Tow Test: 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportswagon

When it comes to towing, there is no denying that large, powerful vehicles are popular. The reality is, however, that ownership and operating costs are continually on the rise, causing many to look at the alternatives. Although owning a smaller, more economical car will mean towing smaller or lighter RVs, there are many options besides hefty, fully fitted out caravans.

Mitsubishi's new medium station sedan, known as the Lancer Sportswagon, will accommodate five adults as well as a reasonable amount of luggage - the Sportswagon should prove quite attractive to those looking at economical motoring.

In the 1970s the Galant met Mitsubishi's small wagon needs; in 1988 the CA Lancer range was introduced, minus a wagon. Anyone looking for a car with a flexible interior chose the Lancer hatch; in 1992 a wagon was added to the range, but was discontinued in 2002. Now once again, buyers have a choice of sedan or wagon.

Super models
The new Lancer is available in two models, the ES and sporty VR-X. For those familiar with the Mitsubishi look the Sportswagon is quite easy to spot, as the front is akin to the Magna with its distinctive grille, lights and sloping bonnet. The VR-X's slightly deeper bumper incorporates a couple of fog lamps. At the rear the tail lights are slim and tall, stretching from the bumper to the roof.

The ES Sportswagon has 15in steel wheels with covers that give the appearance of alloys. On the VR-X, 16in alloy wheels with low profile tyres are standard. It also has lowered sports suspension, privacy glass, side air dams and colour coded mirrors and handles. By any measure it is a good-looking car.

Inside the Sportswagon has an air of spaciousness which in part is created by the low dash and waistline. Instruments are easy to read and all controls are within reach. The rear seat has a 60/40 split offering flexibility for carrying passengers and cargo. Storage space is doubled when the rear seat is folded forward, and small items can be placed in the underfloor compartment or in two smaller boxes along the sides. The security blind can be fixed in two positions to allow for a cargo barrier.

Other standard features include driver and front passenger airbags (side and curtain airbags are available as an option), power steering, air-conditioning, height-adjustable driver seat, four-speaker radio/CD player, cup holders front and rear, passenger door pockets, tilt steering column, intermittent wipers front and rear, overhead lights for the front and rear passengers and cargo area and a 12V/120 amp accessory socket at the rear. About the only thing missing in the ES are power windows, which are standard in the VR-X.

Engine and transmission
Lancer's reliable 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine combines lively performance with fuel-efficiency - it's free revving, adding to the driving enjoyment, and it also complies with the latest European emissions laws.

For those interested in numbers, maximum power is 92kW developed at 5500rpm, while the maximum torque of 173Nm comes in at 4250rpm. ADR81.01 Fuel Economy Tests give the consumption for the manual as 7.8L/100km. For the auto this rises to 8.8L/100km.

During 350km of mainly city and suburban driving with an auto Sportswagon we managed 9.5L/100km, indicating that at steady speeds on the open road it will be quite economical.

There is a choice of a five-speed manual or a four-speed INVECS II Smart Logic automatic with Sports Mode manual shifting. The sporty VR-X even has steering wheel-mounted shift controls, which allow rapid changes without removing hands from the wheel.

Like most vehicles that have a manual shift option on the auto, it is necessary to glance at the instrument panel every so often to check which gear is selected. Although the transmission will downshift as vehicle speed reduces, it will not upshift unless the lever is pushed forward. Of course, when the lever is placed in the 'D' position all up and down changes occur automatically.

Take a bow
Whenever performance is mentioned we tend to think about big, powerful engines. While a bit of extra grunt obviously helps, it is really all about the 'power to weight' ratio. This means that if you want to make a car perform better you can either improve the power output or reduce the weight.

As the Sportswagon has a kerb mass of less than 1300kg, the 2.0 litre engine provides more than adequate performance, particularly once the driver realises that it is quite acceptable to push the accelerator down a bit further than might be the case for a 'big six'.

In traffic the Lancer wagon is very agile while parking is a breeze, the latter in part due to its tight 10 metre turning circle. With coil suspension all around, independent McPherson strut at the front and trailing arm multi-link at the rear, ride and handling is excellent. Along winding roads the precise steering and minimal body roll makes the Sportswagon a joy to drive.

We didn't get the opportunity to drive the VR-X with its lowered sports suspension, but it is not hard to imagine that it would provide a somewhat firmer, flatter and more taut handling package than the ES.

Both the ES and the VR-X Sportswagon use the same four-wheel disc brake system (sedans use a disc/drum combination). A brake booster with adaptive regulation ensures that only light pedal pressure is needed to stop the wagon, even in an emergency situation.

Anti-lock braking (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) is optional on both models. Another plus for those who like to travel to remote places is that the spare is full-size.

Towing
I know we have said this before, but time is always against us when it comes to testing vehicles for extended periods. For the test we hitched on a Cavalier onroad camper trailer. This unit is very similar to the offroad version, apart from changes in the areas of suspension, wheels, tyres and ground clearance. At 1000kg the towing recommendation for the Sportswagon is conservative and, apart from a camper trailer, rules out larger RVs.

But as the Lancer Sportswagon is likely to appeal to families and the Cavalier can sleep up to six, the two seem like a good combination. Being lightweight and low, the Cavalier doesn't have a huge bearing on fuel consumption.

On an all-too-short test drive we found that the Sportswagon handled the Cavalier with ease. At times we had to remind ourselves that it was still there!

After driving it for a week under a variety of conditions, we think the Lancer ES Sportswagon will suit a wide range of needs: it's great as daily transport, carries up to five and a good deal of luggage, accommodates long items for DIY projects and tows a camper trailer with virtually no fuss.

If what you are looking for is versatility and economical motoring, the Sportswagon is certainly worth a close look.