The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a compact car built from 2003 to 2015. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Lancer Evolution is
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a compact car that Mitsubishi built from 2003 to 2015 — 13 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Mitsubishi range: Lancer, Galant, Mirage G4.
Where the Lancer Evolution is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 168 Lancer Evolutions on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JA3 | 2003-2015 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mitsubishi VIN decide which of these lines your Lancer Evolution belongs to. What every character in a Lancer Evolution VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Lancer Evolution owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have? Power & range
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | AWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Lancer Evolution by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Lancer Evolution | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 30 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 292 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,728/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 15 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
The Lancer Evolution is a compact car, built from 2003 to 2015. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution made?
Across 168 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Lancer Evolution reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Lancer Evolution?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mitsubishi
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 140 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1990–2012 | 136 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 1985–2026 | 65 | 39 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2002–2017 | 78 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 1985–2012 | 67 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | 1991–1999 | 21 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |