Test Drive: 2005 Mitsubishi Galant GTS

[BMWDave]

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Test Drive:
2005 Mitsubishi Galant GTS
By Richard Russell

Although Mitsubishi has been selling vehicles in Canada directly for only a few years, its products have been on our roads for decades beneath various Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth badges. Mitsubishi's American factory builds not only its products but also the Chrysler Sebring, and Mitsubishi engines have been used in many Chrysler products over the years.

The current Mitsubishi products rolling off that Illinois line are the Galant sedan, Endeavor SUV and Eclipse sports coupe, which all share the same basic platform.

 
I recently spent a week with a 2005 Galant GTS, and after racking up hundreds of kilometres in both city and highway driving situations, came to appreciate this family sedan for what it is - a stylish alternative to hugely popular cars from Toyota, Honda, Mazda and others.

Like the Camry and Accord, the Galant offers exceptional quality - in both materials used and assembly. It stands apart from the others in terms of design and offer a larger interior. Mitsubishi has traditionally taken a different design road than the mainstream Japanese competition, deliberately standing out with bold and sometimes controversial looks. The Galant was redesigned for 2004 and the design is fresh and distinctive, not your typical boring box. From the four-bulb ellipsoid projector-style headlights covered in smoked lenses to the dark-chromed rear lights, the Galant stands apart.

On the inside the ninth-generation Galant (the fifth sold in North America) is a visual treat. Top quality materials are evident throughout and assembled with a precision that would do justice to a car costing much more. Wide, supportive buckets up front and more shoulder room in the rear than the competition, augmented by a massive trunk make this a bigger car than expected. Unfortunately, the engineers decided to sacrifice folding rear seats in favour of extra structural rigidity. While you can't expand trunk space, you can certainly appreciate the rock-solid platform every time you hit a bump or tackle a turn with vengeance.


The instrument panel is a stylish piece with ice-blue lighting used to create a sophisticated ambiance. Unlike many vehicles, all of the instruments and controls share the same lighting. The 2005 model has side air bags as standard equipment - an upgrade for this year. There are numerous storage bins, cubbyholes and pockets throughout.

One knock against many Asian vehicles, particularly those in the lower price categories, is that the audio system is merely adequate. Mitsubishi, however, has a background in audio: its sibling company makes serious gear for audiophiles. So it came as no surprise the Galant was equipped with a 270-watt system complete with six-disc in-dash CD-changer and great sound through eight speakers. The centre stack has even been designed to look like a home entertainment system - a modern high-tech one.


Mitsubishi builds wonderful engines for a lot of customers around the world - in fact some current South Korean units are derivatives of a Mitsubishi design. The Galant can be had with either four or six cylinder motivation - 160 horsepower from a 2.4 litre four or 230-horses from a 3.8 litre V6 as in my test car. Smooth, quiet and yet more than happy to get up and dance when prodded, this latest Mitsu engine is a jewel. It powers the front wheels through a four-speed automatic. While short one gear when compared to much of the competition, you don't miss the extra cog because the 3.8 is not only the largest engine in the class, it produces the most torque, much of it available very low on the rev band.

The all-independent suspension with struts up front and multiple links at the rear provides a firm yet pleasant ride and sharper handling than the norm. This is not a sports sedan but feels much more like one than the competition. Perched atop big 17-inch alloy wheels and equipped with ABS, the Galant stops as well as it goes.

The Galant is available in four trim levels - DE, $24,943; ES 26,063; LS V6 $29,203 and GTS $34,343. At these levels, the Galant enjoys a price advantage compared over many of its competitors. To take the worry out of purchasing amidst all the boardroom turmoil and bad ink, Mitsubishi offers a 10-year, 160,000 kilometre powertrain warranty as well as five-year bumper-to-bumper coverage and roadside assistance.

While comforting, history indicates none of this will be needed.

If you're looking for something less utilitarian and pragmatic - a little pizzazz in your family car, check out the Galant. You get all the same size, features, practicality, quality and durability with a little bit of spice thrown in.

[ifcar]

I hate reviews of the underdog players in a mainstream market, they all too often present all but the worst ones as "stylish alternatives to the class leaders", when they are typically inferior vehicles.  

[Raghavan]

4 speed? and the Galant looks too bulbous.

[Run Away]

I absolutely love the way the Galant looks, it almost looks as if it could have been a BMW in it's stance and overall look.
Good to hear it performs well too.