When you're talking about the
Mitsubishi Galant ES, you're talking about a vehicle that's truly multicultural. After all, it's a classic Japanese four-door sedan with a fuel-conscious four-cylinder engine. But the vehicle also boasts a European flavor both in look and feel with a ride as firm and crisp as
Saab or
Volvo models. And finally, it's made in America, rolling off the line in Normal, Illinois-ironic for a car that's anything but normal.
This background helps give the Galant a sense of distinctiveness in a competitive market. But a four-cylinder vehicle that reaches the $18,000-$22,000 price range may leave potential buyers wanting more engine for their buck.
To placate them, Mitsubishi has improved the Galant's interior and packaged an impressive set of standard features that are offered only as options on most similar cars.
Our test car came equipped with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, dual air bags, a four-wheel independent suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering, a rear-window defroster, retractable cupholders, a power antenna, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, and an AM/FM radio with a cassette player. The only significant option we chose was an anti-lock brake system (ABS) that, along with destination charges, brought the car's price up to $18,192 from an MSRP base price of $16,775.
Crisp and neat would be the most appropriate way to describe the exterior design of the Galant ES. Thanks to
Mitsubishi's unit body construction, the fittings around the doors and the attractive curve of the hood of our test vehicle were superb. Despite its sleek, aerodynamic look, the car boasts a higher profile than comparable cars--say, the
Mazda 626.
High-impact plastic headlights set into a rather slender horizontal band give the Galant an angry look. Hazard lights are deftly set into the fascia below. Two large scalpel-shaped panels wrap around the rear of the vehicle and are connected by a strip of lights that runs across the back of the trunk lid. The painted-to-match bodyside molding was smartly stylish, but we questioned how much protection it would provide from other car doors in parking lots.
Our vehicle was coated in a distinctive Savanna Green Metallic and was topped off with Diamond Coat, an automotive finish that Mitsubishi says will protect the Galant's paint job from harsh elements and preserve its lustre.
