Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart: which version to buy and why
If you are choosing a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, the data split the decision in two. The 10 generation (2008–2011) Sedan is the turbo AWD pair of 2.0 DSG cars at 241 hp. The 9 generation (2003–2005, restyling 2005–2007) Sedan is the naturally aspirated FWD 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT family at 164 hp. There are 3 generations in the catalogue (the restyling sits inside generation 9).
If you are choosing a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, the data split the decision in two. The 10 generation (2008–2011) Sedan is the turbo AWD pair of 2.0 DSG cars at 241 hp. The 9 generation (2003–2005, restyling 2005–2007) Sedan is the naturally aspirated FWD 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT family at 164 hp. There are 3 generations in the catalogue (the restyling sits inside generation 9). This article compares those versions with the given numbers: power per litre, weight per horsepower, what extra mass and extra fuel buy, and what changed between generations.
Lancer Ralliart generations compared: what actually changed
9 generation (2003–2005), Sedan, 3 versions — all 2.4 gasoline, 164 hp (121 kW) at 5750 rpm, 220 Nm at 4000 rpm, 2378 cm³, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, front transverse, multi-point injection, compression 9.5, bore × stroke 87 × 100, fuel 95. Drive is FWD. Ground clearance is 115 mm; tank 50 L. 0–100 km/h and top speed are not measured. The three cars differ by gearbox and mass:
- 2.4 MT — Manual 5, kerb 1290 kg, gross 1780 kg, city 10.2 / highway 8.1 / combined 9 L/100 km.
- 2.4 AT — Automatic 4, kerb 1310 kg, gross 1780 kg, 10.7 / 8.4 / 9.4.
- 2.4 AT — Automatic 4, kerb 1380 kg, gross 1820 kg, same 10.7 / 8.4 / 9.4 as the lighter 2.4 AT.
9 generation, restyling (2005–2007), Sedan, 2 versions — same 164 hp / 220 Nm / 2378 cm³ engine, same FWD, same 115 mm clearance, same 50 L tank, 0–100 and top speed still not measured:
- 2.4 MT — Manual 5, kerb 1325 kg (+35 kg vs the 2003–2005 2.4 MT), gross 1800 kg (+20), fuel still 10.2 / 8.1 / 9.
- 2.4 AT — Automatic 4, kerb 1345 kg (+35 vs the 1310 kg 2.4 AT; −35 vs the 1380 kg 2.4 AT), gross 1800 kg. Highway drops from 8.4 to 8.1 L/100 km versus both 2003–2005 2.4 AT cars; city and combined stay 10.7 and 9.4.
10 generation (2008–2011), Sedan, 2 versions — both named 2.0 DSG, both 241 hp (177 kW) at 6000 rpm, 343 Nm at 3000 rpm, 1998 cm³, Gasoline, 4 Inline, 4 valves, Turbo, front transverse, multi-point, compression 9, 86 × 86, fuel 98, Robotic 6, AWD, city 13.9 / highway 8.1 / combined 10.2, tank 55 L, clearance 150 mm. Distinguish them by mass and performance, not by name or horsepower:
- 2.0 DSG — 241 hp, kerb 1625 kg, gross 2025 kg, 0–100 in 7 s, top speed 230 km/h.
- 2.0 DSG — 241 hp, kerb 1670 kg, gross 2045 kg, 0–100 in 7.1 s, top speed 220 km/h.
Wheel sizes are not measured on every version in this set.
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart specs table (engines, gearbox, drive)
| Generation | Version | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 generation (2008–2011) | 2.0 DSG (1625 kg) | 241 | 343 | 1998 | Gasoline / 98 | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Robotic 6 | AWD |
| 10 generation (2008–2011) | 2.0 DSG (1670 kg) | 241 | 343 | 1998 | Gasoline / 98 | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Robotic 6 | AWD |
| 9 generation, restyling (2005–2007) | 2.4 MT | 164 | 220 | 2378 | Gasoline / 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 9 generation, restyling (2005–2007) | 2.4 AT | 164 | 220 | 2378 | Gasoline / 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 9 generation (2003–2005) | 2.4 MT | 164 | 220 | 2378 | Gasoline / 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 9 generation (2003–2005) | 2.4 AT (1310 kg) | 164 | 220 | 2378 | Gasoline / 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 9 generation (2003–2005) | 2.4 AT (1380 kg) | 164 | 220 | 2378 | Gasoline / 95 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
Same names, different cars: both 2.0 DSG rows are 241 hp; the two restyling-era 2.4 names match the earlier 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT; the two 2003–2005 2.4 AT rows share 164 hp and must be split by kerb 1310 vs 1380 kg.
Horsepower, engine, and 0–100: what the extra 77 hp buys
241 − 164 = 77 hp — the 10 generation 2.0 DSG makes 47% more peak power than any 9 generation 2.4 MT or 2.4 AT. Torque rises 343 − 220 = 123 Nm (56%). Peak torque arrives at 3000 rpm on 2.0 DSG versus 4000 rpm on every 2.4.
Power per litre: 241 / 1.998 ≈ 120.6 hp/L on both 2.0 DSG cars versus 164 / 2.378 ≈ 69.0 hp/L on every 2.4. Torque per litre: 343 / 1.998 ≈ 171.7 Nm/L versus 220 / 2.378 ≈ 92.5 Nm/L. The 10 generation engine is smaller (1998 vs 2378 cm³, −380 cm³) and denser because boost is Turbo, not No.
0–100 km/h is measured only on 10 generation 2.0 DSG: 7 s (1625 kg) and 7.1 s (1670 kg). The 0.1 s gap matches +45 kg. Top speed is 230 vs 220 km/h (10 km/h) for the same two 2.0 DSG cars. For every 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT, 0–100 is not measured and top speed is not measured — do not treat a missing figure as a claimed time.
MPG and fuel: Lancer Ralliart combined consumption
Combined: 10.2 L/100 km on both 2.0 DSG versus 9 on both 2.4 MT and 9.4 on every 2.4 AT. The turbo AWD cars use +1.2 L/100 km vs 2.4 MT and +0.8 vs 2.4 AT in combined mode.
City: 13.9 on 2.0 DSG versus 10.2 on 2.4 MT (+3.7) and 10.7 on 2.4 AT (+3.2). Highway is 8.1 on both 2.0 DSG, both restyling 2.4 cars, and the 2003–2005 2.4 MT. The two 2003–2005 2.4 AT cars are the highway outliers at 8.4 (+0.3). Restyling did not change 2.4 MT fuel figures; it cut 2.4 AT highway from 8.4 to 8.1.
Fuel grade: 98 for 2.0 DSG, 95 for every 2.4. Tank: 55 L vs 50 L (+5 L on generation 10). CO₂ and eco class are not measured on all versions.
Weight, dimensions, ground clearance
Kerb range in this catalogue: 1290 kg (2003–2005 2.4 MT) to 1670 kg (heavier 2.0 DSG). Gross: 1780 to 2045 kg.
Weight per horsepower (kg per hp):
- 2.0 DSG 1625 kg: 1625 / 241 ≈ 6.74
- 2.0 DSG 1670 kg: 1670 / 241 ≈ 6.93
- 2.4 MT 1290 kg: 1290 / 164 ≈ 7.87
- 2.4 AT 1310 kg: 1310 / 164 ≈ 7.99
- 2.4 MT restyling 1325 kg: 1325 / 164 ≈ 8.08
- 2.4 AT restyling 1345 kg: 1345 / 164 ≈ 8.20
- 2.4 AT 1380 kg: 1380 / 164 ≈ 8.41
The lightest 2.0 DSG is 335 kg heavier than the lightest 2.4 MT (1625 − 1290) but still the best kg/hp figure. The heavier 2.0 DSG is +45 kg versus its twin and still beats every 2.4 on kg/hp.
Ground clearance: 150 mm on both 2.0 DSG versus 115 mm on every 9 generation car (+35 mm). Wheel size: not measured. Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on all listed versions. Brakes: Ventilated disc front, Disc rear on all.
Payload (gross − kerb): 400 kg on the 1625 kg 2.0 DSG (2025 − 1625); 375 kg on the 1670 kg 2.0 DSG; 490 kg on 2003–2005 2.4 MT; 470 on the 1310 kg 2.4 AT; 440 on the 1380 kg 2.4 AT; 475 on restyling 2.4 MT; 455 on restyling 2.4 AT. Extra generation-10 mass is not extra payload.
Which Lancer Ralliart version to choose
Buy the lighter 10 generation 2.0 DSG (1625 kg, 7 s, 230 km/h) if you want the Turbo AWD car with the measured sprint and the highest top speed in this set. Same 241 hp, 343 Nm, Robotic 6, and 10.2 L/100 km combined as the other 2.0 DSG, but 45 kg less, 0.1 s quicker to 100, and 10 km/h more top speed. That is the only arithmetic difference between the two 2.0 DSG names.
Buy the heavier 10 generation 2.0 DSG (1670 kg, 7.1 s, 220 km/h) only if you specifically need that listing: same engine and gearbox, worse kg/hp (6.93 vs 6.74), less payload (375 vs 400 kg). There is no extra horsepower for the extra 45 kg.
Buy 9 generation 2.4 MT (2003–2005, 1290 kg) if you want the lowest kerb mass, lowest combined fuel (9 L/100 km), Manual 5, and FWD. You give up 77 hp, Turbo, AWD, 35 mm of clearance, a 5 L larger tank, and any measured 0–100. Engine output is identical to every other 2.4.
Buy restyling 2.4 MT (2005–2007, 1325 kg) if you want the same Manual 5 and the same 10.2 / 8.1 / 9 fuel as the earlier 2.4 MT, and you accept +35 kg and +20 kg gross for the restyling years. Highway fuel does not improve versus the 2003–2005 2.4 MT.
Buy restyling 2.4 AT (1345 kg) rather than either 2003–2005 2.4 AT if you need Automatic 4. Versus the 1310 kg 2.4 AT you pay +35 kg but gain −0.3 L/100 km on the highway (8.1 vs 8.4). Versus the 1380 kg 2.4 AT you are 35 kg lighter, 40 kg lower on gross (1800 vs 1820), and still 8.1 vs 8.4 highway. City and combined stay 10.7 / 9.4 on all three 2.4 AT cars.
Avoid the 1380 kg 2.4 AT as a first pick among automatics: same 164 hp, same 10.7 / 8.4 / 9.4, worst kg/hp in the set (8.41), highest 9th-generation kerb, smallest payload among the 2003–2005 trio (440 kg).
Reliability and problems: this dataset does not measure failure rates, engine codes, or reviews. What it does measure for durability-adjacent hardware is identical across generations: Independent, spring suspension both ends, Ventilated disc front / Disc rear. Differences that are in the data are Turbo vs No, AWD vs FWD, Robotic 6 vs Manual 5 / Automatic 4, fuel 98 vs 95, and +3.7 L/100 km in the city for 2.0 DSG vs 2.4 MT.
Years people search (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011): map them to these windows only. 2004 and 2005 fall in 9 generation (2003–2005); 2005 also opens the restyling (2005–2007), so a 2005 car is either pre-restyle or restyle by those two date ranges. 2006 is restyling only. 2009, 2010, 2011 are 10 generation 2.0 DSG only. This catalogue has no Lancer Ralliart row for 2013, 2014, or 2015, and no Sportback body — only Sedan.
Short rule: if the job is 241 hp, AWD, and a measured 7–7.1 s 0–100, the answer is 2.0 DSG, and the 1625 kg car is the one that wins the internal comparison. If the job is lower mass, 95 fuel, FWD, and 9–9.4 L/100 km combined, the answer is generation 9, and the 2.4 MT at 1290 kg is the lightest, thirst-lowest pick; among automatics, the restyling 2.4 AT is the one that actually improves highway fuel.