Family sedan Evolution

Got the blues? Can’t decide if you’d rather see a couple of feet of snow or several inches of rain?

Yes, in the flood plain it’s a tough decision.

Search for a used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

For us family guys who still have the family van in which to move the family around, there isn’t a better getaway than a sporty ride to make you wonder why you even own a van. For most car aficionados, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is the current must try ride.

With its sporty profile, aggressive nose and big wing on the rear deck, you can tell the Evo means business. Underneath the bulging hood is one nasty power plant — a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that hammers out a mind-blowing 291 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque.

What makes it even better is the six-speed twin-clutch sport shift transmission. I’m not a fan of paddle shifting technology, since there’s usually a noticeable lag when changing gears, but not so in this beast. Gear changes are quick and keep the fun going from first to sixth.

Then there’s the all-wheel-drive system. Yes, power and handling too. With the proper rubber attached to the Evo, snow and ice are no matches. The funny thing is, even when I was pretending to be a rally racer I was able to get the Evo just slightly bent out of shape, though I never lost control. And the Evo just kept going the way I wanted to go.

Stopping power is provided by front and rear Brembo disc brakes complete with ABS and EBD, and those big discs were put to the test in some pretty poor conditions.

Having fun without the kids is one thing, but with them strapped in the back is completely another. There wasn’t a moment where I felt the Evo had too much oomph, or couldn’t handle the road conditions, or wasn’t able to stop.

Cabin space is acceptable for a car this size — there isn’t much more room than for the four of us. Front passengers get to hunker down in a pair of Recaro semi-bucket racing seats. Getting in and out of the seats takes some getting use to. After all, they are probably not meant for a 240 pound six-footer — I’m working on that.

Room in the back seat is good for a couple six-year-olds, but an adult will have a little trouble getting in and out.

The Evo comes equipped with keyless entry, leather and suede seating surfaces, automatic climate control and a 140-watt CD/MP3 audio system.

Drivers will enjoy a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a baseball style leather-wrapped shifter knob.

Cargo room is fine enough for a small car, but with the battery and washer fluid opening in the trunk the rear seats don’t fold down. Was there no other place to put those things? I understand that this car is not meant to be a cargo hauler by any means, but extra room for larger items are never frowned upon.

One thing that was not missed in the Evo was the supplemental restraint system — you get front driver and passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, driver’s knee airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags.

Driving the blues away has never been better and after the lousy winter weather and what is becoming a lousy pre-spring, it couldn’t come at a better time.