Test Drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X since 2008 Sedan

Brother on Brother

Many automotive brands associate related relationships that do not prevent them from competing. The last example is Mitsubishi Lancer and Hyundai Elantra.
Recently, in the Korean parliament discussed the issue of changing the country's Latin name. One of the rationale for this is approximately this: the Japanese instead of Corea instead of Corea in the beginning of the last century, so that their neighbor would not be ahead of the rising sun in one of the first Olympiads - the teams were alphabetically. The country's most developed country of Southeast Asia has already seen the beginning of a competitive control with a neighbor. True, it did not bother Japanese companies to successfully cooperate with potential rivals in the 80s. Here and Mitsubishi at one time sold licenses for individual models of the Hyundai concern. Now both companies are competitors in our market. If a dozen years ago, Koreans were represented in Russia mainly in the cheapest segments of the market and attracted the buyer at the cost, now the opposition went almost on equal. For example, in the most popular in Europe and Russia, the class with these two companies offer almost identical on the characteristics and configuration of the model. Yes, and stand Elantra and Lancer almost the same.
Silver middle. The price of Mitsubishi Lancer is almost $ 1 thousand higher than Hyundai Elantra. The reason is the richest complete set of Comfort +, which includes alloy wheels, fog lights, side airbags and other little things. But Lancer is simply Comfort costs only $ 100 more expensive than Elantra GLS. That is, even a little cheaper round sum of $ 15 thousand, which we have the average price of the car for the middle class.
The average price, class and configuration of these models emphasizes the fact that both cars of the same color are ever-trendy silver. It is believed that he likes everyone, and since most often the first owner of the car is going to sell it through a couple of years, then the color chooses not the one that he likes, and the one that most future buyers like will like. It makes it possible to rather evaluate the form and style of competitors to more accurately.
And here it turns out that beauty can be understood in different ways. When looking at the face, the lancer definitely wins: a new corporate element on the hood looks very elegant. The new facing of Elantra is also good and quite originally, but impressive less. Speecually, but a few robusts look like new headlights of Korean. However, when comparing cars as a whole, ELANTRA turns out to be more balanced and logical and visually looks, as it is called the Polclass above. The appearance of Lancer seems less solid - due to the complex geometry of the body, the trunk and the front part seems disproportionately small. Maybe this is a matter of habit? In any case, these nuances are unlikely to scare off the buyer in this segment - the price and equipment are more important here.
 
 
Without cheating. The mentioned disproportionality of Lancer is fully justified as soon as you sit in the salon: it is very spacious. I must say thanks to a rather long wheelbase - 2.6 meters. It is even more than that of the Mitsubishi Carisma formally standing on the step above. So, even if the driver is above the average growth, it will be complaining about the tightness only in very pending or high rear seat passengers. Although Elantra is not inferior in this regard to its neighbor and the comfort of the rear seat can also argue with other models class above.
Complete machines in the nature of the decoration of the instrument panel. Hyundai prefers a discreet Europeanized style. Despite the modernization, the panel remained quite traditional. Even with spectacular semicircular scales, they refused to favor more boring; But in the press release, the manufacturer of the instrument combination is mentioned - Siemens VDO. The company, undoubtedly, solid, but the most memorable detail of new dials remains the lilac lighting, which was on the previous version. True, the on-board computer monitor appeared in the center of the panel. The set of its functions is not particularly large, but even the approximate calculation of the mileage until the next refueling or average fuel consumption is sufficient. Very often, these data are the most useful for planning travel routes.
With Lancer, they did more boldly: a common panel with a shortened console creates a feeling of space and looks like a Japanese rather. As an element of luxury - a strip under the ebony. The impression spoils the cheap, but the alapoked audio system, which was additionally installed, and it fits badly into the machine design. Well, though, there is a magnetol in such a way that this distinction is fully transported. But the standard package includes only audio preparation, and there is always the opportunity to choose something more stylish. Yes, and the Russian buyer will like the ability to put what I want, and not to use what they give.
According to ergonomics and configuration of the machine, there are almost equal: and there are no complaints there. So when choosing, you can completely rely only on personal taste.
The only thing that the Japanene loses the products of the young Asian tiger is the convenience of the trunk. Both machines have the opportunity to fold the backs of the rear seat, but the opening of Mitsubishi is noticeably less, and in this case, sometimes a couple of centimeters can be decisive.
 
 
Do not twins ... and so similar, and the stage is almost the same. Maybe relatives of the once attitude of two brands have gone so far away that it is necessary to choose from these machines by a random tick? Nothing like this. Similarity ends when you sit behind the wheel. Differences are not particularly radical, but tangible. Passengers Lancer quickly notice the harsh suspension setting. This is not entirely tragic and even good - it is the sportiness of the running part that provides clarity of reactions and pleasure from management. Elantra more easily smoothes small irregularities, and about large reports muffled suspension elements, but not sharp shots.

Steering on Elantra seemed less informative to us - sometimes there are not enough feedback, the responses in complex areas are a bit late. Whether Hyundai Motor has not yet learned so thinly to customize their aggregates, whether they do not consider it necessary: \u200b\u200bthe benefit is mostly for the company the North American business market goes great, and the average driver in the States still prefers the comfort of all sports finds. Mitsubishi affairs in the States seemingly wow, however, sitting behind the wheel of Lancer, you get much more positive emotions due to the high sensitivity and clarity of reactions.
In the process of modernizing Elantra, among other things, revision and clutch drive. Alas, the former ELANTRA came across exclusively with an automatic transmission, so do not appreciate the difference. Claims, in any case, no. But it would be better for a similar operation with a braking pedal: it is still necessary to get used to it, because the effort on the brakes changes disproportionately rather long go. And it turns out that in the first few millimeters of the brakes, it seems and do not work, and on the latter - they grab almost until the ABS is triggered. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with such high efficiency - simply unexpectedly filled with Altyn, instead of the ordered penny, is also not always pleasant. At least from the point of view of the integrity of the rear bumper.
... but brothers. The similarity of the engine characteristics provides similar dynamics. Although here, the Japanese demonstrates the great experience of his creators, whether the orientation is on a different driving style. Motors of both machines show liveliness in the range of about 3-4 thousand revolutions up to 6 thousand, and both are distinguished by a noticeable amplification of the engine sound. However, Lancer annoys this noise less than on Elantra, where the change in the timbre around 5000 rpm makes it think that the arrow is already close to the red zone. Maybe just on the bottoms of her motor quieter than LSNCER?
In general, Koreans were still far from everyone bypassed the Japanese, but reached the level when the championship questions can solve and change the letter in the title. However, is it worth it in this case so seriously think about such trifles?
Text Valery Chusov, photo Alexey Ilyin

Model / Modification Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 Comfort + Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GLS
Manufacturer / Country Mitsubishi Motors Corporation / Japan Hyundai Motor Company / Republicak Korea
Number of doors / places 4/5 4/5
ENGINE
Type / Number / Location of gasoline cylinders / 4 / row gasoline / 4 / row
Working volume (cube. Cm) 1584 1599
Power (kW (hp) at rpm. / Min.) 72 (98) at 5000 78.5 (107) at 5800
Moment (nm at rpm. / Min.) 150 at 4000 143 at 4500
TRANSMISSION
Front front drive
Gearbox mechanical 5-speed mechanical 5-speed
Brakes, security
Front / Rear ventilated disc / disk ventilated disk / disc
Assisting Electronic ABS Systems, EBD ABS, EBD
Airbags frontal, side, curtains (6) Frontal
Sizes / Massa
Length / Width / Height (mm) 4480/1695/1445 4525/1725/1425
Wheel base / clearance (mm) 2600/165 2610/168
Tires 195/60 R15 185/60 R15
Mass Curb / Full (kg) 1185/1750 1178/1780
Volume of fuel tank (L) 50 55
Maximum speed (km / h) 183 182
Acceleration to 100 km / h (sec.) 11.8 11
Fuel consumption (city / highway, l / 100 km) 8.8 / 5.5 9.1 / 5.7
Price in Moscow $ 15 790 $ 14 890

 

A source: "Autopilot"