Say ‘Mitsubishi Lancer’ to most British petrolheads and the instant reaction will be one little word – Evo.

The rally-inspired, firebreathing, four-door Evolution X with its 300+ horsepower powerplant is understandably the eye-catcher of the range.

But it doesn’t have to be all aircraft-sized spoiler, bucket seats and exhaust notes that could wake the dead.

Mitsubishi’s real success in the UK, and most of northern Europe, has been as a conservative car brand with customers focused mainly on quality and reliability.

So the Lancer badge also sits on more humble, and undeniably much more comfortable, models than the teeth-jarring Evo, including the 2.0 DI-D Juro, one of the latest to offer a blend of price and specification that makes it worth a second look.

Externally, the ‘jet fighter’ nose is the most distinctive feature, with the low stance, long bonnet, short deck, wide track and high beltline giving the car an aggressively chiselled look. Fit a set of chunky 16in, five-spoke alloy wheels and a modest colour-keyed rear spoiler and you have a five-door, five-seater car that stands out in the office car park.

But it’s the stuff inside that is likely to prove the winner. Mitsubishi’s Juro models are known for having plenty of kit thrown at them, and the Lancer is no exception.

First, the air-conditioned interior, with electric front and rear windows and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, is trimmed in black leather, as is the steering wheel and gearshift knob.

Cruise control is also standard and safety features run from anti-lock brakes to front, side, curtain and knee airbags, and an emergency stop signal system.

But the real star of the show is the Kenwood integrated satellite navigation system. Initially the system, with its fiddly little buttons, appears irritating, but once it has fired up, its simple touchscreen operation allows you to simply control everything from the clear, colour Garmin sat-nav to the Bluetooth telephone link. Select reverse gear and the sat-nav screen switches into a colour reversing camera display. And yes, you can hook up your iPod to the audio system.

On the move, the Lancer is comfortable, capacious and, if you are careful, capable of squeezing almost 50mpg out of every gallon of diesel used by the Volkswagen-sourced engine.

The Lancer name dates back to 1973 and is now into its ninth generation. Just arrived is a petrol-powered Lancer 1.5 Juro special edition, priced at £14,749. On top of the three-year unlimited mileage warranty and European breakdown service offered on all its cars, Mitsubishi also offers a three-year, 37,500-mile servicing plan priced at £315.

So while the Lancer Juro cannot hope to rival the Evo in thrills, it can comfortably help to hold down the bills.

Auto facts Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 DI-D Juro

  • Price: £16,399
  • Insurance group: 21 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 44.8mpg
  • Top speed: 127mph
  • Length: 458.5cm/180.5in
  • Width: 176cm/69.3in
  • Luggage capacity: 12.1 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 12.9 gallons/59 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 165g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage