Courtesy of The Examiner via Ivan Katz
The Lancer SE AWC, which stands for all wheel control offers decent performance and all wheel drive, at a very reasonable price. Is it the Evo for the masses? Let's find out!
Even though it has excellent all wheel drive capabilities its look is very understated. The Lancer blends in with many of today's sedans. It is definitely more Clark Kent than Superman! The AWC badge does give a hint of its abilities.
The interior is also a bit understated, outfitted in basic black. The cloth seats while sedate looking, are both comfortable and supportive.
While the interior doesn't exude luxury, the layout is nice and everything falls to hand easily. The only complaint I have is that the heated seat switches are pretty far back on the center console.
The Lancer range starts at $15,000 and goes all the way up to about $24,000. The SE AWC starts at $20,195 and with destination you are out the door at $20,990. To me that is very fair and certainly in line with the competition. It is definitely the sleeper of the Lancer lineup.
Power comes from a 2.4 liter dual overhead cam 4 cylinder which produces 168 horsepower and 167 lb. ft. of torque. You can expect to get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway 25 mpg overall. However, you do have the option of keeping it in front wheel drive mode which will save you some fuel over the long haul.
It comes equipped with 18" alloy wheels that help with both looks and grip. Stability and traction control combine with the all wheel control to help you stay on the road when it gets slick with rain, ice or snow.
Front Macpherson struts are paired with rear multi-link suspension and I must say the combination works well for the Lancer. I experienced mild understeer while driving in fresh snow which thankfully came right when the Lancer arrived!
While in regular four wheel drive mode the overall handling was very good and also quite entertaining. I preferred to keep it in four wheel lock mode while in the snow because it helped keep the car in line better, and was also more predictable.
In normal driving I found the Lancer SE AWC a real joy to pilot. I drive a lot of cars and some of them really click with me in terms of overall feel and function. The Lancer is definitely one of those cars.
I also like that you can choose between front wheel drive and all wheel drive. Keep it in front wheel drive most of the time and you can save a bit on gas, but with the flip of a switch, you are back in all wheel drive. Nice!
Out on the back roads it is surprisingly peppy and agile. I thoroughly enjoyed it on some of my favorite bends.
Basically with the Lancer SE AWC you are getting a very capable four door sedan with a nice sized trunk. There's also a bit of luxury thrown in with power doors and windows, plus key-less entry and heated seats. It's not incredibly fast, but it is quick, fun and capable.
No comments:
Post a Comment