Taut suspension mated with a potent turbocharged engine. A precise, sixspeed transmission, full time all wheel drive and Recaro seats. It might sound like the ingredients of the latest asphalt ripping rice burner, but those attributes actually belong to the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart, which blends performance car grunt with five-door hatchback convenience and sensibility.

Hatchbacks are all the rage on European roads, but aren’t quite as popular here, but with offerings such as the Toyota Matrix, Hyundai Elantra Touring and the Mazda3 garnering huge followings, the hatchback is quickly establishing itself as a desired motoring platform, and the Sportback adds to this growing fan base.

The Lancer’s 2.0 liter MIVEC turbo punches out about 237 hp, which doesn’t put it in the same neighborhood with burners like the MazdaSpeed3 or the Lancer Evolution, but it’s plenty of power to make this a fun drive. Turbo lag is present, but not excessive. The engine is basically a baby brother to the magnificent 291 hp version in the Evolution. Thanks to the twin-clutch Sportronic shift transmission, this Lancer offers lightning quick, but smooth shifts. In fact, there is very little noticeable difference in the shifts between the automatic and manual modes. It would be a blast to drive the Sportback with a manual transmission, but, alas, it is not offered.

The sport tuned suspension, consisting of front MacPherson struts and rear multilink suspension, active center and rear limited slip differentials, help the Lancer gobble up smooth surfaces without being too twitchy on rougher roads. Blessed with extremely balanced steering, the ride is secure and stable, but get the Lancer on some twisty road and it comes to life.

The Lancer comes complete with nice curb appeal. Clean lines, coupled with the signature bold Mitsubishi front fascia, rear deck lid spoiler and wrap around taillights produce a car that’s visually appealing. Part of the appeal is due to the rakish hatchback window, which creates a streamlined profiled, but also effectively reduces the cargo capabilities. In fact, the car feels as if it offers about the same cargo space as a sedan. At 13.8 cubic feet, cargo space is just 1.5 cubic feet more than the sedan version.

The interior is spacious and comfortable. The highlights are the Recaro seats which are, as always, sublime, although the high lateral support may make getting into and out of them difficult for some drivers. The 710-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system, which includes a 10-inch subwoofer, is potent, while the intuitive, somewhat old school audio and AC controls are easy to manipulate. The hard plastic dash with faux carbon fiber trim features solid fit and finish, but the lack of a nav system is noticeable in a car with an as-tested price of $31,060.

If you’re looking for a sporty car with tons of cargo space, the Sportback may not be the best choice, but for a combination of performance, comfort and utility, it’s certainly worth it.