2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Road Test

A Personal Favourite

I was talking with one of my friends on the phone, and during our conversation he randomly asked me, "Guess what

While the 2005 Lancer Ralliart is a carryover from 2004, it is still the same great-handling, clean-looking and mean-sounding sports sedan I remember. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

car I went and test drove today?" I asked him to give me a hint. He said, "It ends with an 'i'." So I listed such exotic brands as Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, then Audi, but all my guesses were wrong.

Finally he dropped another hint, saying, "You test drove one recently and I thought it was pretty sweet." After that, I immediately guessed the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. I was right. Perhaps my constant praise about the Ralliart's overall 'sweetness' was the inspiration for him to finally get behind the wheel of one himself. The passenger seat obviously didn't cut it.

While the 2005 model is a carryover from 2004, it is still the same great-handling, clean-looking and mean-sounding sports

The Ralliart's free-flowing sport exhaust matches its personality, ready to rip at the drop of the clutch. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

sedan I remember. What particularly gets my motor revving is the raspy, gurgling sound that comes from the stainless steel exhaust - it's gets my spine tingling.

Unlike some of its competitors, such as the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V or even the Honda Civic SiR, the Ralliart's free-flowing sport exhaust matches its personality, ready to rip at the drop of the clutch. The exhaust note isn't so loud or throaty that it would wake the neighbours if I came home at 3:00 am (not speaking from experience!) or set car alarms off while cruising in first gear in an underground parkade, but it's vocal enough to make its presence felt just the same.