[Updated] Goodbye Mitsubishi Lancer

2017 is the last year you can buy a new Mitsubishi Lancer. Should you still consider one is the real question here.

Performance: There are five trim levels and two engines to choose from. Standard ES comes with a 2-liter four-cylinder producing 148hp. The ES, SE and SEL trims come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder pumping out 168hp and only all-wheel-drive can be had with it that engine. We’d say it’s best to avoid the 2-liter engine and go right for the 2.4 which seems to be the better value of the Lancer range.

On the road: The Lancer is very entertaining to drive as long as you stick with the SE or SEL trims. Both make the Lancer feel as engaging to drive as it's keen rivals the Ford Focus and Mazda3. However it isn't as sharp or posh as both; steering feel is decent and overall response of the 2.4 makes it well worth spending the extra cash for. The CVT transmission feels like it saps the engine power leaving you cold when you need it most and overpowering when you don't need it. Disappointingly the 2.4 does not offer a manual transmission. Wind and road noise are at acceptable levels.

Behind the wheel: There's plenty of adjustments for the driver's seat but sadly the steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach. Interior quality doesn't feel up to par with it's competition. The touch screen display feels dated and not as refined as we would like. Passenger space all round is decent and the boot offers enough space to satisfy most buyers needs.

Equipment: Standard ES trim offers keyless entry with anti-theft security system, cd-player power windows and an AUX input for your MP3 player. ES AWC offers heated front seats, digital HD radio and electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system. SE trim adds 18 inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone. Range topping SEL adds rain sensing windshield wipers, leather seating surfaces and auto headlights.

Buying & Owning: The standard Lancer seems like a good deal but we highly suggest going for the GT with the sporty looks and added features such as touch screen display and 18 inch alloy wheels. The premium isn't too much and overall impressions of it are good. Running costs should be about average among its competition but resale value is something to consider.

Quality: Mitsubishi has good quality cars. Reliability isn't going to be much of an issue. Only real issue here is locating a Mitsubishi dealership for repairs if you do come across such a problem. Interior quality isn't great although it does feel sturdy and long lasting. There are rivals that offer the best of both worlds and you really don't have to pick between the two.

Safety: Front and side curtain airbags come standard. As well as a traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution to help reduce braking distance in the case of an emergancy braking situation. Also a host of anti-theft aids come standard to keep theft away.

The Lancer is an attractive sedan that is often over looked by competition. It does offer an compelling package and is priced right with the heavy hitters such as the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. However the styling inside out is dated and there's quite a few short comings with the Lancer that others seem to have mastered. If you want the Lancer for it's generous kit and reasonable price then this is the car for you. However keen rivals have all passed it by and it seems that the only logical reason to buy one is for the discounts.

Likes: Stylish exterior looks. Standard kit is generous with all-wheel-drive offered at a competitive price.

Dislikes: Lancer is getting discontinued this year. We thought it was going to go out with a bigger bang.

Devon's pick: The SEL won’t be as expensive as the price suggests given that the Lancer is being phased out. You should get one with a nice discount. Plus all-wheel-drive makes it even more enticing option.

Ford needs to 'refocus' on the Focus

The Ford Focus was one of many vehicles that helped keep Ford ‘focused’ in the right direction, and the sales of it proved that Ford knows a thing or two about small cars. But with several new rivals that have caught on, does the Focus still offer a valid reason to consider one?

The standard 2-liter four-cylinder engine seems to be the only way to go here. We applaud Ford for offering the 1-liter ecoboost3-cylinder engine, but it just doesn’t feel as flexible as you’d think since it has a turbocharger. There isn’t much torque at low revs compared to the 2-liter non-turbo and the fact that you have to pay a premium over that engine proves buying this engine is a false economy. We would boost about how low the running costs are, but our figures were so close to the 2-liter engine that we couldn’t even recommend it even if we wanted to. It might be great for those seeking a non-hybrid option, but for those individuals they’re most likely going to stick to city driving and staying in the cruising lane on the highway with this engine.

The Focus just doesn’t seem a sharp to drive as the Volkswagen Golf, but it certainly isn’t far from it. The steering feedback is good and the car handles nicely. The only way you can get a sharper to drive chassis is to opt for the ST, but in this review we’re only going to ‘focus’ on the mainstream versions. Our tester car came fitted with the optional 1-liter ecoboost3-cylinder engine and like we said prior, it didn’t feel all the flexible to drive where it matters most. You’ll find yourself shifting down a gear to keep the momentum going, the way the gearing is set up with the manual gearbox makes livability of that gearbox itself questionable. It certainly does feel strange as it forces you to shift up sooner than you’d like all in the name of fuel consumption, and that aspect of it really isn’t anything to brag about. We’ve test driven the 2-liter four-cylinder with the six-speed auto gearbox and it certainly didn’t win any fans with us. The gearbox was way too slow to react and was jerky in between shifts making it very uncomfortable to drive. We have yet to test the new Focus with the retooled six-speed auto gearbox.

Our tester car didn’t come equipped with the large infotainment system that is standard on the higher spec’d trims. The tiny 5-inch display is fine, but the dashboard is way too fiddly to navigate through. The front seats offer plenty of support and while those in the rear seat won’t have anything to complain about. The hatch makes more sense if you are seeking versatility as the sedan, while it may be the popular choice for some doesn’t have the eye appeal that the hatchback has. The portions seem really off and the boot space is nowhere near as practical.

Our tester car came fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, rear disc brakes and the 1-liter ecoboost3-cylinder engine. Bluetooth, keyless entry, automatic headlamps and active grill shutters are also fitted as standard. You’ll have to pay extra for that turbocharged three-cylinder engine and you can’t get this engine on the hatchback.

 The Ford Focus may not be on everyone’s shortlist but it certainly is a vehicle worth considering if you aren’t swayed by the Golf or vast number of options in this segment. We however certainly wouldn’t option for one as the engine choices aren’t the most inspiring, and the build quality we are still iffy about as Ford’s track record with the Focus hasn’t been the greatest. You’ll have to be daft to overlook the Mazda3 and all the other choices that are just as fun to drive, offer low running costs and don’t feel as sparsely kitted as the Focus. There is a new Focus around the corner and is worth waiting for if you have your heart set out on a Focus. You’ll be bitterly disappointed if you buy this current generation.

Likes: The hatchback is practical and is slightly more stylish than the sedan. Running costs are decent and it’s actually surprisingly sharp to drive.

Dislikes: The turbo three-cylinder is a false economy. We still are iffy with quality and reliability. Wait for the next generation to arrive.

Our pick: The SEL hatch seems to offer a striking balance between price and standard kit. You’ll want to do whatever you can to avoid the entry-level SE version which gets the tiny infotainment screen and button happy dashboard.

Volkswagen Tiguan Limited

The next generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan will be here soon, but you can still buy the current generation if it tickles your fancy.

The sole 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine isn’t the upgraded 2-liter turbo from the GTI but it still makes a respectable 200hp. You can have it with either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive if you desire the extra traction. We hadn’t had the opportunity to test drive the front-wheel-drive form but instead had the Sport trim with 4-motion all-wheel-drive. The combo together doesn’t feel sluggish at all thanks to high torque at low revs and a smooth six-speed automatic. It really is a GTI on stilts because not only is it fast but it feels very agile where it matters most. It’s not GTI athletic but you’ll get our point here. Steering feedback isn’t as crisp as that of a GTI but it does the job better than some of its keen rivals. Where the Tiguan might fall short is on ride comfort, with the large alloy wheels it did feel a bit more firm than we’d like but the tradeoff is always decent handling and in our books that’s not really something to complain much of. Wind and road noise are well suppressed and the engine is mainly hushed at relaxed speeds.

The interior doesn’t feel up to par with some of its keen rivals but it still feels classy. The touch-screen infotainment system while it is easy to use, it still is distracting to use because of all the various menus. (We’ve said this about several infotainment systems and we will still think that they’re distracting while on the go.) The front seats offer plenty of support while the rear seat offers plenty of space for three abreast. The boot space isn’t as versatile as the Golf’s but it is a decent size and offers plenty of versatility when the rear seat is folded down.

We’d say it’s best to skip the S trims and the Wolfsburg trims as well and go right for the Sport trims. It comes with Bi-Xenon headlights, panorama sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels and dual-zone climate control. You may pay a slight premium for it but we think that it is well worth it. The interior materials are much improved and the overall appearance makes the Tiguan feel like a classy package.

It’s hard trying to find the right compact crossover that fits you the best, especially with so many of them to choose from. But we’ve broken it down with this statement. Buy the Tiguan Sport or SEL because those are the classiest forms, everyone else is better off looking elsewhere because the Tiguan is less than average among heavy hitters like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson.

Likes: Turbo engine offers the flexibility we love. The interior is classy VW and the standard kit list is pretty good too.

Dislikes: The more expensive trims feel the classiest. The new Tiguan is around the corner and has three-rows of seats.

Our pick: Go right for the Sport or SEL trims. You may have to pay extra for them but they feel well worth the premium.

[Short drive] Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

What happens when you take a Golf Estate and give it the same ground clearance as a crossover? You get a Golf Alltrack.

The same engine from the Golf comes standard in the Alltrack and well is the only engine choice you have. It’s a smooth 1.8-liter turbo which offers decent torque at low revs and also has low running costs as well, despite having standard all-wheel-drive. There’s only a six-speed auto gearbox on hand but it does such a good job that a manual gearbox just seems redundant. It doesn’t take much to get the Alltrack going because it feels eager and even when you’re not driving it like a hooligan; it’s very much smooth at relaxed speeds. Steering feedback is what it should be, responsive and with tons of feedback; while the chassis is nothing to brag about. It’s still comfortable and secure enough for most buyers’ likings. You won’t complain much about wind and road noise either.

The interior feels very upscale with plenty of adjustments for both the driver’s seat and front passenger. The infotainment system is pretty simple and straight forward, however we still say with touch screen designs, there are tons of menus that make them distracting while on the go. We highly suggest getting familiar with it or keep it simple while on the go. The materials used inside of the cabin feel top notch. The rear seat is decent in space but it can get a little cramped if taller passengers are in the front seats. The boot space is roomy with the seats in place but with the seats folded down it’s roomier than most small crossovers.

Standard S trim comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, rearview camera system, heated front seats and V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces. SE trim adds panoramic sunroof, Fender premium audio system and keyless access with push-button start. Top of the range SEL 18-inch alloys, navigation system and sport seats for the driver and passenger.

The Golf Alltrack adds all-wheel-drive and added ground clearance that makes it a Subaru Outback rival. Sadly however, the Alltrack isn’t as roomy as an Outback and it’s also quite more expensive too. But for those who really do care about the badge, the Alltrack is a great choice but it’s not the best choice and we certainly wish some features were standard instead of optional.

Likes: Comfortable to drive daily. Refinement is what you’d expect of a VW. Standard all-wheel-drive is almost as good as Subaru’s.

Dislike: It can get expensive. Awkward placement of the push button ignition switch.