2013
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

Starts at:

$18,495

Shop options

See ratings

Consumer rating

Owner reviewed vehicle score

Safety rating

NHTSA tested vehicle score

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.

5dr Sportback ES FWD

Starts at

$18,495

MPG

24 City / 32 Hwy

Seat capacity

5

Engine

Gas I4

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

See all specs
5dr Sportback GT FWD

Starts at

$21,495

MPG

22 City / 29 Hwy

Seat capacity

5

Engine

Gas I4

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

See all specs

Photo & video gallery

Notable features

Unique hatchback styling
Available 168-hp four-cylinder
Manual or automatic
Front-wheel drive

The good & the bad

The good

Slick manual shifter
Playful handling
Legible gauges, intuitive controls
Cargo room with backseat folded

The bad

Cabin gets noisy on the highway
Cargo area with seats up isn't much bigger than sedan's
Radio skimps on buttons
Design looks a little truncated from some angles

See all specifications

Expert 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback review

Our expert's take

By Cars.com editors

Full article

Vehicle Overview

The five-seat Lancer Sportback hatchback is offered with a choice of two naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines. Competitors include the Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza and Mazda3. The Lancer sedan and high-performance Lancer Evolution are covered in separate reports in the Cars.com Research section.
New for 2013
There are no significant changes.
Exterior
The Lancer Sportback retains the general design cues of the Lancer sedan in front but takes on a different look at the rear. The Sportback’s liftgate is raked forward at an aggressive angle for a hatchback, and the overall look is a little ungainly from some angles. A rear spoiler near the roof finishes off the design. Exterior features include:

Standard 16-inch wheels (ES)
Optional 18-inch wheels
Optional bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
Available power glass sunroof
Available rain-sensing windshield wipers

Interior
Like the Lancer sedan, the Sportback has room for up to five people in two rows of seats. The big difference between the two cars is in the cargo area. Although the Lancer sedan is available with a split-folding backseat to increase luggage space, the shape of the car limits what you can fit in the trunk. With the Sportback, there are fewer restrictions because of its open cargo area, which has a maximum volume of 52.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Interior features include:

Available USB port
Optional Rockford Fosgate stereo with a subwoofer
Optional heated leather seats

Under the Hood
The front-wheel-drive Lancer Sportback offers a choice of two engines. Mechanical features include:

ES has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 148 horsepower with either a standard five-speed manual or optional continuously variable automatic transmission
GT has a 168-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with either a five-speed manual or CVT

Safety
Standard safety features include:

Side-impact airbags for the front seats
Side curtain airbags for both rows
Knee airbag for the driver
Antilock brakes
Electronic stability system

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

Standard 16-inch wheels (ES)
Optional 18-inch wheels
Optional bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
Available power glass sunroof
Available rain-sensing windshield wipers

Available USB port
Optional Rockford Fosgate stereo with a subwoofer
Optional heated leather seats

Under the Hood
The front-wheel-drive Lancer Sportback offers a choice of two engines. Mechanical features include:

ES has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 148 horsepower with either a standard five-speed manual or optional continuously variable automatic transmission
GT has a 168-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with either a five-speed manual or CVT

Safety
Standard safety features include:

Side-impact airbags for the front seats
Side curtain airbags for both rows
Knee airbag for the driver
Antilock brakes
Electronic stability system

Safety review

Based on the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback base trim

NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5
Combined side rating front seat: 5 out of 5
Combined side rating rear seat: 3 out of 5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver: 5 out of 5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger: 4 out of 5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating: 4 out of 5
Overall side crash rating: 4 out of 5
Rollover rating: 4 out of 5
Side barrier rating: 4 out of 5

Side barrier rating driver: 5 out of 5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat: 3 out of 5
Side pole rating driver front seat: 5 out of 5

12.1%

Risk of rollover

Side barrier rating driver: 5 out of 5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat: 3 out of 5
Side pole rating driver front seat: 5 out of 5

12.1%

Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

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

Most recent

By Laddybuck from Indiana

Owns this car

October 29, 2013

The car I've always wanted
I am so happy Mitsubishi is still in America, they have an excellent product for the money.... So far I've had 4 other Mitsubishi's loved them all, but this is the one that hit the spot.... I enjoy the 30 plus mpg, I enjoy 15 seconds in the quarter mile. I really like the top end speed of 125 mph. I love the 49 square ft of
storage in the back with the seat down, which is by chance is the same as the Outlander Sport SE, The car reminds me when I was a kid, the car is fun and economical and practical. I wish I had one back in the day...
Purchased a New car

Does recommend this car

Comfort

4.0 out of 5

Interior

4.0 out of 5

Performance

5.0 out of 5

Value

5.0 out of 5

Exterior

5.0 out of 5

Reliability

5.0 out of 5

0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?

Yes No
By ebpossum from Deming, New Mexico

Owns this car

May 10, 2013

good deal for a good car
The car was purchase for my wife. Buying this car really felt good. My wife is very happy with the deal, the dealership, and the car.
Purchased a New car

Does recommend this car

Comfort

4.0 out of 5

Interior

4.0 out of 5

Performance

4.0 out of 5

Value

5.0 out of 5

Exterior

5.0 out of 5

Reliability

4.0 out of 5

0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?

Yes No

See all reviews

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback?

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is available in 2 trim levels:

ES (1 style)
GT (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback?

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback offers up to 24 MPG in city driving and 32 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.

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback reliable?

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback owners.

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

5.0 / 5

Based on 2 reviews

Comfort: 4.0
Interior: 4.0
Performance: 4.5
Value: 5.0
Exterior: 5.0
Reliability: 4.5

Your list was successfully saved.

[{"cat":"wagonhatchback_hatchback","stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"Hatchback","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback