Overview

What's New for 2012:
- New SE trim offers mid-range alternative
- Available soft-touch door panels

Exterior Features
The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is a compact sedan available in seven trim levels: DE, ES, SE, GT, Sportback, Ralliart, and the high-performance Evolution. The base DE trim features 16-inch wheels and automatic headlights. The ES adds some chrome exterior accents and keyless entry. The SE adds alloy wheels and rear disc brakes, while the GT steps up to 18-inch alloy wheels and adds an upgraded fascia, fog lights, keyless ignition, and a rear spoiler. The Sportback comes in ES and GT trims and features a different profile from the sedan and more cargo space. The Raillart adds all-wheel drive and other performance features, while the Evolution offers a distinctive exterior, bigger brakes, sportier suspension, and other enhancements. The DE, ES, and GT offer front-wheel drive, and the SE, Raillart, and Evolution offer all-wheel drive.

Interior Features
Standard features on the Mitsubishi Lancer DE trim include a 4-speaker sound system and power accessories. Enhancements are gradually added to the upper trims. Cargo capacities vary from 7 cubic feet in the Evolution to 11 cubic feet in the standard Lancer, to a maximum of 52.7 cubic feet in the Sportback.

Optional Features
The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer offers many of the upper-trim enhancements as options on lower trims. Upper trim Lancers offer leather upholstery, navigation system, sunroof, and many other features.

Under the Hood
The Mitsubishi Lancer DE and ES trims are fitted with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 148 horsepower and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The SE and GT trims are equipped with a 2.4-liter 4-cylineder rated at 168 horsepower. The Ralliart features a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 237 horsepower, with automated dual-clutch manual transmission. The Lancer Evolution's turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is rated at 291 horsepower.

Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer are:
- Lancer with base 2.0-liter engine: 26/34/29 mpg (city/highway/combined)
- Lancer with 2.4-liter engine and CVT: 23/30/26 mpg
- Lancer Ralliart: 18/25/20 mpg
- Lancer Evolution: 17/23/19 mpg

Safety
Standard safety features on the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer include anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, front-seat side air bags, side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag.

In government tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer received 4 (out of 5) stars for rollover protection. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lancer received "Good" ratings--the Institute's highest--for frontal-offset and side-impact crash protection and roof strength.