Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution is a model beloved by many and has proven itself time and time again in racing, rallying, and above all, in the hearts of gear heads.

The sports sedan from 1992 has gone through many changes, but overall kept to the original recipe that earned it so much respect in the past.

Luckily, the Lancer Evolution IX's recipe is similar to its predecessors, with the all-wheel drive, smart chassis, and fizzy, turbocharged engine, it is quick and able on asphalt or dirt.

Today the car is as appealing as ever, and now we take another look at this appreciating sports car to remind ourselves why it is so popular.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

8.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Legendary turbocharged 4G63 engine full of potential
  • Classic styling turns heads
  • Excellent chassis and drivetrain
Specifications
  • Model: Lancer Evolution IX
  • Engine/Motor: 2-liter, I4 turbo
  • Horsepower: 286 hp
  • Torque: 289 lb-ft
  • Drivetrain: All-wheel-drive
  • Transmission: 5-6 speed manual, 5-speed automatic
Pros
  • Fun to drive in any conditions
  • Potential for further modification or tuning
  • Reasonable value for money
Cons
  • The best, most sought-after examples are expensive
  • Finding a good one that has been cared for

An Iconic Engine To Power An Icon: The 4G63

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, engine from above
Via: Mitsubishi

As you pull the toggle to open the hood of the Lancer Evolution IX, you will be met with the 4G63 engine, a unit that can trace its lineage right back to the '70s, although in the Evo IX the unit is thoroughly modern and capable of keeping up with more exotic machinery, thanks to its 286 hp and 289 lb-ft outputs.

The 2.0-liter engine features dual-overhead camshafts, 16-valves, fuel injection, and an intercooler to go with that turbo – it’s a decent engine but without any of the electric motors or hybrid equipment you will find in cars a decade and a half later.

Luckily, the ninth-generation Evo did come with Mitsubishi’s MiVEC system which is essentially a variable-valve timing feature that means this car’s economy is better than the outgoing model.

Anyone familiar with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the similar Eagle Talon or the Plymouth Laser among many others will know this unit; here, it will propel the Evo IX to 60 mph in 4.6-seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.4-seconds at 104 mph, the latter figure reported by Car and Driver magazine back in 2005 at the car’s launch.

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The Secret Is How The Evo IX Puts Down Its Power

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, red, rear quarter view on road
Via: Mitsubishi

As we already knew, this is an all-wheel-drive rally car for the road, with a focus on performance over comfort or luxury, though it has moved on considerably from the first Mitsubishi Lancer Evos of the '90s.

Here, the all-wheel-drive system, with active center differential, via the 5 or 6 speed manual (or automatic) gearbox, can vary the amount of slippage to each wheel and allow for increased traction in slippery situations.

There are three modes including snow, gravel, and asphalt to allow for different levels of intervention on the drivetrain; this makes the Evo IX a capable and somewhat forgiving car for different situations and settings. Higher-up in the range, some models like the GSR and others would have revised suspension components, and so along with the LSD and other aesthetic upgrades this would start to look like an impressive machine.

The Evo IX is a car set up for tackling corners, as such although it can accelerate quickly, it really shines as a point-to-point weapon or as a fun car for short spirited drives.

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Driving A Rally Car For The Road: The Lancer Evolution IX

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, cabin interior view
Via: Mitsubishi

Available in many trims from RS to GT to GSR, then onto the Mitsubishi Racing models with the MR GSR and MR RS there is an Evo for everybody. The RS model ditched some items to save weight like the stereo, insulation, and more, while other trims added cosmetic changes and came with upgraded wheels, automatic climate control, bucket seats with or without leather and Alcántara and much more.

In any case the car, despite being too early to have an infotainment system that we’d recognize today, is a pleasant enough place to be once in the cabin. Its plastic-like finish and clean design on the center dash isn’t as exciting as some performance cars, but allows you to focus on what you should be doing – the driving.

With the optional Alcántara and leather bucket seats, leather-ended gear shifter, and racing-style wheel it does seem sporty though, and things like climate control and cruise control ensure it is easy to live with on a daily basis.

The iconic design on the outside is present and has minor changes from the Evo VIII, but otherwise it’s business as usual for the exterior styling, which is no bad thing, the Evolution is instantly-recognizable and turns heads out on the road, with the big spoiler and handsome face it is easy to love this sports sedan.

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Affordable Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IXs Do Exist, For Now

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, red, front quarter view on road
Via: Mitsubishi

Reaching for the ever-reliable sales and auction report aggregator tool on Classic.com, we find that currently, Evo IXs for the two model years that it consists of, sit at an average value of $37,000. That is a lot for a 16-year-old sedan, but for one this special, of which no more will likely be born in the same image - in manual form with no hybrid technology – it is the price we must pay today.

Of course, there are cheaper units for sale, with a few recorded on the same report for under $20,000, but the main tranche of sales sit between $20,000-40,000. MR models – the Mitsubishi Racing versions with upgraded wheels, lowered suspension, and other upgrades – are usually worth more but the stripped-out Evo IX RS has its own appeal and values also reflect that.

There are other ways to spend $20,000-$40,000, including on a different generation Lancer Evolution; but this one perhaps occupies the sweet spot considering its current value and its spot-on looks, that’s until you turn the key and take a few corners, and then you may realize that this is one of the great sports cars of an era that is quickly disappearing in the rearview mirror.