Mitsubishi Cedia. Let's take a look!

Mitsubishi Cedia is here since 2006. It is nothing but an upgraded model of the old Lancer that the company used to gain popularity in India. That was the formula to continually stir the passion of drivers by delivering the unexpected. Lancer felt a bit passé and there were hardly any new models. So, this global Lancer was introduced as a new, upmarket premium sedan.

The Cedia was conceived with much fanfare, featuring a distinctive, bold front fascia, advanced safety techs and subtle interiors to complement a spirited, solid and nimble ride. And it's not just that! It gets credentials from the Evo series and has grown with the long drawn legendary rally heritage of the company and has won several world rally championships, even it is the car of the Group N (Sirish of Overdrive)! It is one of an important c-segment sedan in our market. The company launched the new 2012 Cedia Select few months back with marginal cosmetic changes and features update. Let's explore what Cedia means to new buyers.

The Cedia is more a chunky version of the old Lancer, which is still visible under the skin. The new horizontal-slat matte black grill with clear lens halogen headlamps looks bold and a bit sporty. A refined front bumper complements the grille. The wide bonnet with slim hood lines, swoops and ridges looks nice and attractive. The shoulder line is very slick whereas the waist line is thick and gives the car an all new character. The add-ons in the 'Sports' variant like the 15-inch 6 Spoke OZ Alloys, side skirting, and the rear spoiler adds to the ever present sports stance of the car. The side profile is very smooth and well crafted The rear tail lamps have the clear lens feature, like most of its contemporaries, which look very good. It looks like a derivative from the Evo's rear. On the whole, the Cedia's design and styling though sophisticated and well-executed, now looks a bit dated while considering its contemporary rivals and other premium segment cars.

The Cedia's cab-forward design (with tall roofline) - combined with a long wheelbase - creates a roomy cabin and ensures outstanding comfort and high visibility. The shallow positioning of the dashboard also helps the driver to have a commanding view. The seats feature an elevated hip point facilitating passengers to have a tussle-free ingress and egress. The legroom is excellent in front and rear rows, and the fabric and quality materials used and leather upholstery ensures a decent level of luxury. The dashboard layout is to some old fashioned, but nicely designed for sure. The sporty 3-spoke Momo steering wheel is great to hold and ensures an exhilarating experience for the driver inside the cabin. The instrument cluster is very clear to read but not modern though the white-red illumination is catchy. The storage space inside the cabin is enough but the missing door pockets on rear is a turn-off. The big rear arm rests with twin cup holders is quite comfy. The boot space of 430 liters should suffice for weekend trips but low comparing to other sedans of its class.

A sporty car doesn't necessarily end up in compromising passenger comfort. The Cedia offers an endless list of comfort factors such as the Leather wrapped seats, abundant bench space for front passenger, ear arm rests with twin cup holders, climate control, Anti-skid alloy pedals for driving, etc. The 2012 models comes with a 7-inch Mapmyindia android-based carpad. Navigation is a usual stuff, you can also check your mails, make calls, watch TV, video chat and surf the internet via built-in 3G or Wi-Fi network, and play games too in this tablet (cool isn't it?). A comprehensive audio system, rear-view camera for parking assistance with audio system output, and Bluetooth connectivity are also on the list making the sedan more premium and fulsome. A minimum turning radius of 4.9m is a boon for tight-packed city dwellings and helps for easy maneuverability.

The Cedia is offered with an advanced Kenwood 2-DIN audio system with four speakers and a USB interface as well. The system is can be paired with Bluetooth devices and is GPS compatible.

The Cedia is powered by a powerful 2.0 litre 4-cylinder 16 valve in-line (SOHC) Petrol motor equipped with electronically controlled multi-point fuel injection system., which earns a peak power output of 115PS at 5250rpm and 175Nm of maximum torque at the rate of 4250rpm.The engine is coupled with a 5-speed manual gear box with optimized gear ratios. 

The Lancer or Cedia is always credited for breathtaking on-road performance. The power delivery is impressive and much refined comparing to its rivals. The acceleration is quick enough to reach 100 kmph mark in just 11+ seconds, and exceeds 150 kmph mark without much noise and vibration. The engine is surprisingly smooth and gear shift is comfortable, much helpful for city driving.

Get rid of your myths about Cedia's frugality. Cedia is decent in terms of fuel efficiency. In spite of  performance credentials, the car gives a mileage of 10.4 kmpl in city driving conditions and 14.5 kmpl on the highways. This is decent considering the 1999cc engine's power strength.

An optimised suspension setup for better ride dynamics and passenger comfort, delivering a stable ride and handling, makes Cedia a good car on road. The four-wheel independent front strut and the rear multi-link suspension takes care of road irregularities and occupants are completely cut off from the road reality. The sedan depends on a reinforced uni-body for excellent handling, ride quality, and road performance. The strengthened steel structure helps to minimize flexibility and notable efforts such as the use of foam-filled members are taken to help reduce NVH (Noise-Vibration-Harshness) levels.

The Cedia weighs just 1225 k, combined with the aerodynamic advantages, makes it more stable at high speeds and helps driver to have command on car while approaching corners with acceleration. The ground clearance is 175mm, not bad though. The 195/60R15 88V tyre profile is much adaptive for Cedia's ride and performance.

As all other Mitsubishi models, the Cedia advantages from the  Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body that ensures maximum in-cabin safety for its occupants. All the four wheels boast ventilated disc brakes, combined with ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution system). The car also features dual- Airbags for driver and front passenger, 3-point Emergency Locking Retractor seat belts, collapsible steering column, child safety lock, and engine immobilizer.

Dhiyanu's Verdict

At an ex-showroom of Rs. 9 lakhs (approx.), what you get is a strong package with fairly muscular styling, responsive and fuel efficient engine with greater performance, interior comfort with plenty of legroom and good ride quality, touchscreen carpad, and many more. But a persistent problem with the Mitsubishi India is its exorbitant service and maintenance costs and scares dealer network. The Cedia is in urgent need of an update in looks and under the hood - more engine options including Diesel variants - to reclaim its stake in the segment. In a nutshell, the Mitsubishi Cedia is potent but it's worth to consider its rivals too.