In terms of rally success, both vehicles had their heydays in the mid-to-late 1990s. Due to this, it makes a lot of sense to pick a pair of vehicles from the end of the decade when comparing the two cars.
It’s far easier to pinpoint the peak of the Lancer, which nabbed both the WRC Driver’s and Manufacturer’s championships for Mitsubishi in 1998. That year, the Mitsubishi was powered by a two-liter, 16-valve, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It boasted 280 horsepower, 275 lb-ft of torque, capped out at 147 mph, and could go from 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds. The road-going variant of the 1998 Lancer Evo had a base curb weight of 2,998 lbs.
Conversely, the 1998 Impreza WRX packs 276 horsepower, 243 lb-ft of torque, and can manage a 4.5 second 0-60 time. It’s a touch lighter at 2,756 pounds and has a top speed of 156 mph. If you’re looking for a model with rally pedigree, then there is isn’t much between the two. The Lancer may just have the edge on specs, and it was more successful in the 1998 season, but most years Subaru pulled ahead in the achievement department.
There’s also an alternate choice as far as Subaru is concerned, if you can find it — the 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version V. The Version V is capable of pumping out 280 horsepower to achieve a roughly 4.5 second 0-60 time and a 150 mph top speed, making it capable of going toe-to-toe with Mitsubishi’s highly decorated 1999 Lancer Evo.
