After years of dwelling near the bottom of the pack, producing vehicles that either simply didn’t measure up to the competition, or with the exception of a couple, didn’t quite catch the consumer’s fancy, Mitsubishi has finally gotten its act together. The Japanese industrial giant is building vehicles in America that are high-quality, well-engineered and priced as competitively as it gets. All of this is good news for consumers.

The Mitsubishi Galant is perhaps the best kept secret as well as the most under-rated and unappreciated car in that mid-sized, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima segment of the market. The Montero Sport is simply a great SUV and has all the right stuff. Both are great values in terms of price.

Mitsubishi is finally hitting on all cylinders and doing things right. According to Pierre Gagnon, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America’s executive vice president and COO, 2001 was the best first quarter in the company’s history, with sales up 5.4 percent in a generally down automotive market. He also noted that the Galant boasted the fastest growing sales in its segment.

However, it is the newest car from Mitsubishi — the Lancer — which is set to hit the showrooms in early August, that should finally draw buyers into the showrooms in serious numbers.

Mitsubishi’s Director of Product Strategy, Mike Krebs, was quick to point out that the Lancer is not a replacement for the slow selling Mirage — even though it will compete in the same market segment, going head-to-head with Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda Protégé and the car it has specifically targeted, the VW Jetta.

Gagnon said, “This car is more upscale than Mirage. It is designed to complement the Galant.” He also noted, “Mitsubishi has never put its weight behind a small car in America,” and promised a, “Serious, full scale attack on the market.” He said the company will soon roll out a major ad campaign including national print, TV, urban billboard and Web advertising to kick off sales of the Lancer.

So, what’s this car got going for it?

I had the opportunity to drive some pre-production versions of the new Lancer at a press introduction event in New Orleans last month. I also drove it back-to-back with what is viewed by the company as one of its main market competitors, the Honda Civic. The difference was startling.

The Lancer comes in three trim levels, the ES, LS and OZ Rally. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows, tilt wheel AM/FM Cassette and a tach.

The ES is your basic Lancer, while the LS offers 15” alloy wheels, a 4-speed automatic, cruise control, remote keyless entry and an optional 100 watt stereo system. The OZ Rally comes with all that, some suspension tuning, side air dams and a special black interior that features white faced instrumentation.

“We’re offering a midsize driving experience at a compact price,” said Krebs. Pricing will range from the low $14,000 to the mid $18,000 range depending on trim level and options.

Underneath, it boasts a number of improvements over the Mirage, designed to improve handling and safety, including larger frame rails, additional cross members, re-inforced A-pillars, larger side sills, a wider track, a lower front roll center and torsional rigidity that is 50 percent stronger than the Mirage.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter SOHC 4-cylinder that delivers 120 ponies to the pavement at 5,500 rpm via the front wheels. It also boasts a 32-bit electronic engine controller that handles fuel injection chores and a knock sensor. The engine is married to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic that features a single electronic processor between it and the engine.

We drove this car through a myriad of conditions, including city driving in New Orleans itself as well as highway driving across the Louisiana bayous, and some winding, scenic two-lane blacktops that led to a couple of stops at some Civil-War era plantations along the Mississippi River. I was impressed by the Lancer’s handling capability as well as its general comfort and overall quietness.

I became more impressed when my driving partner, renowned world rally correspondent Sue Mead, and I got out of it and directly into the Civic. There was no comparison. The Lancer’s superiority in comfort and quietness was immediately evident as was its superior handling and braking capability.

Whines: It appears to me that the 2.0 liter engine will be slightly anemic under hilly conditions — but not enough to make it a reason not to buy this car. Most of its market competition isn’t much better. There is no sunroof offered, but one is slated to be available in 2003.

Applause: I’m not a fan of small cars in general, but this one offers a lot of bang for the buck. It’s extremely quiet for a car this size, with a minimal amount of road noise, and it offers excellent handling. The Lancer also offers the best front and rear legroom in its class.

Bottom Line: The new Mitsubishi Lancer is a going to surprise a lot of people. It has as much going for it in terms of quality, performance, amenities and comfort as anything in its class and more than most — and it’s a great value for the money. If you’re in this segment of the market, do yourself a favor and give it a look.