Largely unchanged, too, is the driving environment. Both front Recaro seats are beautifully supportive and perfectly positioned, although more generously proportioned drivers may find them a little narrow. But few will find fault with the superb Momo steering wheel. Airbags are pretty elementary by today’s standards: just two up front. The better-integrated stereo is much easier to use.
In an attempt to trounce the grey marketeers, Mitsubishi has priced the Evo VIII at £26,995, three grand less than it asked for the VII RS, but buying an Evo today is just as likely to turn your bank manager white as it ever was. For private buyers there’s the prospect of group 20 insurance and the two-grand premiums that imposes, absurdly short 4500-mile servicing intervals and sub-20mpg economy; while company car drivers face a mammoth tax bill thanks to the Evo’s rather eco-unfriendly 334g/km of C02 which lifts it into the top tax band.
