Comparison

Compact

14 generations

1973 → 2017

Mitsubishi Lancer – Technical Specifications & 14 Generations

The Mitsubishi Lancer occupied the global C-segment for four decades, serving as the brand's core compact offering from 1973 through 2017. Mitsubishi built 14 distinct generations documented in the Automobilisto database, spanning sedan, estate, hatchback and coupe body styles. The model evolved from a straightforward economy car into a platform supporting both utilitarian variants and high-performance derivatives, with power outputs ranging from 54 PS to 205 PS across 298 catalogued variants. Its production run covered markets worldwide, establishing the Lancer as one of the longest-lived nameplates in the compact class.

Discontinued 2017Updated 2026-08-04298 variants documented57 archive brochures
Mitsubishi Lancer 10 generation, restyling 2
2016 - 2017
10 generation, restyling 2
Mitsubishi Lancer 10 generation, restyling
2011 - 2016
10 generation, restyling
Mitsubishi Lancer 10 generation
2007 - 2012
10 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 9 generation, restyling
2005 - 2005
9 generation, restyling
Mitsubishi Lancer 9 generation
2003 - 2005
9 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 8 generation, restyling 1
1997 - 2003
8 generation, restyling 1
Mitsubishi Lancer 8 generation
1995 - 1997
8 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 7 generation
1991 - 1995
7 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 6 generation
1985 - 1985
6 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 5 generation
1983 - 1991
5 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 4 generation
1982 - 1983
4 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 3 generation
1979 - 1987
3 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 2 generation
1976 - 1979
2 generation
Mitsubishi Lancer 1 generation
1973 - 1981
1 generation
Yauheni Kapliarchuk
Last technical audit 2026-08-04 · two-source verified against Automobilisto catalog database.
First year1973
Final year2017
Generations14
Final chassisC
Body types5Hatchback 5-door · Sedan · Estate 5-door · Coupe · Hatchback 3-door

Generation picker

Open any chassis code for its dedicated generation reference

Current10 generation, restyling 2 2016 — 2017
Hatchback 5-doorSedan

The tenth generation second restyling (2016–2017) closed the Lancer's production run with seven petrol-only variants. Power outputs of 117 to 168 PS marked the final specification range before discontinuation, ending 44 years of continuous production.

Variants2
10 generation, restyling 2011 — 2016
SedanHatchback 5-door

The tenth generation first restyling (2011–2016) maintained 18 variants in sedan and hatchback forms. Diesel and petrol engines spanned 109 to 168 PS, carrying the model through its penultimate production phase with updated front-end design.

Variants2
10 generation 2007 — 2012
SedanHatchback 5-door

The tenth generation (2007–2012) returned diesel powertrains alongside petrol, with 19 variants in sedan and five-door hatchback configurations. Engines delivered 109 to 168 PS, reflecting modern powertrain standards and the reintroduction of hatchback body styles.

Variants2
9 generation, restyling 2005 — 2005
SedanEstate 5-door

The ninth generation restyling (2005) catalogued 26 petrol variants in sedan and estate forms within a single model year. Power outputs of 82 to 165 PS carried forward the previous generation's range with updated styling.

Variants2
9 generation 2003 — 2005
Estate 5-doorSedan

The ninth generation (2003–2005) reintroduced estate body styles alongside sedans, with 36 petrol variants. Output ranged from 75 to 165 PS, broadening the lineup after the previous generation's consolidation, though the production window was brief.

Variants2
8 generation, restyling 1 1997 — 2003
Sedan

The eighth generation restyling (1997–2003) extended the lifecycle with nine petrol sedan variants. Power remained modest at 88 to 125 PS, maintaining the model's presence in the compact segment through the turn of the millennium.

Variants1
8 generation 1995 — 1997
Sedan

The eighth generation (1995–1997) narrowed to seven sedan-only petrol variants. Power outputs of 88 to 110 PS reflected a consolidation phase, with the model focusing on mainstream compact sedan positioning before its first restyling.

Variants1
7 generation 1991 — 1995
Estate 5-doorSedan

The seventh generation (1991–1995) maintained 30 variants in sedan and estate forms. Diesel and petrol engines ranged from 75 to 205 PS, continuing the dual-track strategy of economy and performance offerings through the early 1990s.

Variants2
6 generation 1985 — 1985
Estate 5-doorSedan

The sixth generation (1985) catalogued 39 variants in a single model year, with sedan and estate body types. Power outputs reached 68 to 205 PS, indicating the presence of high-performance variants alongside standard models.

Variants2
5 generation 1983 — 1991
SedanHatchback 5-door

The fifth generation (1983–1991) expanded to 43 variants over eight years, adding five-door hatchback body styles. Diesel and petrol engines delivered 60 to 160 PS, representing the most diverse powertrain spread to that point.

Variants2
4 generation 1982 — 1983
Estate 5-doorSedan

The fourth generation (1982–1983) marked the introduction of diesel powertrains alongside petrol, with 22 variants in sedan and estate configurations. Output spanned 55 to 94 PS across the two-year run, broadening fuel-type options.

Variants2
3 generation 1979 — 1987
Sedan

The third generation (1979–1987) streamlined the lineup to six sedan-only variants. Petrol engines ranged from 55 to 105 PS, reflecting a narrower focus on core compact sedan duties during this eight-year production cycle.

Variants1
2 generation 1976 — 1979
SedanCoupeEstate 5-door

The second generation (1976–1979) overlapped with its predecessor, offering 16 variants in coupe, sedan and estate forms. The power band widened significantly, from 54 PS to 170 PS, introducing performance-oriented variants alongside economy models.

Variants3
1 generation 1973 — 1981
SedanCoupeEstate 5-doorHatchback 3-door

The first generation (1973–1981) introduced the Lancer nameplate with 20 variants spanning coupe, sedan, estate and three-door hatchback body styles. Petrol engines delivered 70 to 110 PS, establishing the model's positioning as a versatile compact.

Variants4

Mitsubishi Lancer

2016 - 2017
10 generation, restyling 2
2011 - 2016
10 generation, restyling
2005 - 2005
9 generation, restyling
1997 - 2003
8 generation, restyling 1
1995 - 1997
8 generation
1979 - 1987
3 generation
1976 - 1979
2 generation

Full powertrain matrix (C, 2017)

Every engine × drivetrain combination currently available in the German market

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Generation lineage

Each generation at a glance, oldest to newest

A701 gen.1973 — 19814 variants
A1402 gen.1976 — 19793 variants
A1703 gen.1979 — 19871 variants
A1714 gen.1982 — 19832 variants
55 gen.1983 — 19912 variants
C61A6 gen.1985 — 19852 variants
CB1A7 gen.1991 — 19952 variants
88 gen.1995 — 19971 variants
88 gen. rest.1997 — 20031 variants
CS2V9 gen.2003 — 20052 variants
CS1A9 gen. rest.2005 — 20052 variants
CY2A10 gen.2007 — 20122 variants
CY1A10 gen. rest.2011 — 20162 variants
CX1A10 gen. rest.2016 — 20172 variants

How the model evolved

The Lancer's 44-year production arc traces the evolution of the global C-segment compact. Early generations established the model as a versatile platform, with body-type proliferation peaking in the first and second generations through coupe, sedan, estate and hatchback variants. The third and fourth generations consolidated around sedan and estate forms, while the fifth and sixth generations expanded variant counts to 43 and 39 respectively, reflecting market segmentation in the 1980s. Diesel powertrains entered the lineup with the fourth generation in 1982, becoming a recurring option through the tenth generation. The seventh generation maintained the dual-track strategy of economy and performance variants, with maximum outputs reaching 205 PS. The eighth generation marked a contraction to sedan-only configuration and narrower power bands, a pattern that persisted through its 1997 restyling. The ninth generation briefly revived estate body styles and expanded the variant count to 36, though production lasted only two years before a single-year restyling in 2005. The tenth generation introduced five-door hatchback body styles in 2007, replacing the estate and establishing the sedan-hatchback pairing that defined the model's final decade. Two restylings extended the tenth generation through 2017, with diesel options dropped in the final iteration. The Lancer's discontinuation left no direct successor, closing one of the longest-running nameplates in the compact class.

Market context

The Lancer competed globally across multiple decades, adapting to regional preferences through diverse body styles and powertrain options. Its presence spanned markets where compact sedans and estates served as family transport, with hatchback variants addressing European and Asian demand for versatile packaging. The model's longevity reflected Mitsubishi's commitment to the C-segment, though the absence of a successor after 2017 marked the brand's withdrawal from this core class in many regions.

57 original brochures are preserved in the Automobilisto archive.

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Mitsubishi Lancer

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1973 → 2017

10 generation, restyling 2

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Frequently asked questions about Lancer

How many generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer were produced?

Mitsubishi produced 14 generations of the Lancer between 1973 and 2017, including restylings. The Automobilisto database documents 298 variants across these generations.

What body styles were available for the Mitsubishi Lancer?

The Lancer was offered in sedan, estate, three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback and coupe body styles across its production run, though not all types were available simultaneously.

When did the Mitsubishi Lancer receive diesel engines?

Diesel powertrains entered the Lancer lineup with the fourth generation in 1982. Diesel options appeared intermittently through the tenth generation, ending before the final 2016–2017 restyling.

What was the most powerful Mitsubishi Lancer variant?

The most powerful documented Lancer variants produced 205 PS, appearing in the sixth and seventh generations during the mid-1980s through mid-1990s, representing performance-oriented derivatives.

Did Mitsubishi replace the Lancer after 2017?

No direct successor to the Lancer was introduced after production ended in 2017. The model's discontinuation marked Mitsubishi's exit from the C-segment compact class in many markets.