Four reasons for Millennials to check out the 2014 Lancer Sportback

The 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is a practical yet stylish hatch for a new generation of buyers that makes the driver feel at one with the road.

The 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback offers a new generation of sport-minded buyers a number of features to get excited about. There are four that stand out. The Lancer Evolution is the Mitsubishi model that everyone gets excited about, but the 2014 Lancer Sportback is a great less-expensive option if you don’t need all that power. The Lancer offers a choice of sporty MIVEC engines for buyers that still get great mileage.

Sporty is the first thing the 2014 Lancer Sportback GT ($21,945) offers with its rally-inspired sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and a smart transmission that actually learns and responds to each individual drivers input. The 2.4-liter engine produces 168 hp and 167 lb ft of torque. It comes mated to a Sportronic gearbox with steering wheel paddle shifters. Even with the higher 10:0:1 compression ratio, it can still run on 87 octane fuel. A 148-hp, 2.0-liter MIVEC engine is available in the ES model ($18,595) and gets 24/32 mpg city/highway.

Second, the Lancer Sportback is spacious inside with up to 52.7 cubic feet of cargo room. The cargo area is easily accessed thanks to a handy rear seat release lever located in the cargo area to fold flat the rear 60/40 split seat. The Lancer Sportback seats five adult passengers and can also transport their cargo for hiking, biking, snowboarding and watersport equipment. It also features a unique dual-level cargo floor that can drop an extra three inches at the touch of a lever.

Third, the space-efficient design makes this stylish five-door a versatile hatch for trips to the big-box store, hauling the kids and their sports equipment, and just about any other activity that requires transporting more stuff than what a comparably-sized sedan can carry. An especially useful no-cost feature are handy plug-in Thule roof rack sockets that can accommodate racks to hold skis, snowboards, bicycles, luggage, watersport-related equipment or other specialized racks that are perfect for a new generation of active buyers.

Lastly, the Sportback features the latest technology that young buyers are looking for like keyless entry, heated leather seats, and making a call just using your voice. On the way to the slopes or beach, you can rock out with the 710-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system using the available FUSE Hands-free Link System with USB port. It also comes with the same high-tech upgrades found on the 2014 Lancer Evolution.

The 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has a lot to offer a new generation of buyers who are looking for a sporty, spacious, versatile five-door hatch with the latest technology. And Lancer Sportback is a “paragon of safety,” as it received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" rating. The only thing lacking is the Sportback needs to be offered as an AWD Lancer EVO edition.