Evo is well worth the wait

Well, it was worth the wait.

Never sold in Canada until the 10th generation arrived for model year 2008, Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution is everything we’d read about – and more.

It wasn’t that Canadians weren’t interested in the Evo; until this generation, its bumpers wouldn’t pass our crash tests even though the basic family-oriented Lancer sedan was sold here.

But now the pocket rocket that’s been a favourite with the tuner crowd in Japan for 16 years is at dealerships in Canada in three trim levels – GSR, MR and MR Premium. Our tester was an MR, which upgrades the GSR’s five-speed manual stick with a sophisticated “automated manual” transmission with six forward speeds and three drive modes – Normal, Sport and S-Sport (for use only on racetracks) – and the driver’s choice of automatic or manual shifting via a console-mounted stick or paddles on the steering wheel.

The only options for MR versions are found in the $4,000 Premium package that includes a Rockford Fosgate sound system. Otherwise, the car is loaded with convenience and safety items. The things it lacks as standard equipment, such as a navigation system, can be ordered as dealer-installed accessories.

All models come with Mitsubishi’s new 291 hp, 2.0 litre DOHC, 16-valve inline four. Intercooled and turbocharged, it can generate 291 hp at 6,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000.

Floor it at highway speeds and the response is immediate. When in fully automatic mode the six-speed twin-clutch transmission drops down into third and the car takes off with a rush as the turbo boost kicks in. Mitsubishi claims a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds.

Some cars don’t drive as good as they look, but this one looks as good as it drives with an aggressive hood with an air scoop to feed the turbocharger and a front fascia with its funky offset licence plate bracket.

The interior, while pleasant, shows its family sedan roots. Audio and heater-A/C controls are easy to use, with the kind of large rotary controls I like. But the lack of instrumentation is disappointing in a performance car with just a big tach and speedometer flanking the driver information centre. For temperature, oil pressure, etc. you’ll have to wait for the idiot lights to come on before you know there’s a problem.

The rear seat has belts for three, but is best suited for two people, separated by an armrest with cupholders that flips down out of the seat back.

Standard seats up front are Recaro buckets, which, over the years, my body has grown a little too wide to fit into comfortably. But I must say that those in the Evo aren’t as restricting as the ones I tested earlier this summer in the Mazda RX-8. And with their suede inserts they really do keep you planted. Good thing, too, because this car can boogie.

And the powerful engine and twin-clutch transmission are only part of the equation.

All Lancer Evolutions are equipped with Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC), an all-wheel drive system plus an advanced vehicle dynamics control network that regulates drive torque at each wheel by controlling a network of dynamic handling technologies that include active centre differential (ACD) 4-wheel drive, active yaw control (AYC) rear differential, active stability control (ASC) and ABS Brembo disc brakes.

The AWC has three settings – for tarmac, gravel and snow – which are accessed via a switch mounted on the steering wheel. Handling is superb and with its quick steering you’d swear the car could go sideways. The trade-off is that your backside will be intimately aware of every crack and dimple on the road.

Some of that can be blamed on a suspension system that is racetrack taut, some of it on the low-profile Yokohama 245/40 R18 tires.

Incidentally, the Evo’s rubber comes with a disclaimer on the driver’s door that says: “OEM tires will wear more rapidly than tires used on ordinary vehicles.” Investing in a set of snow tires will be necessary if you plan to drive this car in winter.

Unfortunately, I also got to test Mitsu’s 24-hour emergency service (good for five years with no distance limits). On my way to return the Evo, the low tire pressure icon lit up and I could feel the car pulling to the left. Upon inspection, the left rear tire was rapidly going flat.

So I called the toll-free hotline and a pleasant woman named Allison took down the details and dispatched a service truck from a local garage. When the tire was removed, we could see that a piece of thin, hard plastic had caused the puncture. So it would have gone down as quickly on an ORDINARY vehicle.