Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
2008-2015
The Evo X represents the culmination of Mitsubishi's rally heritage, delivering precise handling and explosive acceleration through its sophisticated AWD system. It's a driver's car that rewards skill while remaining surprisingly docile in everyday driving situations.
Quick Take
The final generation of Mitsubishi's legendary rally-bred sedan, featuring advanced all-wheel drive technology and aggressive aerodynamics. Known for its razor-sharp handling and accessible performance tuning potential.
Best For
Key Strength
S-AWC All-Wheel Drive System
Watch For
Interior Quality Concerns
The Story
Heritage & Legacy
Born from Mitsubishi's dominant WRC campaign, the Evolution series brought rally technology to the street for over two decades. The Evo X marked the end of an era, representing the final evolution of the legendary 4G63 lineage with its new aluminum 4B11T engine.
Design Philosophy
Function over form defines the Evo X, with every aerodynamic element serving a purpose. The aggressive bodywork, massive rear wing, and functional vents all contribute to high-speed stability and cooling, creating an unmistakably purposeful aesthetic.
The Driving Experience
Engine Character
The 4B11T engine delivers linear power with minimal turbo lag, building boost smoothly from 3,000 RPM. While less characterful than the previous 4G63, it offers better refinement and tremendous tuning potential for serious enthusiasts.
Chassis Dynamics
The S-AWC system provides incredible grip and adjustability, allowing the car to rotate on throttle while maintaining stability. The suspension is firm but compliant, offering genuine sports car handling without punishing ride quality on public roads.
Sound Signature
A subdued but purposeful exhaust note with turbo whoosh and blow-off valve sounds that intensify under hard acceleration.
Strengths & Tradeoffs
Defining Strengths
The Super All-Wheel Control system is genuinely sophisticated, actively vectoring torque between all four wheels for maximum grip. Combined with the Active Yaw Control rear differential, it delivers otherworldly traction and cornering ability that few cars can match.
The 6-speed TC-SST dual-clutch transmission offers race-car quick shifts when properly maintained. In Super Sport mode, gear changes happen in milliseconds, making it feel more like a sequential race gearbox than a street transmission.
Honest Tradeoffs
The cabin feels genuinely cheap with hard plastics throughout and ergonomics that lag behind competitors. The Recaro seats are excellent, but everything else feels like it belongs in a much cheaper car, which hurts the ownership experience.
The dual-clutch transmission, while impressive when working, has documented reliability problems including clutch pack failures and transfer case issues. Proper maintenance is absolutely critical, and repairs can be extremely expensive.
Ideal Owner
Perfect for driving enthusiasts who want rally-bred performance with daily usability and strong aftermarket support for modifications.