The trouble with that old trope about “breaking through the noise” is that it rarely acknowledges context. For example, it’s at least possible to raise your voice loud enough to drown out others—if you’re in the same room. Mitsubishi is trying to do just that in the compact-car segment with some updates for its Lancer sedan, but in spite of a rather reasoned argument built on generous standard features and affordable pricing, will it be heard? After all, having sold just 16,495 Lancers last year—compared to 325,981 Honda Civics moved during the same period—is Mitsubishi even in the same room as its myriad compact-sedan competitors?

Maybe.

Buyers looking for something a bit sportier can still step into a Lancer GT, which benefits from larger brakes, a sportier suspension tune, 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and a sunroof. The turbocharged Ralliart model is gone. Every model receives a new center console, and the ES and SE have updated seat fabrics. While a five-speed manual transmission is standard on front-wheel-drive models, every Lancer is available with a CVT automatic. Said to be new, the CVT is promised to reduce noise while offering better drivability than last year’s unit, and it is required if you want four driven wheels.

The ES still is powered by a 148-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the all-wheel-drive version uses the more powerful, 168-hp 2.4-liter engine from the SE, SEL, and GT. These engines remain somewhat efficient, with the front-drive ES mustering 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with a stick, the city figure inexplicably 1-mpg lower than last year; the CVT improves the 2.0-liter’s economy by 1 and 2 mpg city/highway, to 27/36 mpg. The front-drive 2.4-liter GT sees its EPA estimates both rise by 1 mpg, to 24/31 mpg, while the all-wheel-drive versions improve by 1 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway, to 23 and 31 mpg.

Again, it bears repeating that these are all welcome improvements, but they’re subtle enough to make it clear that Mitsubishi’s volume knob is twirled by the number of crossovers it sells.

(source: caranddriver.com)