The sport bucket seats on the GTS are comfortable, afford an excellent seating position, and are made of a handsome rugged cloth. The steering wheel has one of the nicest leather wraps we've felt, and is the perfect size for sporty driving. The overall feel for the driver in the GTS is just right. This is another reason the GTS gets our bang for the buck nod.

The optional Recaro seats in the Ralliart seemed to us a bit too tight for everyday comfort. On the track they're terrific, however, so we liked having them on the Evo.

Cubbies and console compartments are good and plentiful, including cupholders between the front seats and in the front door pockets.

The interior is trimmed in faux carbon fiber, stylish and cleanly done. The gauges are tasteful, white-on-black with brushed aluminum rims. The tach and speedo have eaves, a double-hump visor on the dash, that provide shade for the rectangular digital readout that's between them, so you can read its red letters in the sun. It offers the usual information, miles traveled and distance to empty and such, but it's most immediately useful to show, clearly and always correctly (unlike some), the gear you're in, when you have the 6-speed SST transmission in the Ralliart. With that transmission you get butterfly paddles behind the steering wheel, excellent (and rare) because they're long enough to reach without moving your hands when you're holding the wheel in the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position.

Rear-seat room is adequate. There isn't much knee room in the otherwise comfortable rear seat. The fold-down, center armrest in the ES and GTS is more stable than it looks, meaning everyday driving isn't likely to spill the kids' soda pop. In terms of roominess, the Lancer is comparable to that of the other cars in its class. Trunk space is also mid-pack.

The Rockford Fosgate sound system sounds terrific, with crisp highs that let us hear the chuckle clearly in Pink Floyd's quot;Shine on You Crazy Diamond.quot;