsports park at 145,000 miles and it performed without issue. The Evo's drive train components are part of the magic and it's good to service them regularly. Be sure to change transmission, transfer case and differential fluids at or before recommended intervals. Proper maintenance and the car should operate indefinitely. On long road trips I've found the Recaro seats to be very supportive and surprisingly comfortable. The Momo steering wheel is also just right in feel. The interior styling is perhaps a bit dated now, however, I continue to receive compliments on how fresh the car looks from the exterior. Evo's love proper alignment and fresh tires. I keep two sets for winter and summer respectively. At normal speeds the car is less engaging. Beyond normal speeds the car comes to life. When you've reached the limits of grip, you discover there's more. Brakes, suspension and chassis all work together on the back roads. Power delivery is brutal. My friends own 911 Turbos, 911 GT3s, and Nissan GTRs, and the Evo is right there with them in performance. As the years have gone by durability and reliability for the performance are what I value most about this car. I'll have it for a long time. And yes eleven years later, it still smokes the competition.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The most miles on an Evo

    I ever thought about writing a review until some of my friends were interested in buying an Evo. Being a technician helps with the maintenance, but really as long as you don't abuse the car it should last. I found my first one with 67,000 miles on it and now my second one with 99,000. Both 03's. My first one is still going strong at 262,000 as of today. I love the cars handling,power, and don't forget about the AWD which is such a great thing to have in the snow. I drive it a lot and am a smaller guy so sitting in the recaros all day is okay. Might it be comfortable for a bigger guy. Either way, I love mine. Just don't use cheap parts and you should have a car that last a while.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Sexiest car in the world

    I just recently bought my 2003 GSR with 27,500k miles...had to drive it all the way from Michigan to Wisconsin too. No problems whatsoever, just make sure to get best fluids and gas always. I have always loved the way these cars look, and the only bad things that i would say about this car are: 1. Using the turbo absolutely EATS gas...and when you aren't using it, expect around 17-19mpg city, 20-23 highway. 2. Interior looks great...Recaro seats, Momo steering wheel, etc. But the stock stereo blows, and some of the interior components look kinda plasticky. Really though...most fun car i have ever driven. Almost all used Evos you will find have modifications done to them, and depending what the previous owners did and how the owners took care of them, you could either have a ticking time bomb or a great vehicle that will last for years to come. Do your research and get the car(s) inspected before you decide to dish out any $$$
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The best overall car

    i think it is the best car becasue the handling ontop of manual transmisson and so much more great car
    • Purchased a Used 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
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • To much fun

    This has been one of the best cars I've ever driven! It's fast and handles like a dream around the corners. Also it gives you the best of both worlds the luxury of a sedan and the speed and control of a sports car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Best Stock race car for value

    I bought this car for my son to race at the track, and its a GREAT!! car; handles well. Great Reliable engine. Plunty of power and torque; Id recomend this car to anyone!!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Go kart for big kids...

    Lots of fun to drive. Corners well. Believe it or not it is very good in the snow (if you swap out the OE tires) due to the AWD. The first model year (2003) has its problems but once sorted is reliable. Mileage is good if you stay out of the turbo boost...but what fun is that?
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 3.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

Latest news from cars.com

See all news

Mitsubishi dealers near you

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is available in 1 trim level:

  • Evolution (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution offers up to 18 MPG in city driving and 26 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has an average reliability rating of 4.7 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution owners.

Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. 92.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.9 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.1
  • Performance: 4.9
  • Value: 4.8
  • Exterior: 4.7
  • Reliability: 4.7

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution history

Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":"sportscar_standard","stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"Sedan","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]