This middle child not left out

Somewhere between the basic transportation provided by the Mitsubishi Lancer DE and the boy-racer Lancer Ralliart you’ll find the 2009 Lancer GTS, which packs a lot of fun into its as-tested price of $27,158.

Perhaps it doesn’t have the same gung-ho feel of the Ralliart, or the thrill-a-minute experience that is Lancer Evolution, but the GTS still provides a lot of bang for the buck.

The compact Lancer sedan was all new for 2008 and the design hasn’t been messed with for 2009. Seen from the side, the GTS has a distinct wedge shape accentuated by the steeply raked windshield and kicked-up rear deck complemented by a functional tail wing spoiler. From the front, its revised headlamp cluster, aerodynamic front fascia and wide air intakes give it the look of a predatory shark.

Our test car is painted Graphite Gray, a colour which doesn’t show off the ground effects package to great advantage. It looks much better – and meaner – in the well-named “Wicked White.”

Like one of its main rivals, Toyota’s Corolla XRS, Lancer GTS got a new 2.4-litre engine for 2009. The 2.0-litre inline four is still the base Lancer engine, but GTS versions get a DOHC, 16-valve 2.4 that creates 168 hp at 6,000 rpm – 16 more horses than the 2.0 – and 167 lb.-ft. of torque.

In our test car, the beefier engine is coupled to the optional six-step CVT with paddle shifters and sprints from 0-100 km/h in a little under 9.0 seconds. Not all that fast, true, but it feels quicker. Maybe it’s because of all the torque that’s available at 4,100 rpm, the great feel of its new rack and pinion steering or its solid stance on the road thanks to the wider track and longer wheelbase engineered into last year’s design changes.

The car’s rallying heritage helps make it one of the better handling compacts around with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension in back plus front and rear stabilizer bars.

Built-in extras on the GTS include great looking 18-inch alloys (the base model sports 16-inch steel wheels), controls for cruise and audio mounted on the steering wheel, power locks and windows, heated front seats and automatic climate control.

Inside, the cabin is fairly typical for a compact car with lots of different finishes and textures used to disguise the fact you’re basically surrounded by plastic. A round analog speedometer and tach flank a digital information centre that includes a bar graph fuel gauge. The spoiler and three backseat headrest somewhat cut into the view through the rear glass, otherwise outward vision is great.

The optional sunroof is well designed and even when fully open doesn’t create a lot of buffeting or wind noise at highway speeds.

Keyless ignition – a useful feature usually found on more expensive vehicles – is part of the test car’s $2,700 Sun & Sound leather package.

Seven airbags are standard, as are anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) for straighter stops and front seats that are designed to help prevent whiplash injuries.

Mitsubishi stores aren’t everywhere, but the company is enjoying a pretty good year despite the recession. Part of that is due to a lower price point – Mitsu knows it has to beat the bigger Japanese brands – and part is because of a five-year/100,000 km warranty.

If you’re in the market for a sporty compact, yet one with which you can trust younger drivers, and whose insurance costs won’t be ridiculously high, the Lancer GTS is a viable and peppy vehicle that has a lot to offer. It should be on your test drive list.