The Lancer conjures up thoughts of the Acura RL we drove last year, a car that (at that time) purportedly pushed 300 horses but felt more like 200. Mitsubishi says the new Lancer puts out 152 ponies (143 in CA), but in reality it feels significantly less. Equaling the lack of power is the lack of refinement in the powertrain and the interior. On our wish list are some better materials and an exhaust note on the DE and ES models that doesn't make us check the Yellow Pages for the closest Meineke.