If Mitsubishi is going to make a dent in the market it better make products alluring to the younger generation. To this end the Ralliart Lancer wagon makes it appearance. Unfortunately, they also applied a MSRP of over $18,000 US to this compact wagon placing it in direct competition with some of the most sought after youth oriented vehicles in the marketplace namely the Toyota Matrix, Mazda 3, and even the Subaru Outback wagon.

So what would attract a buyer to the unique looking Ralliart wagon? An excellent warranty, a roomy cargo hold, and a distinct look that never failed to attract young potential buyers. In addition there is a new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with 162 hp and a fairly sporty handling package in this front wheel drive offering.

Mom's view: On any compact car safety equipment is an important concern, but more importantly to me are the government crash test scores. In the case of the Lancer, it has antilock brakes, the usual airbag features, and high safety ratings indicating an above average car in terms of protection in case of accidents.

Driving the Ralliart was easy due to the responsive transmission and engine combination, superior visibility, and fairly excellent seats that made long trips enjoyable. This is certainly not a rally car like it potent brother, the Evolution, but the sport-tuned Ralliart does have good reflexes considering this is a wagon.

There were some disappointments with this Mitsubishi, The gauges are poorly lighted and have too small of a font to be easily read at night. In addition, the doors don't make a reassuring sound when shut. Finally, when driving over large bumps, the Ralliart's chassis flexed more than I would have liked. It is certainly not as awe inspiring as the Evo and does not have that car's superior headlights either.

Overall, this is a car wagon appeal is in its utility, performance, and warranty. It is fun to drive, with a responsive nature and is quite striking in its appearance.

Dad's view: Easy to load, faster than you would think, and average fuel economy all combine to make the Ralliart wagon an interesting vehicle. The unfortunate part is the pricing of this Mitsubishi which places it directly in combination with its bigger brother, the Galant, which has the same power and does everything nearly as well except handle and have the superior carrying capacity of the wagon. And, if you need space, Mitsubishi's SUV, the Outlander also costs nearly the same, and has more space, but is not nearly as handy to drive in traffic.

It is the handling that truly separates these Mitsubishi offerings. The Lancer Ralliart has a tubular three-point front strut-tower brace that increases structural rigidity, a sportier suspension, and a better rim tire combination than the other Outlander and base Galant. Looks are also much sharper with the Ralliart as the lowered stance, front and side air dams, and fog lights make it a more striking vehicle. Especially attractive are the Volvo like tail light assembly set into the rear hatch pillars.

In terms of outside competition, there is plenty. The Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Jetta, and Subaru Outback all fine cars and are in the same price range. The Subaru even offers all wheel drive. But what they do not have is the Mitsubishi warranty on the drive train that extends to ten years or 100,000 miles.

Driving the Ralliart is easy and not at all taxing. The interior is quiet, the automatic transmission, the only one available in the wagon for some strange reason, is consistent, and the ABS disc brakes with an electronic distribution feature, provide adequate stopping power. Not a bad ride, but the price may be difficult to accept for those on a budget. In that case I would order the Lancer LS wagon, forgo the handling and other special pieces, and save a couple of thousand. Of course, you could never outfit that model with the Ralliart's features for that money, but it you want a good base wagon don't rule out the base Lancer.

Young working man's view: A very tuner looking wagon with a lot of good things going for it headed by the engine, which loves to rev and is quite extraordinary in the compact field. Of course, you pay for the power with gas mileage that seldom hit 23 mpg even on the highway. That, and the 13.2-gallon US tank made trips to the gas station a frequent occurrence. I did not like the way the wagon turns despite all the handling goodies. It needs better tires. This is a car meant for my age bracket and despite this I found it lacked everything but visual appeal. The interior was too bland for me, the lack of a standard shift left me feeling all dressed up with no place to go, and the pricing was at the outer limits of my credit limit.

Family conference: The Mitsubishi Ralliart is an interesting car that truly gives testament to the term, niche vehicle. How many buyers are truly looking for a hotted up compact wagon? However, judging it by its attributes it proved to be a nice package combing the comfort and convenience of a wagon with the dexterity of a compact car.

Good points: Engine, handling, warranty, utility
Needs Improvement: Pricing, acceleration, gas mileage, gauges