THE 2012 MITSUBISHI GALANT REVIEW
Full Review by Andy: Outdated and Outdone
Once a refreshing entry in the midsize sedan segment, the Mitsubishi Galant has lost its way in recent years. In its last year of production now, the Galant is the automotive equivalent of stale bread. Time has taken its toll on Mitsubishi’s commuter sedan, and now the Galant is suitable mostly for rental car fleets and the footnotes of history.
What Does It Look Like?
The current design of the Galant can be traced back to 2004. Its aesthetics fall squarely between old and historic, which means the Galant is outdated without being charming or nostalgic. Even with its mid-cycle facelifts in 2006, 2007 and 2009, the Galant looks like a sedan from the early aughts, characterized by a tapered hood, block headlights, and flat rear deck. It is somewhat attractive, but too elderly to be fashionable.
Trappings & Trimmings
The look of audio controls suggests they were stolen off the shoulder of a dude in baggy sweat pants mouthing the words of a Def Leppard hit. The rest of the cabin looks like it was lifted from a vehicle of the same decade. What’s worse is that the quality of materials, including the lackluster silver-painted trim and banal hard plastics, is dated as well.
Packin’ a Powertrain
In a fuel-efficient age where 40 mpg is the new 30, doesn’t that make the Galant’s 30 mpg the old 20? To make matters worse, the Galant’s four-cylinder engine only achieves 160 horsepower, less than the inline-fours of the Mazda6, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, and many other competitors. The antiquated four-speed automatic is a gas-guzzling culprit and routes power to the front wheels.
Driveline Performance
In America, Mitsubishi is synonymous with two things: performance and low resale values. Popular Mitsubishi vehicles such as the Lancer Evolution and the Lancer Sportback Ralliart are renowned for sprightly driving and top-notch performance. The Galant, however, is responsible for the latter: low resale values. It has a docile and dull ride that proponents say is great for commuting. In auto-speak, that means it’s joyless, with a ride so balanced that both sides of the equation – agility and comfort – cancel out. The Galant meanders to 60 mph in approximately nine seconds, which is slow for a compact car, let alone a mainstream midsize sedan. There is nothing wrong with its flat and comfortable ride, but there isn’t anything right either.
Safety Information
Suffice it to say, the Galant is no undercover Volvo. In IIHS crash tests, its scores dotted the charts from the top to the bottom, including a less-than-impressive score of “Marginal” in rear crash tests. Its safety features are normal for the segment and include six airbags, disc brakes, and daytime running lights.
Comfort & Cargo
The Mitsubishi Galant is the definition of a commuter car. Besides a lackluster engine (check) and subpar materials (check), a commuter car also has a moderately comfortable interior with lots of room (check). The rear has 37.0 inches of headroom and legroom, and easily accommodates six-foot-plus occupants. However, the spacious interior is devoid of quite a few expected amenities, including a folding rear seat and telescoping steering wheel. The 13.3-cubic foot trunk is also quite small when compared with class leaders like the Hyundai Sonata and Mazda6.
Feature Highlights
The 2012 Mitsubishi Galant sedan is available in two trims: ES ($21,899) and SE ($24,299).
The base trim has little more than the obligatory basics. It gets by with a height-adjustable driver’s seat, air-conditioning, cruise control, a 6-speaker audio system, and other knick knacks. But while the ES is a sparsely equipped penalty box, the topnotch SE has impressive features for the price. Notable highlights include heated front seats (eight-way power-adjustable driver’s), Bluetooth, an eight-speaker Rockford Acoustic Design sound system with satellite radio, a navigation system, a backup camera, and a gamut of other amenities. However, besides a Leather Package, the Galant has zilch factory-installed options.
The Galant is a shame, primarily because Mitsubishi can do so much better. Enthusiasts have long been fans of Lancer models, while the Eclipse is one the best-looking sports cars available. The Outlander Sport basks in media accolades for its value and comfort, and the i-MiEV is one of the cheapest electric cars in America. But today’s Galant is neither fuel-efficient, powerful, decadent, nor particularly affordable. It is hard to justify in the face of its capable competition.
Details:
Engine: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder
Horsepower & Torque: 160 hp @5500 rpm, 157 lb-ft of torque @4,000 rpm
Transmission: four-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain: FWD
Fuel Economy: 21/30/24 mpg
Base MSRP: $21,899
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