2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS Review (video)

Do you want a sporty five-door hatchback? Not keen on mutant Kleenex-box styling or an over-medicated smile that looks like it belongs in a padded cell?

Should the Cube, Soul or Mazda3 not float your styling boat, there is another fun, alternative hatch you’ll want to check out. It’s called the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS—and its premise is pretty simple. In a nutshell, it delivers the same character and style as the Lancer GTS sedan, but with a more versatile and adventurous side.

Think of the Lancer Sportback as a Lancer Sedan wearing a backpack.

The versatility-enhanced Lancer
Think of the Lancer Sportback as a Lancer Sedan wearing a backpack. Cargo space rises to 391 litres (from 348), all of which are accessed by a hatch that opens up and away to reduce the likelihood of accidental skull-whacking.

The tailgate allows easier cargo access than with a conventional trunk, and it can even be used as a special entrance for four-legged passengers. This keeps the seats in tip-top shape for us two-legged folks. Need more space? The rear seats fold flat with a quick tug on a lever-- no leaning into the car required.

The Lancer Sportback makes plenty of sense for those into home renovations, gardening, winter sports and more. The factory Dunlop performance tires are not advisable for travel to said winter sports though-- and year-round types will need to factor in a set of winter rubber.

Flat, Sharp and Responsive
On a test-drive, the Lancer Sportback GTS struts its stuff in the dynamics department almost instantly. The highway ride is taut but comfortable, and things rarely get rough unless the roads beneath are terribly maintained.

Steering is enjoyably sharp and mischievously quick, and the Lancer Sportback’s body stayed flatter and more planted than expected during brisk cornering. Ultimately, satisfying and responsive inputs follow each turn of the wheel, and the Lancer Sportback GTS is fun to drive on a higher-than-average level.

The tailgate allows easier cargo access than with a conventional trunk.