Mitsubishi Galant. Choosing gentlemen

 

Mitsubishi Galant. Price: from 756,800 RUB. On sale: since 2008

Mitsubishi Galant has undergone another update. Technically, the model has certainly become more progressive and modern. But will it be able to captivate those who remember the old Galant, the one that was called the "Shark"? This time, instead of a reader, our managing editor evaluates the new model

 

 

 

Our reader: Andrey Mashnin

Occupation: managing editor

Age: 45 years

Driving experience: 9 years

Drives: Mitsubishi Galant 1999

 

 

A bit of history

 

Mitsubishi Galant has been produced by Mitsubishi Motors since 1969. The current version is already the ninth generation, which has undergone a light facelift. It is worth noting that the total production of the model since its debut has already exceeded five million units. Initially, it was a compact sedan, but over time it grew and turned into a mid-size car. It was the Galant that became the first Mitsubishi model to be sold in North America after Chrysler Corporation became a partner and co-owner of the Japanese firm. In the US, this car was sold under the name Dodge Colt. At first, assembly was carried out exclusively in Japan, but since 1994, cars produced in Normal, Illinois, went to the American market.

 

 

No Risk

 

The exteriors of the old and new cars have nothing in common, no connection between generations. Why the designers abandoned the aggressive "shark" nose is a mystery. Perhaps safety standards are to blame. Because of this, the "eyes" have also changed: instead of a daring squint, there are intelligent "glasses". The wide gap under the license plate, through which the unprotected bottom of the radiator is visible, was surprising. What else can be said about the appearance? A sloping roof, a short rear end. The trunk has noticeably decreased. The wheels are 16-inch (mine are 15-inch). The brakes are disc brakes all around (mine have drums in the rear, no ABS, but here it is). An additional brake light is built into the trunk lid (mine is in the cabin, on the rear shelf, and through the tinting it is barely visible)… But there is no own, "Galant" charm, if measured by the old car. It can be said that the car is made "in the spirit of business sedans". Probably, that is what the designers were aiming for. No risk. The result is that the appearance will not repel anyone, but it will not particularly attract either.

 

There is a difference in how exactly you acquire a car — "from hands" or from a dealer. A conversation with a private seller selling their "swallow" and a conversation with a manager in a showroom differ fundamentally: in the first case, it is about operating experience, in the second — about dry technical data. And personal operational experience in both options can only be gained by driving around the garage or around the dealership territory. The impressions will be superficial, but on the other hand, the main thing immediately becomes clear: "fits — doesn't fit", "like — don't like".

 

My task in today's inspection is this: without delving into newton-meters at certain RPMs, to feel the difference between the new Galant and my old one. That is, no questions to the consultant — only personal assessments.

 

I have the most ordinary Galant ES from 1999, an "American", with a 2.4 engine producing 150 hp and an automatic transmission. Ordinary in the sense that there are no frills in the equipment, everything is standard. The previous owners, of whom there were three, including residents of Texas, did not modify anything. No spoiler on the trunk lid, no "pseudo-xenon". In general, a car for simple driving.

For the test, we were given a car in the top Instyle trim, also with an automatic (I have already forgotten how to drive a manual after four years behind the wheel of cars with automatic transmissions, and I have no desire to remember how to handle the clutch pedal) and with a 2.4 engine, but not an 8-valve one like mine, but a 16-valve one and slightly more powerful: 158 hp.

You can fill it with 92-octane gasoline, although, judging by my experience, if you pour normal 95-octane, the consumption noticeably drops.

There is nothing in common in the appearance of the cars, no continuity of generations. Why the designers refused the predatory "shark" nose is hard to understand. Perhaps because of safety requirements. As a result, the "eyes" have become completely different: instead of a predatory squint, there are respectable "glasses". The wide gap under the license plate, through which the completely unprotected bottom of the radiator is visible, was surprising — it can be pierced by a stone on the highway.

What else to say about the appearance? A rounded roof, a shortened rear. The trunk has clearly become smaller. The wheels are 16-inch (mine are 15-inch). The brakes are all disc (mine have drums in the rear and no ABS, but here there is). An additional "stop" in the trunk lid (mine is in the cabin, on the rear shelf, and through the tinting it is almost invisible)… But there is no own, "Galant" style, if compared with the old one. It can be said that the car is made "in the style of business-class sedans". Probably, that was the goal of the designers. No risk. As a result, the appearance will not scare anyone away, but it will not particularly attract either.

I, however, am not a fan of design. I am guided by the fact that you mostly see your car from the inside, not from the outside, and the main thing is that it is comfortable and pleasant inside.

 

I get behind the wheel and try to understand if there is anything in common in the sensations from this car and from mine. Yes, definitely. The side windows are similar, and in general the view is familiar and comfortable. The sense of dimensions is the same — both Galants are comparable in size. But in the rearview mirror (with day/night modes) — a different "rear view", because the rear has changed. The instruments are very different. They are not deep, but in the foreground of the panel. They look more elegant and contrasting — they are read better. On the steering wheel — radio buttons, the steering wheel itself seems to be slightly smaller in diameter.

 

The automatic transmission lever is twice as thin as the old one, but comfortable. There are no modes 1, 2, 3, which I never used anyway (I don't tow trailers across the prairies), but there is a sequential mode, which personally is unlikely to be useful to me either, again because of laziness.

There is only one cigarette lighter here. And I have two — one is actually a cigarette lighter, the second is used as a socket. Hmm, but there is no cigarette lighter itself here! And where is the ashtray? Ah, that's it! For a smoker, nothing is provided here in principle. Well, that's right, you need to quit.

The armrest, compared to mine, is a bit short. Out of habit, the elbow "falls" forward. But the two cup holders are completely free. In mine, one of them is blocked by the armrest.

 

The built-in radio is good. I'm tired of carrying the panel in my pocket. But in another pocket, I will still have to carry a navigator — there is no large display with navigation here, there is only a small one — with a clock and audio system information. The "music", of course, cannot be compared. The stock one I had was completely useless, I had to buy another "head". And here it is "premium" and 8 speakers. The antenna, like mine, is built into the rear window.

 

I liked the massive control buttons on the "titanium" center console. You won't miss. On my Galant, there are only three plastic knobs for the air conditioner-heater, and that's it. And here, by the way, there is climate control. Good. Cruise control is also there, and I sometimes use this thing on the highway, i.e., it's not a useless thing, although we are not in America.

The seat is comfortable, adjustable in all directions, but I didn't have to adjust anything, somehow it turned out to be fine "by default".

No complaints about the pedals. The steering column switches are familiar. There is heating for the front seats and, importantly, the mirrors. I can't understand why my Galant doesn't have heated mirrors. Maybe it doesn't snow in Texas, but rain happens anyway!

The glove box on the right latches well. Mine has a damaged lock, sometimes the lid opens — right onto my wife's knees.

 

The interior is leather, black. The plastic is normal, also black. Mine is light — it gets dirty. The wooden panels look beautiful and appropriate.

 

The sunroof here turned out to be exactly the same as in my car. And when you get used to such an option, it's hard to do without it later.

My car has only two airbags in the front, but this Galant has front, side, and curtain airbags. This is crucial for me, as I often drive my family. For passive safety, this sedan received the maximum 5 stars from the US NHTSA, and that cannot but please.

Now about what matters for the family. I move to the back row. Wow! What space! The rear is noticeably more spacious than in my car. The child definitely won't whine about being cramped and won't ask mom to move the seat forward. And the mother-in-law won't press her knees into my back. I even bothered to bring the child seat from my car — it fits perfectly! There are Isofix mounts here, but I don't have them, so our seat is held only by the standard belt along with the child.

The ceiling has a separate light for rear passengers — that's also a plus, because if a child drops something in the dark, without such lighting you won't find it. The rear armrest is comfortable, with cup holders. There are also pockets. But the interior door handles felt slippery when closing.

The rear seatbacks, like mine, do not fold down. The reason is that the model belongs to the business class. But there is a hatch. True, it is located in the center, where the armrest is. In my car, the hatch is on the right, and in my opinion, it's more convenient: you can reach all the way to the dashboard if you fold the front seatback.

And here's what's strange. Imagine: my wife and I bought furniture for the nursery. I fold down the seatbacks, load bags with boards, drive home, and in an hour everything is assembled and in place. It turns out I "don't reach the business class level." And the one who is "at the level" will go arrange delivery, wait for their purchases for several days, and also pay for it, and will think about who will meet the courier. The logic escapes me. Although this is a complaint not against the Galant itself, but against class standards.

 

That being so, I won't even open the hood — it's not my level of business. Let the service handle it. But it's interesting to look into the trunk. Yes, it has become smaller. But if I had to choose between trunk volume and cabin space, I'd choose the cabin. So no complaints. Under the floor lies a full-size spare tire. The lid is upholstered with fabric from the inside — honestly, I don't understand why. The trunk opens from the cabin, just like mine.

 

The most important thing remains — to take a ride. I start the engine — it runs surprisingly quietly. It's pleasant in a new car: nothing rattles, whistles, or sobs. For the test, we found a great place — a huge parking lot near a supermarket on the outskirts. On a weekday it's almost empty, you can take off like from a traffic light, accelerate for about three hundred meters, and brake sharply. You can also turn the steering wheel along the paths.

In terms of dynamics, the sensations are about the same as from my Galant. And I consider mine a "beast car": it flies off the traffic light like a bullet, then accelerates without complaints, brakes excellently. But the steering wheel seemed too light. At speed, it's better not to sneeze, or you might jump out of your lane. But maneuverability is better. Where my steering wheel already hits the limiter, here you can turn a bit more, so parking and turning around are easier. The suspension is very good — comfortable both on bumps and in corners. Noise insulation is at a high level. True, I judge only by driving on summer tires on good asphalt. But the engine at least doesn't interfere with conversation. For driving qualities, I'd give five points.

So what about the design? Yes, the car's appearance is impressive, but times change. And I increasingly lean toward choosing what suits the present day. The old Galant is good, no argument. But now is the time for the new one.

 

Technical specifications of Mitsubishi Galant

Make and model - Mitsubishi Galant
Dimensions - 4865x1840x1485 mm
Engine - petrol, 2378 cm3, 158 hp/5500 rpm
Transmission - automatic, 4-speed
Dynamics - 200 km/h; 11.5 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Ford Mondeo, VW Passat

 

 

 

Like — Dislike

Convenient

INSTRUMENT PANEL — completely different. The main speedometer scale here is in km/h, which is good, although I've already gotten used to miles on my Galant.

Sufficient

TRUNK — here it's smaller. And the opening too. But for a few bags from the supermarket, there's enough space. That suits me, because reducing the trunk allowed making the cabin more spacious.

Thoughtful

CIGARETTE LIGHTER — here there's only one, but I have two. Moreover, there's no lighter itself, only the socket. There's no ashtray either. Perhaps that's for the best — you should quit smoking.

 

Advantages and disadvantages

+ Comfortable cabin, decent noise insulation, acceptable dynamics, adequate suspension, plenty of space in the back.
- Controversial appearance, inability to fold the rear seatback.

 

 

Driving
The car is perfectly adapted to our roads. The suspension is moderately soft and therefore comfortable. Dynamics are also decent, but the steering wheel is a bit empty.

Cabin
Spacious and well-thought-out from an ergonomics standpoint.

Comfort
It has everything needed for a long trip. It's a pity there's no built-in navigation.

Safety
In the US, passive safety was rated 5 stars.

Price
Worth considering.

 

My opinion

The old Galant definitely wins in appearance. It has its own style. If, of course, you don't remember that it strongly resembles a BMW in the 39th body. But even in perfect condition, it's still a car from the end of the last century. The new Galant seemed a quite worthy successor to the glorious lineage. Let it not look like a "shark," but it is perceived unambiguously: a solid, modern, expensive car. You can move from the old to the new, but the other way around — you'd hardly want to, with all due respect to the design.

 

Editorial opinion

The current Galant evokes contradictory feelings. The car doesn't "catch" at all with its appearance. To put it mildly. Perhaps even the dull Korean sedans are a step ahead. This is especially noticeable against the backdrop of the stunningly beautiful predecessor. The restyling, although it "smoothed the sharp corners," fundamentally changed nothing. But otherwise, the current Galant is a worthy car. Matching its family-business credo. It drives and brakes quite decently. Comfort is largely due to the spacious cabin and energy-intensive suspension.

The interior of the new Mitsubishi Galant is not distinguished by frills, but it is carefully planned, convenient, and made with quality finishing materials. The sedan is equipped with all sorts of amenities, such as climate control and a high-quality stereo system. This car is a sensible choice for a practical business person.