Overview & Reviews

The Lancer Sportback wagon joins the lineup, along with performance-oriented Ralliart versions of both the sedan and wagon. All Sportback wagons as well as the Ralliart sedans get a new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 160 horsepower (162 hp in Ralliart form). The entire Lancer line gets a redesigned front fascia with Mitsubishi's corporate grille design, plus new integrated bumpers, halogen headlamps and a relocated rear license plate.

• Base engine lacks punch, no manual gearbox in Ralliart models, ABS and side airbags not available on all models, small trunk in sedans.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 36.00

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  Update-2-22-06 - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Ajl - March 11 - 5:53 pm

  In my first review of the car (after just purchasing it) I said I was concerned with reliability. After 30,000 miles in 6 months, my fears have been unfounded so far. I have only made one trip back to the dealer for a minor problem. Its fuel mileage is OK, as mentioned the real culprit is the small fuel tank. I get about 25-27 mpg in the mix of driving I do (usually about 40% city / 60% highway). Paint is irritatingly cheap tough. My car already has lots of swirls and scratches and I generally dont use automatic car washes. As was also mentioned, road noise on the highway above 65 mph in this car is obnoxious. The seats are OK, but were never designed to spend hours in everyday. It does seem to run better on high octane fuel.

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  Very pleased with Sportback LS - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By sevenseas7 - January 28 - 11:16 pm

  Needed more interior space than my Mazda Protege5 offered, which I traded to purchase this car. Paid $2000 below invoice. Tight turning radius, easy to park, ease of entry/exit, roomy interior. Stock stereo sounds good. Feels safer than my Protege5. Currently 1000 miles on odometer. Getting 20mpg city/25mpg highway. Overall Im happy with my purchase.

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  No Complaints with the Ralliart - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Ralliart in Canada - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a Ralliart about 10 months ago.The staff at Vancouver Mitsubishi,were extremely helpful and unlike other dealerships (eg.Honda,toyota, etc) were not aggressively pushy.They let a good car sell itself.The ralliart is an exceptional car for the money. All the other cars in the class are really just 4 door hatchs with little or no room in the back.My car has enough room for 4 six footers and my 2 mid sized dogs. Not to mention great performance and sound. good job Mitsubishi!!!!

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  Still love it after 10 years - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By niftybergin - March 19 - 9:14 pm

  I just turned over 155,000 miles in my Sportback, bought new in 2004. Have to say that I still love this car! Ive kept up with the annual maintenance, use fully synthetic oil and high-test gas, and it runs great. Smooth and quiet. One major repair -- the A/C -- in all this time. Everything else has just been regular maintenance. Love that it has good pick-up when I need it to and that its got enough power to handle mountainous roads. Even after 10 years and 155K miles, I still get 25 MPG city / 31 MPG hwy.

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  Update - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By AJL - October 26 - 8:30 am

  I have stopped using the car for business (see previous reviews) and have started using it for commuting. The car is still holding up very well and has been one of the best cars Ive ever owned mechanically. Still no squeaks or rattles, engine uses no oil between changes. The storage space is excellent for a small wagon and the overall performance of the car My only big complaint is that fuel mileage is awful and has decreased big time since I began all-city driving. Im now lucky to average 18-19 mpg around town, which is absurd for a small, 4 cylinder wagon. Im fairly conservative driving it 90% of the time, although I do like to have fun now and then.

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  An Overlooked Bargain! - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Samuel B. - August 26 - 3:06 am

  I was looking for a new ride after my Honda had an unfortunate meeting with a deer the night before New Years Eve. I found a fully loaded leftover 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback LS sitting on the dealers lot and after negotiating with the dealer ended up buying it for $4,000 under invoice. Overall, I am very happy with the way the car drives and handles, but at highway speeds the wind noise can be almost deafening. I have to turn the volume control on the factory stereo up to about 30 so I can hear it over the wind noise. Other reviewers have complained about gas mileage but the real culprit here a fuel tank that is too small. The mileage isnt really that bad.

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  A Great Buy on SportBack LS... - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By spyderx - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Just got the sportback LS for 2k under invoice, after rebates. For the money, a great "mid-sized" wagon, nothing else in the market can touch its overall value! Strong engine, 160hp and 160lbs of torque, and tight sport tuned suspension - handles great right out the showroom! Also, surprisingly good stock stereo. But after 300 miles, I got this constant clicking noise around passenger side door and strange howling noise from passenger side wheelwell! Probably ill-fitted door lock ring and noisy stock tire.

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  1 year model only - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By don booth - October 15 - 8:50 pm

  Cant figure out why this model was only made in 2004. It is a great vehicle, my favorite of the 34 cars Ive owned. This baby scoots when needed, love the exhaust note, very comfortable, I love the simplicity of the guages and control knobs. Id love to buy another and keep it for a spare in case this one gets hit. My only complaint is the gas mileage: 20 in town, 25 on the highway.

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  Just the best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By artrocks - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned new and old cars for the last 30 years and this car make me AND my husband happy; Ive got room and vroom... It looks cooler than any other car on the road. I read about Mitsubishi, checked out the Japanese version of this before I bought this. (never buy the beta version) and this model is clean - I couldnt find anything bad about it. Ive never bought a Mitsubishi and put my faith in the good opinions of its customers. Have had this car for 8 months and its the best.

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  A Great Sportswagon - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By craig24 - February 28 - 1:19 pm

  This sports wagon is perfect for me. It has everything I want and none of what I dont. I wanted; a used, fun-to-drive, reasonably priced, reliable, roomy, comfy, fuel efficient, wagon with great visibility, low insurance and a compromise between sporty handling and good ride quality. I didnt want; expensive repairs & maintenance, electric leather seats, a sunroof, climate control (A/C button & dials are best), paying extra for a badge, a boring vehicle, an SUV. The Lancer Ralliart wagon has all of this and more. Its a great car for; commuting, driving spiritedly (its not fast but sporty and rewarding), highway cruising, moving furniture, grocery shopping, carrying sports equipment.