Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
In other words, you’ve read lists of things to love about the Evo. But surely it must have faults. It does. And here they are.
Not a half-hour in and I was thinking this awesome present left for me at the airport was more of a cruel trick. With racecar-like handling going unused on the long and straight highway, I43 North certainly made it feel like a race car’s suspension. The constant jolts didn’t just rattle the rearview mirror, on particularly poor stretches of road it actually became hard to focus.
Not to worry, I thought, I’ll just plug it in to the car’s USB port. Or at least I would have done so if the car had one.
Weeks later and I’m writing this article, checking my facts and combing through the specs from the Mitsubishi press site only to discover that, to my surprise, it does have a USB port. It wasn’t on the dash, and it wasn’t in the center console either. As it turns out, a cursory glance of the glovebox didn’t turn it up either (though that’s where the port is… allegedly). I’m not alone either, a quick Google search and I came across numerous discussions on forums about the elusive Evo USB.
It’s hard to pick out other specifics with a selection of low grade components, buttons and switches inside the Evo. At a different point in time I’d argue that it doesn’t matter, but when you see how nice the cabin of a Ford Focus ST looks, the Evo’s cabin is embarrassing.
Not a fair comparison? Hardly. At the AutoGuide test track the Evo is only 1.5 seconds a lap faster. And it costs over $10,000 more.
For comparison’s sake, we registered 20 mpg in the 400 hp Porsche 911 C4S.
Outdated, with low grade components, poor fuel economy and a brutally stiff ride, the Evo is also a thrill to drive and is dialed-in like few cars you can buy (at any price). Once I arrived at Road America all the reasons to love it came quickly flooding back.
Like how old men buy Dodge Challengers because it reminds them of being young, so the Evo does the same for a new generation of aging enthusiasts.
Feeling nostalgic for the glory days of sport compact cars? Click here for full specs and details on the 2013 Evo or click here to build and price your own.
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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If this guy thought it about driving the EVO in the USA roads, imagine my situation driving here in Brazil? kkkk. But...I'm still happy with my EVO.
Wow. I was averaging 22mpg on a tuned 350awhp MR Touring. It was what was expected by the car. I do agree some of the internals were a bit cheap but nothing that would affect the overall quality and performance. Based on these gripes, get a luxury sports car where these so called inspection would have a more solid ground.