Review of the 2010 Lancer Sportback at Jim Butler Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is based on the Lancer sedan and with that has the only two of the 4 available trim levels as the Lancer sedan. The Sportback comes in either a GTS or Ralliart trim level, which transforms into cool and coolest!

The GTS is powered by Lancer's energetic 168-hp I-4, but the Ralliart trim trades up to a 2.0-liter, 237-hp turbo four that makes 253 lb.-ft. of torque. That go-go that the Lancer Sportback Ralliart puts to all four wheels via Mitsubishi's automatic transmission with the Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission feature is nothing short of awesome.

The Twin-Clutch Sportronic functions as a typical automatic, but it also can be shifted manually via the console shifter or wheel-mounted paddles. The two clutches — one for odd gears, one for even — allows for seamless thrust as the Mitsu snaps through the gears because one clutch or the other is always ready to engage the next gear.

The real thrill is the Sport Mode on the transmission. When engaged it raises the the RPM shift points for a sportier, and more thrilling driving experience.

The Ralliart's sharp steering, rally-car handling, confident braking and a sporty ride are accomplished by its fully independent, sport-tuned suspension and speed-rated tires, making it a great addition to the Lancer and Mitsubishi models.

The optional Recaro seats, straight-forward gauge display and floor shifter — a corkball-like shift knob that looks and feels as if it were connected to a manual transmission — are very cool.

The Styling is a straight carry-over from the Lancer sedan with its shark-face grille, hood nostrils, raptor-eye headlights and 18-inch sport alloy wheels. Now it has a hatchback handiness and 57 cubic feet of seats-folded cargo space make it a more versatile vehicle that can be used for more than just hauling around 5 passengers.

View our inventory of the 2010 Lancer Sportback here!