Mario James, Gleaner Writer

When the Lancer was released in late August of '07, Automotives was there - but because of the upcoming media event, we were limited to a couple hours of fun. This time, however, we could actually savour our experience - to see if the recipe was all that. Our tester this time around no longer had the famed 'flappy paddle' slivers flanking the tiller, nor the 18-inch alloys that adorned the GT model. What it did have was a slightly warmed over version of the 4B11, producing two more horses than the launch model did - and the same Jatco CVT as well.

With the Galant no longer available to this market, Mitsubishi had a void to fill, marketing wise. So they enlarged the Lancer to fill the niche. While still not as big as its aforementioned stablemate, with a 4,395 mm length, it still is a compact car - but the interior dimensions were increased dramatically. Ditto the appointments - for a compact car, this is one of the more 'boasy' cars on the road. Keyless entry/start, proximity key fob (the kind that you put in your pocket to start the car), 6 CD changer, premium audio system (not the Fosgate - that's only available in the GT), 16-inch alloys, steering button controls plus cruise.

Optional body kit

And it looks the business too. Our tester came with the optional body kit - rear spoiler, front air dam and side skirts - which takes away some of the functionality from the car but looks really cool. However, the inside rear-view mirror is mostly full of rear wing! Takes a bit of getting used to, but if you have to have that last ounce of down force ...

The GLS's interior is a great place to be. It is luxuriously comfortable - plastic wood-grain trim looks and feels real; seats can be adjusted for height as well as rake and leg length. The gauge pod includes Mitsubishi's now-famous info centre, which gives read-outs on mileage, distance travelled, average speed and more. Steering is also adjustable for rake and reach, and our tester came equipped with sunroof as well. It is one of the most comfortable compact cars Automotives has driven.

On the road, the Lancer also excels. With 157 hp available - and the oh-so-quick-changing six speed manumatic - this pumped-up compact is fun to drive. The steptronic box can really be rowed like a standard car, coupled with a great noise from the 4B11 four puts some amount of soul in this ride. Lifting the right foot at change up gives the variance in tone from the engine, as well as the surge when the throttle is reapplied. The effect is much like riding a bike with a fat torque curve - the engine note at the start of each gear is the same as you move forward through the box. The Jatco CVT is a first-class piece of engineering.

Is a comparison between this car and the 2 litre 3 Series BMW really valid? That depends. First, there's the price - BMW's 320i moves off the showroom for about $5.350 million - and that's a special recession price. For all that moola, you get 152 hp, sunroof, keyless entry, REAL wood trim, a single disc CD player, four-wheel discs and power seats. The GLS doesn't have electric seats, and disappointingly has drums at the rear, but you get the fancy key fob, keyless entry, sunroof and five more horsepower plus a CVT that Automotives thinks is the best bit of kit to come out of Japan in recent times.

From a mileage standpoint, give BMW the nod - they have one of the best valve management systems ever pencilled, and it works. But Automotives, driving the GLS, was able to eke out 9.3 l per 100km average out of a full tank of gas - and that includes serious schlepping up hills and on toll roads, plus more than a few full-throttle runs. The ride is just as controlled as the BMW's - even a smidgen softer. Really, marketing auras aside, BMW's balance is better - but only just, and much of the difference comes from its being rear wheel drive.

On the limit, the Beemer turns in better. But the flexibility available from the GLS's CVT means that the GLS launches harder and kills less momentum on the upshift.

Bang for buck, the Beemer loses. Handling and mileage aside, for $3.750 million GLS out options the 320i for quite a bit less dough, and has similar performance and handling.