2006 Mitsubishi Galant

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Shoppers who've heard about Mitsubishi's free gas promotion may be looking at this Japanese brand for the first time. They may even be surprised by what they see; Mitsubishi, like Mazda, has often gone overlooked in the general consumer rush. It's not that the products aren't as worthy as those from Honda or Toyota. Things just get lost in the shuffle.

For those who may not be familiar, allow us to introduce the Mitsubishi Galant. It's a family sedan with a sporty bent and a big footprint. Think of it as a Japanese Pontiac Grand Prix and you won't be too far off of the mark. The Galant competes with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, as all in this class must, and its pricing puts it comfortably within reach of the middle class.

The Galant looks modern, and it looks big. Updates for 2006 include updated headlight and taillight clusters with clear faces. In fact those slotted headlamps are showcar pieces, featuring four projector-style bulbs in a fancy cluster, but it's exotic in a quiet, unobtrusive Mitsubishi way. This is a big wedgy car; the Mitsubishi family front is more beaky than ever. Careful creases define the body, and the more you look, the more similarities to the Endeavor and other Mitsus you'll see. Somehow though, the expressive design still manages to blend into the woodwork somewhat.

The interior is similarly expressive yet unobtrusive. The Galant aims for inoffensive and gets it. Woodgrain trim and black soft-touch plastic dress the Galant's interior up above standard rentacar levels, but it's still somehow merely adequate. The bright blue LED backlights are anything but boring of course; they're Mitsubishi's signature. The sporty outside doesn't carry inside; this car is pure Suburbs from the driver's seat. The long wheelbase ensures generous passenger space. The seats are wide and comfortable. The 13.3 cubic foot trunk is generous. For a Galant that's a bit more than pedestrian, leather upholstery is available, as are an MP3-capable sound system and a glass sunroof.

The four-wheel independent suspension is comfortable on the road but doesn't feel particularly nimble. The Galant feels like it's a big, hefty car, and with a curb weight pushing two tons, it is. MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear are state of the art fare for family sedans these days. It's happy on the road; this is a good road-tripper. In the twisties, it's responsive, but only moderately entertaining. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, and anti-lock brakes are available on most models. Other safety equipment includes standard side airbags, dual-stage front airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system.

We wouldn't call it sporty by any stretch, however. The Galant drives big, feeling more like a full-size than a mid-size car. The back seat room seems to support this theory. It's big enough that the available 160 horsepower, 2.4 liter four-cylinder isn't nearly enough engine for it, not even with Mitsubishi's variable valve timing system to boost the torque curve. Thankfully, the 3.8 liter V6 available on the LS and GTS models has the required snort. The single overhead-cam powerplant makes 230 horsepower. It's connected to a four-speed automatic transmission that includes Mitsubishi's Sportronic selectable shifting system. It's a pleasant and smooth shifter.

The base Galant is a nice, well-priced vehicle, if you don't mind wheels that are vaguely rental car-ish. Our uplevel tester, a Galant GTS, raised that bar a notch or two thanks to the bigger engine and improved interior amenities. The as-tested price of $27,594 wasn't too disagreeable either.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2006 Mitsubishi Galant.
Length: 190.4 in.
Width: 72.4 in.
Height: 58.1 in.
Wheelbase: 108.3 in.
Curb weight: 3649 lb.
Cargo space: 13.3 cu.ft.
Base price: $26,999
Price as tested: $27,594
Engine: 3.8 liter SOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 230 @ 5250
Torque: 250 @ 4000
Fuel capacity: 17.7 gal.
Est. mileage: 18/27