Test Drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 2000 - 2003 Sedan

All photos Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 2000 - 2003

L-club

Mitsubishi Lancer.
The new, ninth generation of Lancers debuted on the Russian Auto Show-2003 and is already offered by dealers.
The car is still presented in the domestic market with two 1.3 l gasoline engines, 60 kW / 82 liters. With. and 1, 6 l, 72 kW / 98 liters. With. With mechanical or automatic (for version 1.6 liters) gearboxes.
The sedan is highlighted in a number of competitors not only by a high level of equipment, but also very interesting prices - from $ 13,900 to 16,950.
Hyundai Elantra.
The updated Elantra also made his debut in 2003 and in the domestic market is represented by the Sedan and Hatchback bodies.
The car comes to us with a 1.6 l gasoline engine, 77 kW / 105 liters. With. and two gearboxes - mechanics or machine gun.
Depending on the level of configuration (GL or GLS), the price of Elantru-sedan in the salons of official dealers ranges from $ 13,190 to 15 990.
Suzuki Liana.

For the first time, four-door liana was presented to the general public in 2001, and in 2002 its European presentation took place.
Sedan and hatchback are supplied to Russia only with a 1.6 l engine, 78 kW / 106 liters. with. aggregated with a five-speed mechanic or a four-stage automatic machine. There is a all-wheel drive version of the machine.
We have the basic setting of Lianen distinguishes a high level of equipment. Price range - from $ 14,900 to 16 850.
These cars have already been in the editorial fitting room and one way or another left the first and perhaps the most vivid impressions. However, everything is known in comparison, so we were not afraid to gather them together, in order not only to highlight the merits, but also to emphasize the shortcomings.
Of course, the culprit of the event was the winner of the Grand Prix driving, the sample of the new corporate style of Mitsubishi - Lancer. With him, the company connects high hopes, including in promoting in the Russian market. After all, it is he who should replace a slightly bored carism, and also to make a serious competition to other Chinese auto industry whales - Nissan and Toyota.
In our test, the opponents of Lancer got non-standard, although not deprived of the domestic consumer. Hönde Elantra recently updated, receiving an even more Europeanized shell and a number of improvements. Well, Suzuki Liana is not only a native Japanese, maybe not so promoted as famous brands, but also a classmate, combining a lot of unusual design solutions that attract attention. So, our wards are three sedans with motors of 1.6 liters, approximately one price category, each of which will probably be interesting in their own way.

Stylistic standards

Oh, these modern cars designed by the computer. It seems that their creators pose about the revolutionism of exteriors, bright, lush lines. Alas, with the rare exception of the car, more similar to the other are becoming more likely. And then there is still universal love for silver colors and shades ... I repent, more than once I caught myself that, studying, for example, Lancer, suddenly completely unexpectedly discovered Hönde's emblem and vice versa. What then to talk about people inexperienced for whom all of them are on one person? Interestingly, but against the background of such a monolay, Liana suddenly acquired a lot of external advantages. Its unusual proportions, and even the factory tuning decoration suddenly turned out to be a pass to the world of recognition. Nobody tried this car to call a one-headed name. Of course, this colossus on small legs-wheels (by the way, quite an adult dimension of 195/55r15), to put it mildly, does not shine the sophistication of the shapes and lines, but it is at least characterized by non-standard appearance.

Let's hope that the internal content will allow to stand out and the rest. And therefore let's take a look at the interiors, carefully studied the individual features of each.
I remember that Mitsubishi Lancer at the first acquaintance did not make a stunning impression. He seemed thoughtful, good-free, well-equipped, but looked more than habitual.
Now, against the background of fellow competitors, he suddenly began to look more and more cozy. They played polished inserts under the black tree, it was more pleasant to start looking at the plastic, the individuality and novelty was immediately felt in the car. As a result, it was worth only to be inside, all questions with confusion in brands and emblems instantly moved to the background.
Comfortable, spacious seats, well-readable combination of devices, carefully verified efforts and movement of controls. Here everything is logical, everything is at hand - as a result, you get coming to almost immediately, without addiction. Of course, not everything is perfect in this car. It is difficult, for example, not to complain to a larger Barank diameter - tribute to Japanese traditions or not to notice the frequency from the rear head restraints that closes the half of the glass. But in general, everything is thought out in front of the smallest detail.

But in the back seat is closed knees, and the roof frankly hangs over the head, so, from the point of view of passengers, Lancer is quite ordinary.
Against the background of the well-thought-out Japanese Hönde Elantra looks not a spheriment, although not so standing on. It seems to be a standard combination of gray and dark shades, but a slightly gross style, more modest upholstery materials, is easier execution. Nevertheless, if you pride and look, it will also be discovered in this car, because it is not inferior to the Japanese in terms of equipment. Here you just need to get used to the largest lattices of deflectors on the front panel, to penetrate, so to speak, the Korean approach to the layout of the workplace, and the Elantra will be very even at the level. At least, in question the convenience of landing or using this or that equipment. A somewhat peculiar, but convenient combination of devices, logical tamblers and ventilation systems of the ventilation system.
Of course, not everything is perfect here, and, for example, the lever of the box immediately alarms with large strokes. The driver's seat offers a very good range of longitudinal movements and as many as five adjustments, including fitting the front and rear parts of the pillow in height. By configuration, it is quite similar to Lanserovskoye, but less rigid in the side direction. Naturally, the breathable back is slightly annoying, but the rest are sitting almost exquisitely: here a little lifted, tilted there, and the seat comfortably and unobtrusively accepted into their arms.
Volgone and rear passengers. Masterful probably will celebrate the low pillow and the gulling roof, but with the knees everything is in order, there is even a stock to the seated ahead.

Suzuki Liana is a definitely different look at the concept of a modern sedan. It all begins with the fact that you enter this car, and you are not sitting, and getting driving, you turn your head for a long time, considering the dealers that dealers still made a mistake and the companktvan slipped. But how else, when it's not just a full place above your head, and also with a margin? Wide front racks are facilitated by small additional windows, and you sit here unusually high, almost like in Ozvnik. The unusual of the machine only enhance the narrow strip of a digital device combination, a high and massive front panel and an automatic selector. Alas, one of the most expensive settings of Liana, the Russian dealer is not referred to as Aero, it also got with an automatic transmission. However, the pedantic examination reveals not only the emphasized high-cost finish. You find the trunk (it means, after all, a sedan!) So impressive sizes that competitors with their solid cargo compartments can only envy. Entering the taste, immediately want to try themselves as a passenger. After all, you can also enter the back seat and ... But it was not there. The stylish roof interferes here. But the rest is great: high, comfortable pillow, solid margin of knees, eh, if the ceiling was like in front.
And yet it is time to get driving. We must confess, enthusiasm gradually diminished. Multiculate the range of longitudinal movement of the seat, and the main thing is clearly short of his pillow, not at all European proportions. As a result, the hips are slightly hanging in the air, in the hands of Japanese again a large steering wheel, and in front of the eyes too bright spot of a stylish combination of instruments. Here he is what, another sedan in Japanese!

Mitsubishi Lancer

His lobby is a balance of driving properties. Engine characteristic is extremely smooth and most convenient for the consumer. In most situations, the Lancer motor is a bit monotonously (stretched transmission ratios), but will very reliably accelerate the car already from 1200-1500 rpm and do it until the revolt stop is activated. In principle, it is convenient for the ordinary man, but if you go from the soul, the car temperament will seem boring. But acoustic comfort is definitely at the height. This is noticeable from the first minutes of dating. Of course, with 4000 rpm, the voice of the motor makes its way, but it sounds veiled, as if the ears shoodled with cotton.
Not bad cars and on suspension settings. Although I do not hide - domestic roads have adjusted the assessment. If in Finland (during the presentation), the chassis settings were called only admiration, now the Lancer decides with sharp vertical jokes at high speed. It is very similar that our german waves turn out to be larger in the design of the suspension strokes.
But the handling has not changed. The car is accurate and very assembled on the road, while absolutely not annoying, allowing you to reliably and confidently move in space. In general, a clear and logical machine, not a pretended driver any surprises.
And so, perhaps, in everything. On the one hand, nothing special, outstanding, on the other, a clear adherence to all laid design schemes, which allows to achieve stable results.

Hönde Elantra

But this with the character, - we note, barely just begin the measurements of longitudinal dynamics. Of course, Korean hardly boasts the correctness of Lanserovsky settings, but that his motor is more fun, obviously. Pretty travelers, it is already lucky with 1000-1200 rpm, and to three and a half - suddenly flashes the pickup and then turns easily and easily, right up to the limiter. Suddenly it turns out that the transmission falls into all the desired ranges: the car is not only convenient, but also very dynamic. Eh, if it were not for a long switching mechanism and not very clear clutch work, it was possible to talk about sports settings for the power unit. Hönde turns out noticeably noiser than the right Japanese. Sings the motor, getting tires, very actively reacting to the quality of the coating. On the one hand, this, of course, emphasizes the morale, but on the other - in certain modes it is annoying with persistent sound pressure.
But the suspension seemed quite successful. They are not so comfortable as Lanserovsky, and much more actively passes on the body all the small irregularities of the road. Nevertheless, they keep the blow well and with gentle waves cope without problems. Only at high speed, the car is slightly annoying with sharp vertical impulses arising from a canopy wave.
Not bad Elantra and from the point of view of manageability. She, of course, is inferior to Mitsubishi in the accuracy of responses, but overall reliable in most everyday situations. Of course, here are the bolers of the body, and with quick ride you will certainly feel some mismatch between the driver teams and the reactions of the machine, but in general, Hyunda tries not to change the logic of his behavior on the road.

Suzuki Liana

The car is emphasized by the resulting and dynamic, the machine gunner and sharply switches the transmissions, reinforcing sports spirit. But something does not fit the ideology of a large family sedan with impulsive fighting qualities! And it's not just that the engine annoyingly sounds in the cabin already from 2500 rpm and frankly presses on the ears, and the gearbox barns all the time to climb the lowered, it is only careless to touch the accelerator. In the end, there is also a configuration of Liana and ordinary mechanics. Simply similar sportiness, laid, by the way, in the characteristics of the suspension, makes a sedan unnecessary nervous, somehow illogical. On the even, as the table, the asphalt of Suzuki surprises unexpectedly fast and accurate responses, but, hitting the small waves in the turn, begins to aches and swing, knocking down to straighten the trajectory. Or, imposed by the uncompromising stiffness of his challenged suspension, it is very quickly surrendered, it is necessary to appear serious irregularities. Honestly, the struggle with such complex manifestations of character was not impressed, and a rather unusual-style car immediately found himself in the outsider.

Let's sum up

Non-standard competitors, unusual results ... Who, for example, could assume that interesting outside and inside Suzuki Liana, sorrying competitors with the size of the cabin and trunk, suddenly refuses to play adult games, being very striking in the driving plan? Honestly, they themselves did not expect a similar one. Although, to admit, Hönde Elantra surprised, but already in a pleasant side. Korean turned out to be competitive, first of all, on the ride capabilities. Otherwise, he, of course, is simpler, but takes the price, equipping and size of the cabin.
Well, the main test filling? Comfortable, practical, thoughtful Mitsubishi Lancer - a solid good one in most nominations. And this is perhaps the main advantage of its advantage, because it is quite difficult to be difficult to be an excellent student, and for the average man is just what you need.

Mitsubishi Lancer.
Cozy, pretty salon, where there seems to be nothing unusual, well-thought-out controls, well-read devices. Is that the ram is vigilant.
Falill from the rear head restraints is not the best design solution, as, however, the trunk with a complex configuration of lateral surfaces.
The electric drive of all four windows is standard basic equipment, which includes the central lock, and air conditioning.

Hyundai Elantra.
The interior of the Korean looks not so standing on: and plastic simpler, and the style of Belubee. Nevertheless, everything you need here in prosperity.
Built-in glacial, combined armrest rear - very convenient.
Double boxing between front seats is an almost integral part of a modern car. The main thing is not to forget what I put it.

Suzuki Liana.
Inside the liana originality: a spacious interior, a powerful front panel, bright digital appliances scales. The peculiarity of this version is emphasized by expensive upholstered materials.
In the back seat you feel a close ceiling, but the rest is just great. Many will envy a spacious trunk.
High landing is not only good visibility, but also the ability to hide a roomy tray for small things under the seat.

SUMMARY
Mitsubishi Lancer.

+ Comfortable workplace ergonomics, good balance of driving features, high acoustic comfort.
- Lubricated overview through the inner mirror of the rear view. Hyundai Elantra.
+ Comfortable places for the rear passengers and trunk, a frisky engine, energy-intensive suspension.
- Big movement of the gearbox lever, the vague work of the clutch pedal.
Suzuki Liana.
+ Original design and interior, spacious interior, a spacious trunk.
- noisy engine, low smoothness, insufficient longitudinal range of front seats adjustments.