For those not satisfied with one 4-cylinder engine choice, the 2009 Lancer has three choices: a 2.0-liter, a turbo-charged 2.0-liter, and a 2.4-liter. The 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder (producing 168 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 167 pounds-feet of torque at 4100 rpm) is new for the 2009 Lancer GTS. (The prior model year offered the GTS with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produced 152 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 146 pounds-feet of torque at 4250 rpm; that engine is still offered in 2009, but only on the Lancer DE and ES versions.) The change in model year also brings the Lancer GTS a meter/tachometer cluster that puts a high-contrast accent on the presentation.

The four-door Lancer GTS packs on plenty of standard fare, including 18-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, rear spoiler, fog lights, and Bluetooth cellular phone interface with voice recognition. With different option packages, the Lancer can be dressed to please many tastes. The Sun and Sound Package (offered on either the ES or GTS versions) adds the FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) to its listing. (The FAST remote system means the driver can unlock the car by grabbing either the driver or front passenger side door handle without having to push a key-fob button.) The Lancer GTS with five-speed manual transmission collects per gallon fuel estimates of 21 city and 28 highway. MSRP of Lancer GTS is $17,990.