Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 SE

Feb 6 2010 Maxine Ashford

Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 SE

IF reliability, safety, performance and value for money are high on the buying agenda, then the Mitsubishi Lancer is ideal.

Admittedly, it's not going to win that many first prizes in a beauty contest and when you reach higher speeds the engine noise can only be described as deafening, but those two gripes aside, the Lancer is an excellent all-round package.

The creature comforts crammed into this vehicle cannot fail to impress and include air conditioning, remote central locking, 16in alloys, electrically-adjusted and heated door mirrors and an entertainment system that is Bluetooth and iPod-friendly.

And as one might expect from Mitsubishi, the all-round safety package is very thorough too. But, for me, the really impressive factor is the price tag as the Lancer SE costs less than £12,500 - the extras on some cars can cost that and more.

City centre driving is made easy thanks to the excellent all-round visibility and for a fairly large vehicle, it is deceptively agile and easy to manoeuvre into tight parking spaces. Then, out on the more open road, the 1.5-litre engine delivered plenty of power and the five-speed manual transmission was also very responsive.

All occupants are treated to a vast amount of legroom and the boot and other storage areas are also very generously sized. In fact, this car is one of the few I have driven that boasts it has room for five adults and actually does.

Safety features on the Lancer are very comprehensive too and include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, numerous airbags, brake assist, childproof rear door locks, top quality seatbelts and plenty more. There is also an excellent security system to keep any uninvited visitors at bay.

All in all, the Lancer is packed to bursting with value-for-money features and when you add in the safety and versatility along with a great drive, it really is a superb all-rounder.

FAST FACTS

Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 SE

Price: £12,499

Mechanical: 107bhp, 1,499cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 119mph

0-62mph: 11.6 seconds

Combined mpg: 44.1

Insurance group: 8

CO2 emissions: 153g/km

BIK rating: 16%

Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage