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2005 Mitsubishi Galant GTS V6 Road Test

Not Just Another Midsize Sedan

I like to read. I especially like to read novels that are part of a series by a particular author. For instance, as a child I was hooked on Dick King-Smith and his loveable animal tales. I recently jumped onto the Harry Potter bandwagon and I thoroughly enjoy the work of fellow Pacific Northwesterner Douglas Coupland. While each book by King-Smith or Coupland deals with different characters, plots, subject matters and issues, at the end of the day, whether or not the book is great, its the authors unique and memorable style that keeps me coming back for more.

I

I am baffled as to why and how Mitsubishi can be in such a dire position financially, because the cars are great. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

can relate my experiences with the Mitsubishi Motors brand to the above analogy. Having tested a number of the companys products, Im hooked. Each Mitsubishi I drive is made with high quality materials, is cleanly finished and possesses the unique and memorable styling that makes its cars a cut above the

The Mitsubishi Galant is not a typical mid-sized, box-shaped, plain-Jane kind of sedan. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

rest. Again, I say I am baffled as to why and how this company can be in such a dire position financially, because the cars are great.

Redesigned for the 2004 model year, the Mitsubishi Galant is not a typical mid-sized, box-shaped, plain-Jane kind of sedan. I find its athletic styling to be much more appealing than that of the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Volkswagen Passat. The lean and mean factor is enhanced

While its figure looks sporty it also has the engine to back it up, a 230-hp 3.8-liter, 24-valve, DOHC V6 . (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

by the four-bulb ellipsoid projector-style headlight clusters with smoked lens covers, and the dark-chromed rear ellipsoid combination lamp clusters with crystal lens covers. Its simply not boring to look at.

While its figure looks sporty it also has the engine to back it up, a 3.8-liter, 24-valve, DOHC V6 that produces 230-horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Equipped with the optional Sportronic four-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and clutchless manual

I thought to myself, "Not another mid-size sedan!" But boy was I wrong. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

shift mode, I felt the power was nicely distributed through the various gears.

In all honesty, the Galant was the first Mitsubishi I was not all that excited to try out. I thought to myself, "Not another mid-size sedan!" But boy was I wrong. Its handling was rather sports-car-like. The four-wheel independent, sport-tuned suspension was oh-so nice. While other mid-size sedans claim to have a sporty suspension, sometimes they dont feel that way.

But not in the Galant. Taking turns at a good speed is no problem. With its front and rear anti-sway bars, the vehicle is exceptionally stable. It seamlessly glided into tight

>While the styling was hot and it delivered plenty of get-up-and-go, perhaps it was the interior that made me feel cool while driving a mid-size sedan. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

turns and sharp corners. I felt confident pushing it because the speed-sensitive power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering conformed to any situation, upheld by an effective traction control system. The steering effort is tight, but not so much that it parallel parking or making u-turn becomes a chore.

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