ClubCJ - The CJ Lancer Club

Recently the RACQ tested a lot of used cars to see how safe they were for first time buyers and those who just can't afford brand new.
https://www.racq.com.au/cars-and-drivin ... ty-ratings

The CJ rated 4 out of 5 so not bad for an almost 10yo design and to compare the CH come it at just 1 star, hate to think what my old CC is? But it does show what a leap in safety the CJ was in it's day. Don't think the CF was listed as it's too new but I'd assume it would be the same as the CJ, maybe better, doesn't it have a form of active brake to help prevent crashes?

Download the PDF here.
https://www.racq.com.au/-/media/racq/pd ... sults.ashx

They look pretty good to me. Very few have a 5 star rating. I suspect the cj was lowered to as the early base model didn't have 7 airbags.

The CJ structure was built with rally racing and the stresses relating to it in mind resulting in an extremely rigid and strong body resulting in a lot safer car. One of the points considered when I bought mine. 5 star rating applies to mine MY15. Surprised it only rated 4 even without 7 airbags.

PS. MY15 is rated ANCAP 5 star.

At first I was looking at a CH but after some research into the CJ with its much better safety over the older CH.

Even my MY09 has the full 7 airbags, so the same ANCAP 5 star rating.

The CJ has always been a safe car, not all Lancers had the 7 airbags like they all do now from 2007! But the ones that do are very safe! Not sure if anyone remembers but my girl friend was involved in a accident (T-bone) which she got hit at around 50km/h on the drivers side, the doors taking most of the impact! I have supplied photos below of the damage if you don't remember seeing it earlier! These pics below just show how safe they are, she walked away the accident with no injuries or broken bones! The airbags saved her from injury a lot!

It was amazing how the inside held up, the inside of the door held up very well, it did push the inside of the door in a bit as it was hard to pull the boot release button when I went to clean the car out of possessions!

Doubt if Mitsubishi's reinforced impact safety Evolution (RISE) body system with an integrated chassis a highly rigid one-piece shell,
was considered or even known to the reviewer.
Maybe if known would have rated it 5+ Built for the rough and tumble of rallying extra safe for normal driving.

I think they used real world data over the life of the cars plus the ANCAP ratings when new.

I think there were also other safety features added in the later models. The later CJ Lancers have a 5 star safety rating.

Not sure if the safety rating applies to active features like stability control and ABS or just active safety like airbags and crumble zones. One is designed to keep you from crashing, the other is if the worst happens.

If I didnt think it was a safe car, I wouldnt have bought 2 and have my Ralliart as the family car. I wojld have bought an SUV instead

Wish people would get over thinking SUVs are safe, they cost more to buy, run and insure. Easier to roll over and aren't as fun to drive, I just wish Mitsubishi wasn't going down that path and had given us a 'hot hatch' CJ and not the sportsback. Either make it a wagon or hatch, not try and do both!

What is wrong with the sportsback?!

Its all down to personal preference. I love my hatch. It is easier to fold down seats and have wayyyy more room instead of the sedan.

And SUVs more to run?! Rofl, you can buy an ASX and it has the same fuel efficiency as a Lancer.

What Mystique said.

But if given the chose I probably would have opted for a proper wagon, like the CH had.

As for running costs, not including just fuel. What about tires and other running costs, most proper SUVs have bigger tires that a 'car' which cost more. The ASX is nothing more than a Lancer but a bit higher off the ground. I still maintain a proper hatch would be lighter and more fun to drive than even a sedan and just as practical as the sportsback.

Whats the difference of a hatch to a sportsback other than the name?