The next, more solid-looking Colt/Mirage generation (C50) appeared in October 1987. Station wagon retained the old model. In January 1988, a new Lancer arrived (in the USA it was produced under the Eagle Summit brand). Only in 1989 did the Lancer five-door hatchback appear. The three-door hatchback bodies of this series are inconvenient for the entry and exit of passengers sitting behind, since the doors are not wide enough and open at a small angle. But with the rear seat folded down, the trunk capacity increases to 1050 liters, but large rear lights interfere with loading. Lancer trunk is much more modest - only 337 liters. Salon without sharp corners in the interior is quite spacious, it can comfortably accommodate even tall people. The steering column is adjustable, but there is no power steering, and the steering wheel can feel too slippery. Sports type seats are comfortable, but hard and with low backs. The view from the driver's seat is quite satisfactory, only the side mirrors with electric drive are small in area. The noise from the oncoming air flow is not annoying. Handling even «elderly» Colt/Lancer is quite good: cornering stability and stable coasting in a straight line Suspension is quite comfortable (with full load) even on rough roads. The range of engines of the C50 series remained the same, and the power «turbocharged» the engine was raised to 145 hp.
In the fall of 1991, the fourth generation Colt / Mrage appeared (CAO) With «pretty muzzle» and rounded body contours. Model Lancer with a three-volume sedan body in a two-door (for USA) and four-door versions appeared in the summer of 1992, along with a new station wagon called Libero. The consumer qualities of the predecessors were carefully preserved. The body with excellent build quality and fit of all panels has sufficient rigidity and good corrosion resistance, and its repair is not so difficult.
The new neat instrument panel with clearly visible instruments is pleasing to the eye and to the touch. All finishing materials are of excellent quality and look very decent even on used copies. Steering column (finally with hydraulic booster) height adjustable. The driver's seat allows you to comfortably sit and a tall driver. The review is excellent, all the necessary adjustments are at hand (power windows, side mirrors and intermittent operation «janitors»), In the three-door hatchback, the rear seat remains just as cramped and inconvenient to access. And only with the rear seat folded down, the trunk increases to 1070 liters. The rear seat of the Lancer is also not too spacious, but these are already accepted in the class of this dimension (segment C) standards. But the Libero station wagon is more practical, especially in the all-wheel drive version.
The stiffness of the suspension, unfortunately, has increased, and under load and on a bad road, the Lancer can «wag the tail». Models with 12-valve 75-horsepower 1.3-liter and 16-valve 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines went to the European market. The engine with a 12-valve head is still weak at low speeds and provides «catch» only after 3000 min'. The most popular was the 1.6 liter 113 hp 4G92, which is also considered the most reliable (rare breakdowns only due to the fault of the owner). The mechanical 5-speed gearbox has small strokes and a clear fixation. The choice of Japanese options is wide: from the same 75-horsepower to exotic 2.0-liter 260-horsepower turbo engines on such a compact car, which are also aggregated with an all-wheel drive transmission (Lancer GSR Evolution). It is better not to buy such models, especially used ones, since in the event of a breakdown they simply cannot be repaired. But diesels and turbodiesels (68 and 88 hp) much more practical.
The sixth generation of Colt / Lancer / Mirage (CJO) appeared in autumn 1995. Station wagon Libero remained the same. All main body types remained unchanged, only the styling has changed once again. Otherwise, it's still the same well-known Colt / Lancer. Noiseless, convenient, comfortable.
The range of engines has changed slightly. On the all-wheel drive sports version of the Lancer Evolution V, the power of the 2.0-liter «turbocharged» the engine has already risen to 280 hp. (perhaps, except for professional rally drivers, no one can handle such a car). In 1997, a new generation of automatic transmission INVECSII appeared with electronic gearbox control, which allows you to adapt to a specific driving style and shift gears or smoothly into «economical» mode, or accelerated in style «sport». Other design features are inherited from the previous fifth (JSC-type) Colt/Lancer/Mirage.
In 1999, a cosmetic restyling of the model produced for Europe was carried out: the front air intake and corporate emblem were enlarged, the bumpers and dashboard were changed. In some markets, all-wheel drive modifications are sold with a viscous coupling as a center differential. In addition to hatchbacks, the Mirage Cpupe modification is being produced in the USA. Colt demonstrates excellent handling thanks to fully independent suspension (front McPherson, rear trailing and transverse levers). CIS versions are adapted to local conditions: the suspension is more «tough» Different engines are provided for different markets: in Europe they offer a 1.3-liter, 82 hp. and a new 1.6-liter, with a capacity of 116 hp, a 1.5-liter is installed on American coupes (92 hp) or 1.8-liter previous generation (111 l. With.).
In 2000, in Japan, and since 2001 in the US and Europe, the new sixth-generation Lancer sedans debuted. The model is called Cedia in the domestic market. Formally, the car belongs to class C, however, thanks to a wheelbase increased by 100 mm and a body lengthened by 190 mm, Lancer is close in size to the middle class D. Multi-link rear suspension has significantly improved ride smoothness. Externally, Lancer is more strict and conservative than the previous generation model, thanks to the high grille and large trapezoidal block headlights. The interior of expensive versions is trimmed with plastic «aluminum effect». All-wheel drive modifications are equipped with a central viscous coupling with partial blocking.
At the beginning of 2001, sales of the Wagon station wagon began, which is distinguished by elegant brake lights stretched along the rear pillars. The new Lancer is equipped with a 1.5 liter 101 hp engine. or 1.8 l 130 hp, mounted on a choice of 5-speed «mechanics» or with a CVT variator. In the States, the sedan is equipped only with a 2.0 liter engine - 120 hp. and optional automatic sequential transmission. The top of the Lancer lineup is the civilian version of the World Rally Championship fighting Evo VII, with aerodynamic bodywork and large rear wing Garrett 2.0-litre turbocharged intercooler engine develops 280 hp generations with 1.6 l engines - 113 hp and 1.8 l -122 hp. In Japan, Australia and Oceania, a 1992 Lancer Wagon station wagon with a 1.8-liter engine is sold. For the domestic market, they produce a cargo-passenger double wagon Libero based on the fourth generation Lancer with a luggage compartment with a useful volume of 2440 liters. The engine on the Libero is a 1.5-liter, 91 hp. or a 1.9-liter turbodiesel with 88 hp, a 5-speed manual gearbox.
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