Review of the new Mitsubishi Lancer Saloon 1.5 SE

We're often told that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. This kind of cautious approach should help weed out e-mails from retired West African army officers looking to transfer vast sums of cash into your bank account and the pushy door-to-door salesmen with once-in-a-lifetime discounts on conservatories if you sign up today. A healthy degree of scepticism makes sense when dealing with such propositions but we shouldn't become so cynical that we miss out on a genuinely worthwhile opportunity. Mitsubishi's Lancer 1.5 SE looks conspicuously cheap compared to other family saloon cars but is it one to approach with caution or a solid gold bargain?

The Mitsubishi Lancer is probably best known for its alter ego, the Lancer Evolution rally replica, but this is an ordinary Lancer saloon and the links to Mitsubishi's four-wheel-drive turbocharged tearaway are slight. The ordinary Lancer is a relatively mundane front wheel drive saloon car that counts value for money as its main selling point and that's even more the case with this 1.5-litre SE model that sits at the foot of the range.

Mitsubishi will occasionally attempt to raise the Lancer's profile by reminding everyone that it runs on similar mechanicals to a 300bhp Evo but it's tough to take that too seriously when there's a 107bhp 1.5-litre engine under the bonnet. It's a modern unit with variable valve timing technology to improve its efficiency but performance is never going to be exhilarating with that kind of power and just 143Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. Still, the 0-62mph sprint takes 11.6s and there's a top speed of 119mph, so there should be little problem keeping up with traffic.

"it's a competent package and it would be churlish to ask for too much more than that at this price"

The Evo links might be tenuous but at least the Lancer inherits a reasonably polished driving experience from its lunatic sibling. The steering is accurate, there's a slick gearchange and the car feels grippy and balanced in corners. The ride quality is less impressive and is firmer than most buyers in this sector will like. The overall package is still better than what we've come to expect in the budget family car sector where driving dynamics usually come some way down the order of priorities.

A big part of the old Lancer's problem was that it looked so staid. This time round, Mitsubishi isn't making that mistake. Even the entry-level model looks sharp, with the aggressive, squinting front end and the rising waistline giving it a pugnacious stance. The car is built on a longer wheelbase and a wider track than its predecessor, although it's marginally shorter in overall length. Interior space is plentiful and there's a big boot at the rear but the saloon bodystyle is inevitably less practical than the hatchback alternative.

A big draw is the improved interior quality. The plastics and design are still probably a notch below the best in this price bracket, but they're no longer leagues off the pace as they were in the last generation model. The cowled instruments are a nice touch. Space inside is better than in the previous version of this car thanks to the wheelbase and track increases but if you're worried about losing out on luggage room by choosing a 4-door rather than a 5-door Lancer, then don't be too concerned: the 5-door Sportback version is no cavernous load lugger, the steeply raked rear end impinging on carrying capacity. Score one to the stylists.

The 1.5-litre SE sits at the base of the Lancer saloon range, undercutting the 1.8-litre GS3 by a hefty £3,000. It's also £2,000 cheaper than a Lancer hatchback with the 1.5-litre engine and represents a whole lot of car for the sort of money that would normally only secure you a moderately well-equipped supermini.

The SE specification brings metallic paint, 16" alloy wheels, Bluetooth compatibility, air-conditioning, front fog lights, steering wheel audio controls and an iPod connector for the stereo. Safety equipment runs to front, side curtain and knee airbags which is part of the reason for the Lancer's strong showing in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

Prospective buyers attracted by the low upfront costs might be slightly put off by what the Lancer costs to run. Combined cycle economy of 44mpg and CO2 emissions of 153g/km aren't brilliant but in its defence, this is a larger car than the standard compact saloons that it's most often compared against.

Cars from this budget end of the market don't often enjoy buoyant residual values and demand for saloon cars isn't strong in the UK but there isn't too far left to fall from the modest asking price of the 1.5 SE. All models come with a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty and three years of European breakdown cover.

Mitsubishi will sell its Lancer 1.5-litre SE models on the sticker price alone. It's not a lot of money to be paying for a family sized saloon car and this is one attractive offer where buyers don't need to tread with too much caution.

The 1.5-litre engine isn't anything special from a performance or economy point of view and the Lancer isn't as well put together as the mainstream alternatives but it's a competent package and it would be churlish to ask for too much more than that at this price.