Given that the Evo is a car intended to be driven more than merely steered, the loss from previous iterations of full-time gauges for oil pressure and engine temperature is a serious disconnect. Yes, the data are available, but can be accessed only by clicking through a series of virtual LED gauges centered between the otherwise most impressive, and quite sporty, large analog tachometer and speedometer. Beyond this oversight, however, the instrument panel and center stack, with audio, climate control and, when ordered, very competent navigation system screen and associated user-friendly switches, are well done and generally intuitive. And unlike certain of Mitsubishi's Pacific Rim compatriots, the power outlet for an increasingly essential radar detector is readily accessible at the base of the C-stack and within reach of a standard-length power cord.
The front seats are compromises. They're Recaro buckets specifically engineered to incorporate side airbags to protect the occupant's torso in side impacts. And kudos to Mitsubishi for this, but they lack a height adjustment, which leaves even tallish drivers feeling as if they're sitting in a hole. Granted, and as the Mitsubishi people point out, this lowered seating position adds a modicum protection in a side crash by leaving more of the door between the intruding vehicle and the belted seat occupant, but it sometimes feels as if one must raise one's head to peer over the door sill to count the lug nuts on the 18-wheeler parked in the next lane at the stop light. Otherwise, as is to be expected from one of the great names in seating, and once one maneuvers one's backside around the aggressive side bolsters, they are remarkably accommodating, whether it's a long freeway drive or a rambunctious blast down a winding two-lane.
The steering wheel-pedals-seat proportions feel right. Dropping the right hand from the steering wheel to the shift lever finds it where it should be. The magnesium shifter paddles affixed to the back side of the steering wheel in the MR are equally natural in placement and feel. Mitsubishi has, thankfully, resisted loading up the steering wheel spokes with controls for various and sundry features. After all, not all of us are jet fighter jocks and used to managing the world with a thumb and forefinger. And the Evo's steering wheel-mounted controls are simple to use, too. One problem that even having a height adjustment on the front seats wouldn't solve is the price paid in rear visibility for that high-mount rear spoiler. No matter how much the inside rearview mirror is levered this way or that, the spoiler perfectly masks the roof-top light bar on a following cop car. Beyond this, visibility is good, and checking outside mirror location requires minimal sideways head turning.
Rear seat is a bench, with bolstering only sufficient to delineate the seating positions between the sections. Leg room gives up a half-inch from the Evo IX as do most of the other data points. Save, that is, for rear seat hip room, which gains more than two inches. Cargo room measurement wasn't available at post time, but given the X's other dimensions, expect it to come in right around 11 cubic feet with the up-level stereo's subwoofer mounted against the left rear quarter panel and around 12 cubic feet sans subwoofer.
The Rockford Fosgate stereo sounds great and is quite clear at very high volumes. Bass and treble are crisp, the chuckle in Pink Floyd's Shine on you Crazy Diamond" is clearly audible and noticeable."
