ClubCJ - The CJ Lancer Club

Updated Lancer small car arrives, with new features and price cuts up to $7000
The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer has landed in Australia, fitted with more equipment, featuring a revised model strategy and offering sharper prices to ensure it's the most affordable mainstream small car in the country.

Now priced from $18,990 for the entry-level Lancer ES Sport sedan, a reduction of $1400, the Japanese small car matches the previous price-leader, Skoda's Rapid, and undercuts the likes of the Holden Cruze and Honda Civic sedans ($19,490).

The range-topping Lancer Evolution has also had its price slashed by $7000, down to $52,990, to better compete with the new Subaru WRX STI ($49,990).

Starting from the bottom, the Lancer ES Sport sedan now comes with dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels, a sports body kit with rear spoiler, Bluetooth streaming with voice control, climate control, Ralliart cloth seat trim, electronic stability control, door mirror indicator lights and seven airbags as standard.

Power is provided by a 110kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and a CVT automatic with steering wheel paddled shifters and six-speed quasi-manual mode is also offered as a $2000 option. The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer price list for manual variants is as follows:

Lancer ES Sport: $18,990
Lancer LS: $20,990
Lancer XLS: $26,490
Lancer Ralliart: $37,990

The mid-grade Lancer LS ($20,990) gets all of the abovementioned features but swaps in leather facing seat trim with heated front seats and also features a 6.1-inch colour touch screen, smart key technology, electrically adjustable driver's seat and a reversing camera.

At the top of the tree is the Lancer XLS ($26,490) which like the VRX it replaces gets the beefier 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine worth 125kW. Other extras include a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, automatic headlights and wipers, a larger seven-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and SD card slot, plus 18-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension.

The Lancer Sportback model, essentially the hatch version, is only offered in one model grade dubbed GSR. It combines high-end features such as the bigger 2.4-litre 125kW engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, smart key, automatic wipers and headlights with a reversing camera and 6.1-inch colour touch screen. Like the sedan, it's paired with a five-speed manual and the CVT auto is a $2000 option. Pricing is $21,990.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution prices have been sliced and diced, with savings of $7000 on both manual and dual-clutch automatic versions. Originally priced at $59,990 and $65,990 for the manual and auto respectively, the Lancer Evo is now $52,990 and $58,990 respectively.

Tony Principe, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Executive Director of Marketing, said the 2015 model year Lancer delivers increased appeal and value.

"Lancer is already well known for its stylish looks, reliability and performance, so we’re focussing on refining the value of what remains an attractive small car range," he said.

"In April, we introduced two new variants and added the stylish Ralliart fascia to every model in the Lancer line-up. And we’re continuing to improve the value proposition by honing recommended retail prices and adding new features to boost Lancer’s appearance and safety," noted Principe.

To the end of July 2014, the Lancer has been Mitsubishi's third best-selling vehicle with 5301 sales putting it narrowly behind the ASX compact SUV (5312) and the Triton ute (10,325).

However in the small car segment the Lancer is the ninth best-selling model with 3.8 per cent market share for the first seven months of 2014. It lags behind league leaders Toyota Corolla (25,966) and Mazda3 (25,945), between them accounting for almost 40 per cent of the entire small car segment.

Mitsubishi will be hoping the price-cuts and equipment increases will reignite interest in its aging Lancer which has been holding the fort since 2007. It's offered with a five-year/100,000km warranty.

himynameisdaniel wrote:Urgh still the same 5 speed manual. Whilst the 4B11 is fantastic engine can we have a more modern transmission to pair it with? North America gets a AWD option in the standard NA lancer why not here? Its almost 2015 man ! In my opinion Mitsubishi will have to do better.

himynameisdaniel wrote:Urgh still the same 5 speed manual. Whilst the 4B11 is fantastic engine can we have a more modern transmission to pair it with? North America gets a AWD option in the standard NA lancer why not here? Its almost 2015 man ! In my opinion Mitsubishi will have to do better.

himynameisdaniel wrote:Urgh still the same 5 speed manual. Whilst the 4B11 is fantastic engine can we have a more modern transmission to pair it with? North America gets a AWD option in the standard NA lancer why not here? Its almost 2015 man ! In my opinion Mitsubishi will have to do better.

fearfulmaster1 wrote:I think what used to be the luxury pack is now standard in MY14 RA. Not a lot else are there to put in. There are bits from foreign markets that we dont have. Perhaps they can add Recaro, TPMS, rear fog light, headlamp washer?