2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Road Test

The Ralliart voices its opinion in more than one way, mind you. For example, my tester came with a great tuneage

My tester came with a great tuneage system, the optional 315-watt Mitsubishi/Infinity six-CD changer stereo with seven speakers and an enclosed eight-inch subwoofer located in the trunk. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

system, the optional 315-watt Mitsubishi/Infinity six-CD changer stereo with seven speakers and an enclosed eight-inch subwoofer located in the trunk. The system is fabulous and really adds to the 'factory-tuned' tuner experience. A swell audio system and a tricked-out sedan go hand in hand. While the six-CD changer was located just below the climate control switches, a non-traditional location, it was nevertheless easily operable. Also included was an additional single-disc in-dash CD player which, combined with the optional system, made a total of seven discs that could be loaded at once. Now that's music to my ears.

It wasn't just the stereo system that had me singing - essentially it was the whole car, but more specifically, the combination of a nicely-powered engine and finely-tuned sport suspension. One thing I love about the Lancer's 2.4-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder, SOHC MIVEC engine is the nice balance of power and torque: 162 horsepower at 5,750 rpm

One thing I love about the Lancer's 2.4-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder, SOHC MIVEC engine is the nice balance of power and torque. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The ample torque makes for quick acceleration, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.4 seconds, and let me make effective use of the engine as a brake while descending hills.

Furthermore, the stiff-and-sporty four-wheel independent suspension and power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering carve the path for precise handling. The Lancer Ralliart just begs to be pushed into tight turns, and when called to task, answers with gleeful enthusiasm. The reinforced unibody structure and large front anti-sway bar enhance the car's nimble and agile handling to the point where it's almost impossible to lose composure, thus even making novice drivers feel like pros.