This week we got some much-needed bonding time with one of our favorite four-door warriors, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. It had been a while since our first drive of Mitsubishi’s latest rally rocket all the way back at the vehicle’s launch, and it left quite a first impression on us. Naturally, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on one for a week.

The Evo X is one of those cars that’s fantastically tactile. There’s a scintillating feel that flows through all the car’s controls – everything from the throttle and brakes to the steering has the kind of positive feel that keeps the driver engaged. The slackless steering is a particular highlight and the ratio is such that minute adjustments equate to relatively big changes in the car’s attitude, so recovering slides can be done with a minor stab of input and won’t have you sawing away at the wheel like you’re trying to open a hatch on a submarine.

The Evo we had on loan was an MR, so it was equipped with Mitsubishi’s irrationally fast-shifting SST dual clutch transmission, a clean-cut in-dash touchscreen system and some truly kickass Recaro seats that might leave you a little sore on long trips, but once into a corner you wouldn’t trade them for anything. While the SST does disconnect you some from the action, it’s intensely impressive, at times literally shifting trough gears faster than you can count them. That may sound cliche until you’re behind the wheel thinking you’re in third gear, only to look down and see a big red five staring you in the face.

There are definite straight line thrills to be had with the Evo’s 291 horsepower, but the real fun comes in the turns, where the all-wheel drive system devours tarmac with its prodigious grip. On limit, it will understeer, but push through it and you’ll find a chassis that’s keen to oversteer, though the all-wheel drive system helps you gather it up quickly with only minor steering correction.

Our only real gripes would be the combination of a non-telescopic steering wheel and sports seats with no height adjustment, which will leave taller drivers knocking a knee into the steering wheel. That, and the fuel economy – a timeless Evo complaint. Our average fuel mileage wavered above 20 mpg on the freeway, but the second we got into traffic, it bombed back into the mid- to high-teens. Of course, that probably had something to do with our lead-footed ways. While we might not be the most mild-mannered bunch, it doesn’t matter – the Evo will turn even the most stoic chauffeur into an absolute hooligan. And therein lies its true appeal.

DriverSide Rating (what is this?):

Driving Dynamics: 9

Design and Technology: 7

Green Factor: 4

Cost Effectiveness: 6

Overall Rating (not an average): 9