2017 Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi sells a small range of budget-friendly SUVs that have been steadily improving in the brand’s road-test scores. In the past, Mitsubishi was known for its partnership with Chrysler and its eclectic lineup. Discontinued models include the budget-friendly Mirage, sports cars like the 3000 GT, Eclipse, and Lancer Evolution, mid-priced sedans, and dedicated off-road SUVs. After struggling during the 2000s and 2010s, Mitsubishi is now part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and has benefited from access to the other alliance members’ designs and technology. The Mitsubishi Outlander, for example, is based on the Nissan Rogue. Because Mitsubishi’s lineup is a mix of newer and older designs, some older models lag behind in crash test ratings while newer ones get top scores.

The 2008 Lancer redesign brought great improvements, including a decent ride and fairly agile handling. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder has good acceleration, but the engine is sluggish from a stop, tends to moan at high revs, and returns uncompetitive fuel economy. The cabin is furnished with drab plastics, but the controls are simple to use. The sporty, AWD Ralliart is quick and agile. But it's also noisier, has a stiff ride, and its automated manual transmission is annoying during all but the most spirited drives. The high-performance Lancer Evolution is a turbocharged all-wheel-drive rally car for the road. It's furiously fast, but grating to live with on a daily basis for drivers who aren't willing to compromise comfort for performance. The Lancer has been discontinued for 2018.