A Closer Look at the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS

Cathleen V
Mar 1, 2021

Black 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS With White Background

You need a vehicle to get you around, but you also want it to be fun to drive. The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS delivers a sport sedan exterior with a performance interior, giving you more of what you want. But is it worth it to step up to the GTS?

What features are in the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS trim?

Let’s talk about where the metal meets the road for a moment. A 2.0L inline-four engine doesn’t sound like much, but it delivers 152 hp and 146 lb-ft., which translates into very respectable track times of zero-to-60 in 7.8 seconds, giving you plenty of get up and go.

But that’s far from everything that you need to know to make an intelligent decision on your next ride. Fortunately, we’ve already gathered all of the basics you need to know to determine whether the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS is right for you and your situation in this article.

A Fast Look at the Mitsubishi Lancer

A compact car produced since 1973, the Mitsubishi Lancer has sold over six million units from its introduction until the 2008 model year. The seventh generation, introduced with the 2007 model year, was premiered with Concept X and Concept Sportback model cars at the Tokyo and Frankfurt Motor Shows.

All trims featured the 2.0L inline-four engine and a specific California model had to be detuned to 143 HP to meet regulations, a loss of 9 hp. In addition to the five-speed manual transmission, the Lancer’s seventh generation included an available continuously variable transmission or CVT for superior fuel economy.

This change gained the vehicle one MPG to bring the city fuel economy from 21 MPG city for the manual transmission to 22 MPG city for the CVT, with both transmissions achieving up to 29 MPG highway. However, in city driving conditions, the CVT also represents ease of driving for many.

The new generation also included a 50% stiffer structure, making it stick to the road much better when dealing with curves and turns on twisty roads. The wider track also helps with these issues, while still providing a very roomy interior for a compact sport sedan while delivering better responsiveness.

How is the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS Different from other Trims?

But what makes the GTS trim stand out? A major step up is in the available automatic CVT transmission to a Sportronic six-step shift including paddle shifters for a fun drive. A strut tower up front and sport-tuned rear suspension delivers a solid ride that does amazingly well on curves.

An additional seven-tenths of an inch on the front ventilated disc brakes bring the rotors up to 11.6″, while the rear solid brake discs are still a respectable 11.9″ to bring you to a quick stop when it’s needed. Don’t forget about the performance of the 18-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels.

Standard features that turn heads include a chrome exhaust, color-keyed aero package and rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with silver accents, sport front bucket seats, sport suede interior fabrics, a six-speaker, 140-watt CD/MP3 stereo with speed-sensitive volume and equalization and automatic climate controls with silver-accented dials.

A Bluetooth cell phone interface with voice control is also standard, but options really make your GTS amazing. Available options include a power glass sunroof, the Navigation & Tech Package which delivers GPS navigation, 30 GB of hard drive media storage, in-dash DVD and CD player and Sirius satellite radio.

Is the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS the perfect vehicle for you, or do you need to continue looking? Though you’re the only one that can decide that question based on your needs and wants, Vehicle History is a great resource for you to find all of the information you need.

avatar Cathleen V
Cathleen V is an exceptional freelance writer covering hot topics in the automotive world from a gearhead’s perspective. Whether it’s the Mercedes-Benz A-class economy and Jeep ruggedness to Challenger Hellcat and Tesla semi capabilities, you’ll discover outstanding intel and research.
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