Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Overview: Is the Mitsubishi Evo a Good Car?

Introduced in 1992, the rally-bred Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (often called the Lancer Evo or Mitsubishi Evo) built a cult following as a high-performance icon with inspiration from the venerable Subaru Impreza WRX. The Lancer Evolution is a compact sedan that delivers strong acceleration, tenacious grip, and thrilling handling with four-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine. However, extreme capability comes at the expense of luxury appointments and ride quality. Moreover, Mitsubishi discontinued U.S. sales after the 2015 model year as the company pivoted priorities (the first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution hit American shores in 2002). Yet the raw, focused Evo still garners enthusiastic fans as an affordable driver's car. The Evo is among some of the brand’s more memorable cars, like the Eclipse, Montero, Montero Sport, and 3000GT.

Note: Equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution cars for sale.

Find a used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for sale.

Related: Here Are The Mitsubishi Lancer Years To Avoid

Key Features

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has:

• Compact sport sedan body style
• Turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• Manual transmission
• Full-time all-wheel drive

Trims

Over the years, the Evolution and numerous subvariants have worn different trim badges in the U.S. (something to remember when searching for a used Evo for sale). In addition to a base Evolution edition, trim names include RS, SE, MR, MR Touring, GSR, VIII, and IX. The Final Edition was offered exclusively in 2015.

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

With a no-frills interior and barebones features, comfort took a backseat to performance, although standard Recaro front seats are a bonus. The lack of luxury amenities provided function over form. Ample turbo thrust made up for any shortcomings for driving enthusiasts, however. Later Evolution editions featured an impressive Rockford-Fosgate sound system, but enthusiasts may not want to drown out the hard-to-miss engine sounds. Regardless, the Evo’s sedan body style offers the practicality of rear doors and a trunk.

How It Drives

The Evo delivered blistering acceleration and rally car-like grip and handling, providing huge thrills on twisty roads. The high-strung engine and stiff ride translate into a raucous experience overall. It’s hard not to smile when behind the wheel of an Evo.

Safety

The Lancer Evolution's crashworthiness is convoluted. Most years, it never underwent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing. A side crash analysis of the 2004 Evo resulted in a poor two-star (out of five) score for the driver and an acceptable four-star ranking for the rear passenger.

Reviews

Owner reviews for the 2015 Evo, the final year in the U.S., are strong. According to Kelley Blue Book ratings, consumers give the last Evo 4.5 out of 5.0. Reliability is the highest-scoring trait, followed by value, performance, and styling.

Learn More: Are Mitsubishis Good Cars? How To Make The Right Purchasing Decision

FAQs

How much does a Lancer Evo cost?

With a well-equipped trim priced around $35,000 when new, the 2015 Lancer Evolution sold for over $10,000 above the basic Lancer. Based on current CoPilot nationwide listings, a Mitsubishi Evo for sale sells for $20,000 to $45,000, depending on age, condition, and mileage.

Does Mitsubishi still make the Lancer Evo?

No. After ten generations, Mitsubishi discontinued the Lancer Evolution in the U.S. in 2015 when tighter emissions regulations forced the company to pivot its model priorities. CUrrent models include the Outlander, Outlander Sport, Mirage G4, and Eclipse Cross.

Is a Lancer and Evo the same?

No. The high-performance Lancer Evolution featured a heavily upgraded engine, drivetrain, and handling capabilities over the standard Lancer compact sedan. The Evo is a Lancer, but not the other way around.

Is the Evo 4WD or AWD?

The Evo uses a full-time all-wheel drive system to distribute engine power across all four corners.

Why did Mitsubishi stop making the Evo?

Stricter fuel economy regulations forced Mitsubishi to shift focus from niche performance cars like the Lancer Evolution, as the company sought to improve overall fleet averages.

Check out a used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution near me.