The Essentials

• Price from £32,219
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 27.4mpg
• What is it? Supercar thrills meet saloon car practicality - but let's face it - this is a car for wannabe rally drivers.

• Drive

  Walloping power, huge grip and a firm ride mean rally-car thrills, but it'll go gently if you've got granny on board

• Inside

  Designed with men in mind, there's too little seat or wheel adjustment

• Safety

  Advanced systems to keep you on the road, and protect you if you come off it

• Reliability

  Give the Evo regular servicing and plenty of TLC, and it shouldn't cause you problems

• Space

  Fine for up to four adults, but the boot isn't large and there's no handle to help you open it

• Standard and extras

  Even the basic car has sat-nav, climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and automatic wipers

• What's it like to drive?

  If you want a thrill a minute, you can have it, thanks to huge horsepower and relentless grip. Yes, the ride is firm, but it's not unbearable, so if you're doing the school run, you can still drive the Mitsubishi Evo like a family saloon. The engine is available in two strengths and both will deliver a suitable growl when you put your foot down, then settle down for quieter cruising.

• What's it like inside?

  Sports seats grip you in place, but there's no seat-height or steering wheel-height adjustment, so if you're under 5 foot 6 inches tall, you might struggle with visibility. The boot isn't big, but will hold weekend luggage for a couple. However, there's no handle, so expect dirty fingertips and broken nails every time you prise it open. The interior is smart rather than luxurious but the Evo is well equipped, with sat-nav, climate control, automatic lights and wipers and a great stereo.

• How reliable is it?

  You may want to drive the Mitsubishi Evo as if there's a race on, but happily the advanced four-wheel drive and traction control functions should keep you on track, and seven airbags offer protection if you do get too carried away. Reliability shouldn't be a problem if you keep up to date with required maintenance.

• Should I buy one?

  The Evo looks expensive but you're getting supercar performance on the cheap. Insurance and fuel costs will be sky-high - the Mitsubishi Evo only likes to drink the pricier 'super' version of petrol. There's a useful servicing package that covers routine care for three years. Sadly, it won't cover the cost of new tyres if you've been working on your wheelspin out of corners.