Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
A rally homologation car that ran for ten generations. America got the last three.
A new engine, a dual-clutch option and yaw control at the rear: the most capable Evo, and the last.
28 reviewers · 61 videos · 9 hours watched
Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and fun to drive, but split on handling and daily drivability.
across 28 reviewers
"it really doesn't feel like a 3500 to 3600 lb car at all it feels like it's a 3,000lb car"
Zygrene · ▶ 4:46"the Evo does not have very good turning radius... it doesn't turn worth anything"
Bobbi Niemela · ▶ 10:00"it's a four-door car... even though it's a high performance car it does inherit the same things"
JDM Masters · ▶ 0:35"it's jerky you know the the gearbox is very mechanical... it's not particularly smooth uh you know as a daily car car it it's probably not the best"
Ross Reviews · ▶ 5:45"I think the the cost benefit is a lot better in this car"
Zygrene · ▶ 2:42"instead of a fuel tank, they fitted a pipette. I've actually worked this out that if you drive flat out, you'll empty the tank in 48 mi."
Top Gear · ▶ 12:59Performance
4.5/528 of 28 reviewersstrong consensus“I can just mash the throttle even before I hit the Apex so basically you can feel the the uh ayc the rear differential in the back set extra power to the outside wheel to counteract any under steer”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 15:17“Man, the level of power though is more than adequate.”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 8:29“This thing has one of the most violent accelerations I've experienced in awhile.”
positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 0:00Handling
4.5/528 of 28 reviewerssplit“it really doesn't feel like a 3500 to 3600 lb car at all it feels like it's a 3,000lb car”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 4:46“you can take this on any mountain roads on the circuit and it will do exactly what you want”
positive · JDM Masters · ▶ 0:10“Front end is feeling incredibly sharp. very pointy and precise”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 5:23Fun to drive
4.5/527 of 28 reviewersstrong consensus“I just love the excitement of the Evo.”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 13:40“if you're looking for fun the whole equation switches and I realize the Evo is still the most fun”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 29:59“this is actually I think a little bit more fun to drive even though it's quote only 800 horsepower”
positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 2:27Daily drivability
3.0/527 of 28 reviewerssplit“it's jerky you know the the gearbox is very mechanical... it's not particularly smooth uh you know as a daily car car it it's probably not the best”
critical · Ross Reviews · ▶ 5:45“it's a four-door car... even though it's a high performance car it does inherit the same things”
positive · JDM Masters · ▶ 0:35“the Evo 10 is a fair bit more forgiving to drive and easier to live with this can be a pro or a con depending on what you're after but definitely a pro if you're after a daily driver”
positive · Charlie · ▶ 7:50Value
3.5/525 of 28 reviewerssplit“I think the the cost benefit is a lot better in this car”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 2:42“instead of a fuel tank, they fitted a pipette. I've actually worked this out that if you drive flat out, you'll empty the tank in 48 mi.”
critical · Top Gear · ▶ 12:59“the Evo is at this point almost a third of the price”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 3:18The X is the Evolution started again from nothing. The iron 4G63 gave way to the 4B11T: aluminium block, square 86 mm bore and stroke, MIVEC on both camshafts, and a timing chain where the old engine had a belt. US cars make 291 hp and 300 lb-ft.
Mechanically the headline is S-AWC, which ties the Active Center Differential, an Active Yaw Control rear differential and stability control into one system. That makes the X the first Evolution sold in the US with AYC, the torque-vectoring rear axle the American VIII and IX went without. The roof, bonnet and front wings are aluminium. It is still more than 200 lb heavier than a IX.
The gearboxes split the range. The GSR has a five-speed manual. The MR has the six-speed TC-SST dual-clutch with Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs, and the US never got a three-pedal MR. The MR Touring added leather and a sunroof for 2010.
The Final Edition closed US sales in 2015: 1,600 numbered cars based on the GSR, with 303 hp, the five-speed, Bilsteins, Eibachs and two-piece front rotors.
Where it places in the lineage: the most capable Evo, and the one least loved by people raised on the 4G63 cars. It is heavier and more refined than anything before it, and it ended the line. Mitsubishi retired the Evolution in 2016 with no successor.
Hear it in the reviewer’s words
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- Final Edition (2015)1,600 numbered cars for the US, based on the GSR: 303 hp and 305 lb-ft, five-speed manual, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs, two-piece Brembo front rotors and a black roof.
- MR Touring (2010)MR with leather, a sunroof and a lip spoiler in place of the wing.
The US manual is a five-speed. The six-ratio gearbox is the TC-SST dual-clutch, and it was the only transmission on the MR, so the US never got a three-pedal MR. This is the first Evolution sold in the US with Active Yaw Control. The aluminium-block 4B11T replaced the iron 4G63 and uses a timing chain rather than a belt. The roof, bonnet and front wings are aluminium, yet the GSR weighs more than 200 lb more than a IX MR. UK-market FQ cars ran as high as the 446 PS FQ-440 MR; none came to the US. US sales began in January 2008 and ended with the 2015 model year.