So You're Looking at the 2015 Lancer EX, Then
I've seen these pop up on lots of forums. People asking if it's worth buying, what breaks first, whether that CVT is going to survive. The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer EX is the last year of this generation before the whole redesign thing happened, and honestly, that makes it interesting. Not necessarily in a good way, but worth noting.Mitsubishi had been sitting on the same platform since 2007. By 2015 they'd squeezed everything out of it. The car is competent, boring, and if you keep up with maintenance it'll just... go. That's mostly what you're getting. Wheelbase is 105.1 inches. Overall length comes to 182.3 inches. Curb weight lands between 2,950 and 3,050 pounds depending on options. Nothing spectacular on paper, but the numbers tell you what to expect: a smallFWD sedan that handles its size adequately and nothing more. The fuel economy figures are respectable. EPA estimates sit at 25 city / 34 highway for the CVT models. I've seen owners regularly hit the highway number, sometimes overshooting it by a couple mpg in ideal conditions. Not impressive, but perfectly fine for a daily driver.
The handling, while not exciting, is predictable. This isn't a car you'll throw into corners, but it won't surprise you either. The steering has decent weighting, and the chassis grips within its limited abilities. Just don't treat it like anything it isn't.
Where Things Get Ugly
The CVT is the thing everyone worries about, and for good reason. These transmissions are generally reliable if you change the fluid every 30,000 miles or so. The factory recommendation is much longer, but that's Mitsubishi being optimistic. If you skip fluid changes, expect shuddering around 80,000 to 100,000 miles, followed by eventual failure that runs $2,500 to $4,000 to replace. I've seen three of these go out in the past two years. Two of the three had never had the fluid changed.Paint quality is another weak point. The clear coat on these things thins out faster than you'd expect, especially on white and silver models that spend time in the sun. I had one on my driveway for a few years and by year five the hood looked like it had been sandblasted. Not a mechanical issue, but it matters when you're trying to resell. The electronics are where this car really shows its age. The infotainment system from 2015 is painful. Bluetooth pairing drops randomly. The backup camera has noticeable lag. Aftermarket Android units solve both problems for about $300 and an afternoon, which is what most owners end up doing anyway.
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Common Failure Points to Check Before Buying
If you're looking at a used one, here's what I'd inspect first. The front suspension bushings wear out around 70,000 to 90,000 miles. You'll notice it as clunking over bumps or a loose feeling when turning. Control arm bushing replacement runs about $400 to $600 at a shop if you're smart about it. Doing it yourself drops that to maybe $180 in parts.Water pump failures happen more often than you'd think on these. The 2.0L engine doesn't have a timing belt, which is nice, but the water pump sits in a position that makes it a pain to reach. If the coolant looks messy around the pump housing or you see weeping, walk away or negotiate hard. Replacement involves dropping some crossmember stuff and runs $600 to $900 for parts and labor. The key fob battery drainage issue is weird but real. Some of these cars will die overnight because the key fob stays in communication mode. It's a known glitch with no official fix, and the workaround is keeping a spare key far enough from the car that it can't maintain the handshake. Annoying, but not catastrophic.
The Sport Back vs. Sedan Question
People often ask about the Sport Back variant. It's the hatchback version, same powertrain, slightly higher ride height, and usually found with the higher trim levels. The extra cargo space is genuinely useful. But the Sport Back tends to command a premium on the used market for no real mechanical reason. If you can find a sedan in the same condition for less money, take the sedan. The driving dynamics are nearly identical.There's also the Lancer SE with the 2.4-liter engine. It makes 168 horsepower too but with more torque at 167 lb-ft. The difference is noticeable off the line but irrelevant on the highway. Not worth paying extra for unless you specifically want the slight torque bump for merging. Depreciation has mostly bottomed out, which is why these are interesting now. A well-maintained 2015 EX in good condition runs $9,000 to $13,000 on the used market. That's reasonable value if you're careful about what you're buying. The ones with high mileage and questionable service history go for $5,000 to $7,000, and those are usually problems waiting to happen. Don't buy it if you're looking for fun, refinement, or modern technology. The interior materials feel cheap even by 2015 standards. Road noise is higher than rivals. The ride is firm and forgettable. There are better cars in this segment if you're willing to look.
My personal recommendation if you find one you like: get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the CVT fluid condition and the front suspension components. Those two things will tell you everything you need to know about the next five years of ownership. If the fluid is dark and smells burnt, keep walking. If the control arms are worn, factor in $500 to fix them before you hand over any money.
