2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Road Test

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

I can remember not so very long ago when I, as well as countless others, fell in love with little Japanese compacts, their smooth rides, can-do attitudes and small, efficient engines. Why though? There are certainly far more desirable cars out there than front wheel drive Hondas, Toyotas and Mitsubishis.

The answer so far as I can tell has to do with attainability. For not a whole lot of money, you could get into a well built, comfortable and efficient car that is fun to drive, easy on the eyes and very easy on the wallet. And being Japanese, you could drive the tar out of it and it would just keep going, with a smile on its face, forever. They provided their owners with fun and excitement that was good looking and affordable. For some, having your own mobility and freedom is cooler than any Viper, Lamborghini or Porsche any day.

The 2006 Mitsubishi Ralliart package comes loaded with features and toys. There is a mild body enhancing treatment, with skirts, clear tail lights and a rear spoiler, among other things, distinguishing it from its "smart

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Canada)

but not as sexy" looking twin. The aforementioned style elements are applied with a great deal of understanding of that line between sporty and silly. The Ralliart doesn't look overstyled. From no angle does it look overdone or flamboyant. Rather, it simply looks like a reminder of why so many fell in love with Japanese compact sedans in the first place. On top are a sunroof and an Alfalfa-antenna which feeds tunes into the optional stereo my tester featured, with its in-dash 6-CD changer and built-in subwoofer. There are even 16-inch wheels, though the folks at Mitsubishi fitted my tester with a set of Nexen snow tires on steel rims to keep me and their ride intact.

The rear end is squat, with a large window overlooking a fairly short trunk. The windows are tall on the sides too, as is the windshield. The Lancer isn't trying to hide its sedan-ness by having a high beltline and short windows. I find the styling to be well laid out and distinct in most respects, charming in that Mitsubishi kind of way.

Hop inside and you'll immediately notice the well-bolstered and supportive seats, trimmed in a red and black mesh in the center with softer material making up the outer portions. There are several adjustments for the driver seat, offering an optimal driving position while looking out over the low dashboard through the tall windshield. Logging no less than 12 highway hours in my testers means I can tell you with relative certainty that you won't find better seats in this price range. I mentioned about the tall windows all around you--this translates into a great deal of visibility from within the car and minimal blind spots. I got to thinking, if you had to travel a fair bit, to and from school, work or in and out of town, this car will make a fantastic companion. No highway road trip should be without a sunroof and reasonably powerful stereo, and the Ralliart delivers here.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

The rest of the interior is a little dated. The lines, the flow and the controls all around the dashboard look as though Mitsubishi created the interior about 6 or 7 years ago and installed it for this 2006 model. It is assembled with a great attention to detail, and a quality feel exists throughout. You will get to ask your friends which late nineties imported car the dashboard reminds you of. You will most often get "Mazda Protegé" as a reply. Don't get me wrong: having an old fashioned interior is not a bad thing. For instance, the HVAC controls are all large and easy to manipulate, and the lines are clean and tidy. Do you smoke? You shouldn't, but if you do, there is an ashtray and lighter in place of the standard 12 volt outlet at the front of the center console. The trunk offers plenty of room, with folding seats if you ski, snowboard or need to carry a ladder with you. The subwoofer included with the optional stereo takes up a bit of space, though its benefits outweigh its costs.