It's very sad to see Mitsubishi's fall from grace. What was once one of the most innovative and forward-thinking automakers in the world is now, for the most part, a manufacturer that blends in. Their model lineup nowadays consists of the Mirage, which we don't talk about, and a variety of outdated SUVs. At least the latest Outlander is pretty decent. Of course, it wasn't always like this for Mitsubishi.

Back in the '90s, while the compact Lancer was still in production, Mitsubishi wanted to take it to the rally stage, and the Lancer was their guinea pig for a rally car transformation. This led to the road-going homologation special, the Lancer Evolution in 1992, and the rest is history. The Evo lineage ended with the Evo X in 2008, and what a sendoff it was.

2008-2015 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X

9.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Highly tunable turbo four
  • AWD
  • Rally pedigree
Specifications
  • Model: Lancer Evolution X
  • Engine/Motor: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4
  • Horsepower: 291-303 hp
  • Torque: 300-305 lb/ft
  • Drivetrain: AWD
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 6-speed DCT automatic
Pros
  • Amazing to drive
  • Looks good
  • Surprisingly practical
Cons
  • A lot of examples were automatic
  • Build quality is only average
  • Values are going up

Overview Of The Evo X

Mitsubishi Evo X White Front Quarter
Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, also known as the Evo X, is the 10th and final generation of Mitsubishi's iconic performance sedan. The Japanese automaker first showed it off in concept form in 2005, and then in almost production ready prototype form in 2007. 2007 also saw the release of the production Evo X, which went on sale in Japan that same year, with foreign markets following in 2008. Unlike the previous generations, the Evo X brought along some pretty major changes compared to its predecessors. Mitsubishi significantly updated the exterior styling, as they based the Evo X on the ninth (and final) generation of the Lancer.

RELATED: Here Are The Coolest Mods For Your Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

On the outside, the Evo X didn't hide the fact that it was something special. The front end blacked out the grille and the panel that separates the grille. Hiding behind the lower part of the grille is the intercooler, a very important element in any Evo to reduce heat-soak on track conditions. Mitsubishi offered a variety of unique alloy wheel designs, while the rear gets dual exhaust outlets and the signature giant spoiler on the back. The badging, meanwhile, is subtle, with the only "Evolution" badge on the exterior being below the "Lancer" badge on the trunk lid. The Evo X also gets a vented hood. Due to the fact that the Evo X was around for 10 years, it competed with a whole host of hot hatchbacks and performance cars. Its arch nemesis is the Subaru WRX STI, also a road-legal rally car, but also things like the VW Golf R32 and R, the Audi S3, which we love, and so on.

Mitsubishi Evo X Powertrain And Drivetrain

Mitsubishi Evo X Engine
Mitsubishi

This is arguably the biggest change that arrived along with the Mitsubishi Evo X. The previous generations of the Evo all used modified iterations of Mitsubishi's 4G63 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. The Evo X still used a 2.0-liter turbo four, but it was all-new, and it wears the codename 4B11T. A lot of skepticism surrounded this engine back in the day, as people doubted its ability to handle upgrades and horsepower, but as they later discovered, there was nothing to worry about. The 4B11 produced 303 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, allowing the Evo X to reach 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 150 mph.

RELATED: Here's Why We Miss The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

AWD is the other important part of the Evo equation, or as it's known in Mitsubishi parlance, S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control). The AWD system is adaptable to one of three different terrain types, and with it, the driver can pull off some incredible feats that would make much more expensive cars blush. Two different transmissions handled power distribution on the Evo, a standard five-speed manual, or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, which included magnesium paddle shifters in some trim levels. Unfortunately, North America never got any of the absurdly powerful FQ versions of the Evo, which went up to 440 hp in overseas markets. Still, the AWD and the chassis tuning give the Evo X some truly heroic dynamics.

Mitsubishi Evo X Comfort And Quality

Mitsubishi Evo X Interior RHD
Mitsubishi

On the inside, the Evo X was mostly the same as the regular Lancer. Aside from the upgraded Recaro seats, the branded floor mats, and the shift paddles on the automatic cars, it's regular Lancer fare in the Evo's interior. This also means that the quality and materials aren't anything special, just a bunch of budget-friendly compact car plastics, a basic climate control system, cruise control, and some other things. Mitsubishi did offer a nice optional audio system, however.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Can Still Compete With The Subaru STI

In terms of reliability, while the Evo can handle some decent power and it should be pretty reliable for the most part, there are some things to look out for. For starters, most Evo Xs on the used market have at least some modifications, and depending on what the previous owner had done to it, they could have some extra issues to attend to. Generally, all Evo X models have potential issues with the diff pins, the exhaust manifold cracking, airflow sensor failure, the input shaft bearing and some other minor things. The Evo X seats five passengers, and boasts 14.1 cubic-feet of trunk space, which is very good for the class.

Mitsubishi Evo X Prices

Mitsubishi Evo X Black Rallying
Mitsubishi

Like all other generations of the Evo, and almost all Japanese performance cars for that matter, the Mitsubishi Evo X is slowly going up in value by the minute. A lot of owners modified their Evos, and it's getting increasingly difficult to find low-mile examples with little to no modifications. Good Evo X examples with (almost) no modifications and low miles go for around $30,000. That's pretty expensive for a Mitsubishi, but then again, this is one special Mitsubishi.