MITSUBISHI has a long motor sport history with its Lancer small car, so it’s a pity that the current CH model is so invisible, even against its late 1990s’ hot-selling CE series self. But looks aside, the VR-X makes a credible alternative to a sporty hatch like the Holden Astra SRi, Ford Focus Zetec and Toyota Corolla Levin (especially when you consider all that rally and Playstation credibility) as long as you’re not looking for a quiet, refined car with handling finesse. It can be a bit of fun. Just don’t forget to tick the ABS brakes option.

CG Lancer sedan
Released: July 2002
Ended: September 2003
Family Tree: LancerMitsubishi's VR-X sedan first arrived Down Under in CE-series guise in October 1999, packing a 86kW/161Nm four-cylinder but was disctontinued little more than 12 months later in December 2000. In July 2002 came the CG version with a 92kW/173Nm four, which was replaced by the facelifted CH-series Lancer VR-X (tested here) in October 2003. A little-changed 2005 model was released in August 2004.
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