Mitsubishi Lancer Juro

Mitsubishi Lancer Juro

BY far the most popular with many UK car buyers are the members of the medium family hatchback sector - cars which continue to keep getting better and better.

I recently spent some time with one of the latest motors to join this red hot segment, the Mitsubishi Lancer Juro hatchback, an exercise which proved surprisingly enjoyable.

According to the Japanese car maker the current motor is the tenth generation of the Lancer series and while this five-door hatchback is no rally car like some of its stablemates, it does have much to offer.

For starters, this recent challenger to the likes of the Ford Focus, Audi A3, VW Golf and the Kia c'eed comes with a well justified reputation as a true value for money vehicle.

You will most certainly not feel out of place as you board the Lancer Juro for the Mitsubishi reputation tells us that cabin finish is definitely built to last, durability being very much its forte.

However, the Juro is very much about value for money and, in similar fashion to Mitsubishi's smaller Colt Juro, many extras are available in the price to appeal to drivers with a yen for toys and the other options on board.

Included are a host quality of extras which include, in the 2.0 DI-D Lancer Juro driven here, the likes of black leather upholstery, air con, cruise control, electric windows all round, seven airbags, electric and heated door mirrors, front fogs, multi function steering wheel and 16 inch five-spoke alloys.

While the plastic trim around dash and centre console could have been a little more appealing, this is a well engineered and put together family motor and the whole lot can be yours for under £15,000.

Also included, if you excuse the fiddly little buttons, is a quality Kenwood audio system, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, reversing camera and iPod connection.

There's plenty of room on board for five  and, with some very decent rear legroom, 60-40 split folding seats in the rear plus a large rear tailgate the Lancer Juro can be judged well as a flexible and pretty versatile load lugger.

However, while the boot space is not huge its 344 litres will still no doubt prove more than adequate for most owners.

On the road, the Lancer Juro proved pretty eye catching with the "jet fighter" grille leading the way for this five door hatch which also comes with an aerodynamic looking rear spoiler adding a further touch of class.

From a decent driving position progress proved pretty good from the 2.0-litre DI-D direct injection turbodiesel engine with intercooler paired with a six-speed manual gear change.

However, while delivering 140bhp and some pretty decent low down torque, it did lack a little refinement while at 163g/km CO2 emissions are a little on the high side.

That said te 0-62mph dash comes in under 10 seconds, it has a top speed of 127mph and a quite conservative 46mpg return which makes it an efficient engine.

The handling is not quite as sharp as that delivered by a VW Golf or Vauxhall Astra and perhaps it was not quite so adept as some of the competition at smoothing out those pock marked B-road surfaces.

Overall the Mitsubishi Lancer Juro is an extremely well priced, five-door family hatch which is very generously kitted out.

Mitsubishi Lancer Juro 2.0 DI-D

Price: £14,999

Mechanical: 140bhp, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max Speed: 127mph

0-62mph: 9.5 seconds

Combined MPG: 46

Insurance Group: 21

C02 emissions: 163g/km

Bik rating: 25%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles

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Mitsubishi Lancer Juro

Source: https://www.eurekar.co.uk/articles/2011-10-30/mitsubishi-lancer-juro-2-0-di-d