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 1 through 10 of 36.00

• 

  Update 10-12-06 - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By ajl - December 19 - 2:13 am

  My Lancer Sportback LS now has 63,000 mostly highway miles on it and is still going strong. Its been a much better car then my Ford Focus was, although I miss the handling from the Focus and I still prefer manual shifting. But this is a pretty good automatic and the 2.4 liter 160 hp 4-cylinder runs strong. My 89 Acura Legend was only 160 hp and it was a V6 that was 2.7 liters in displacement! A very enjoyable little wagon that has been very reliable and rather fun.

• 

  I love this ride - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Vic Diddy - January 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is very fun to drive. It has pretty good pickup on the streets, handles well and looks pretty spiffy. its definately NOT a soccer mom car as so many say.

• 

  Great wagon - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By mbm99 - December 4 - 11:43 am

  I just purchased this leftover, brand new 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart. I have no complaints at all after my first 600 miles. Its fuel economy could be better (23 city / 30 highway), for a 4-cylinder car, but its much better than the Dodge Durango that I tradedin for it. This is a much nicer vehicle than the Mazda3 or Toyota Matrix that I was considering before I found it.

• 

  Storage and performance - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Don Andretti - June 21 - 10:20 pm

  I bought this new. The seats are great, the head rests sit perfect so I can leave my head on the head rest while driving. The roof rack is great to hold cargo box. Suspension is stiff enough that the cargo loaded down for camping is forgotten about. I normal drive with a tool box in back and corners and pulls like a sport coupe. I bought this to keep up with my Datsun 280ZX that I still drive. The Sportback will out straight line and corner the Z but will not give you the precise feedback of the Z saying that about a wagon that gets the same MPG as My Z is amazing I now have 66k miles on the Wagon. MPG 29 hy "towing a HondaTRX450R" 26 hy PS this replaced my Dodge D-50 SP 5 sp

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  ralliart wagon - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By 2fastdogs - August 2 - 10:00 am

  very agile and easy to drive. ample room for 5 adults. with the rear seats folded down gives me plenty of room for my two greyhounds. the motor is very responsive even with an automatic.