2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart First Test

Introduced for 2009, the sedan version of the Lancer Ralliart has won plenty of praise from our staffers for being a kinder, gentler Evo and the answer to the Subaru WRX that Mitsubishi never had. The Diamond Star is taking things a step further for 2010 with the Lancer Sportback Ralliart, its latest offering that has the WRX hatch squarely in its turbocharged sights.

Unsurprisingly, the spec sheet reads remarkably similar to that of its Ralliart sedan sibling. Under the hood is the same 4B11T 2.0-liter turbo-four, tuned for the same 237 horsepower and 253 lb-ft, mated to the same SST twin-clutch automatic. It's almost the same size too, at just 0.4-inches longer and 1.0-inches taller. The Sportback is barely heavier too, weighing in at 3539 pounds instead of the sedan's 3463.

Despite the similarities, the Sportback is a much more versatile vehicle thanks to the drastic increase in cargo space. The Ralliart sedan has all of 10.0 cubic feet of it (or 9.1 if fitted with the optional Rockford Fosgate audio system). The Sportback, on the other hand, starts out at 12.1 cubic feet that can be expanded to a cavernous 49.2 cubic feet by folding the rear seats, which also creates a flat load floor. An extra ten cubic feet or so probably could have been available had Mitsubishi opted for a less-sloping D-pillar design like that of the previous-generation Lancer Sportback (which offered up 60.7 cubic feet), but the automaker's decision to sacrifice space for style is understandable given how funky the last model looked. From the rear, the rounded creases of the tailgate and rear fascia look out of sync from the rest of the car's more-angular design, although the combination works better from the side. At the front, the Sportback retains the Lancer family's shark-like nose treatment.