Toyota Corolla vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Review

Utility
Amazingly, the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Corolla end up with the exact same size trunk at 12.3 cubic feet. From there, they part ways on front headroom (the Lancer having more), rear headroom (the Corolla edging out a win), shoulder room (Corolla), hip room (Lancer), front legroom (Lancer) and rear legroom (Corolla).

Performance
Powering the 2010 Toyota Corolla is your choice of a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-four or a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder. This is no competition for the Lancer, which features three different sized engines. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder is rated up to 152 horsepower; the 2.4-liter is rated up to 168 horsepower; and the turbocharged 2.0-liter straight-four pumps out 237 horsepower.

Fuel Economy
The Corolla dominates on fuel economy with 22-26 mpg city and 30-35 mpg highway, while the Lancer posts 17-23 mpg city and 25-31 mpg highway results.

Technology
The Corolla base model costs a bit more than the Lancer, but balances this with a couple more power features. At the top of the model lines, where the Corolla peaks with optional navigation system and satellite radio equipment, while the Lancer includes these features on its mid-range models. The Corolla offers up to 440 watts of sound power with a JBL audio system, while the Lancer's Rockford Fosgate system pumps out up to 710 watts. Video game connectivity is available on the more expensive Lancer GTS, while the Corolla offers nothing similar. Both are Bluetooth enabled.

Safety
Both sedans have antilock brakes and a full set of airbags. The Corolla heightens safety by including brake assist, while the Lancer does not. The Corolla got Four-Star ratings in three of four government crash tests, and the Lancer got Four- and Five-Star impact ratings up front (side-impact not available). The Lancer Ralliart model also adds the safety of all-wheel drive to its repertoire.

Other
If you want the cheaper entry-level compact, hop into a Lancer. If you want dynamic styling and handling, grab a Lancer. If you want more power, it's Lancer again. The Corolla comes out a winner when fuel economy is a priority, or if you prefer the simpler, more generic styling; sometimes, vanilla ice cream is a better way to finish off a nice meal than chocolate cake with sprinkles.