Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £14,499 to £24,149
Cheap to buy, should prove reliable, good specification levels
Short service intervals, bland styling, engine noisy, no diesel option
For those who just need to get from A to B without much fuss - don't expect a mini-Evo.
The Lancer's trump card is its low list price, with the 1.6-litre Equippe saloon costing just £9999; the Estate carries a £500 premium. However, servicing intervals are every 9000 miles compared to 20,000 miles for a petrol-powered Peugeot 307 or every 15,000 miles for a Rover 45, which means twice the number of trips to the dealership.
Fuel consumption figures are on a par with others in the class, with the 1.6-litre manual saloon returning 41.5mpg on the combined cycle, dropping to 32.5mpg for the 2.0-litre Sport Estate. The lack of a diesel engine means the Lancer isn't the best choice for drivers doing high annual mileages. Insurance groups range from 9 to 12, which is pretty high for its class and will contribute to steeper running costs.
