- sedan 109,046
- Boulder, CO
-
- autoshopper.com
2006 mitsubishi galant review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Good value in a responsive midsize sedan. introductionthe mitsubishi galant does everything well. Its optional v6 provides ample power for passing, and its automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Its cabin is roomy and comfortable. It's a good family car, and a good value in the midsize market. then again, it has to be. Mitsubishi launched this bigger, more mainstream galant just two years ago and it goes up against established nameplates such as the honda accord, toyota camry, and nissan altima. The galant is no wallflower. It's distinctive enough to turn heads in traffic, and not everyone will like what they see. Conversely, some of the galant's competitors seem calculated to make no statement at all. galant was launched as an all-new model for 2004. For 2005, mitsubishi enhanced galant's safety by making seat-mounted side-impact airbags standard on all models. De, es and ls come with steel wheels and 215/60r16 all-season tires. es and ls both come with anti-lock brakes (abs) and electronic brake-force distribution (ebd). The audio package (available only with leather) adds a 270-watt mitsubishi/infinity sound system with six-cd changer and mp3 capability, sport-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and an anti-theft alarm. Optional 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels for the es and ls come packaged with a new tire-pressure monitor 300). A power glass sunroof 800) is also available. the gts adds automatic climate control; power glass sunroof; leather upholstery; wood accents on the dashboard; leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls; heated front seats and side mirrors; the high-zoot mitsubishi/infinity 270-watt stereo; color lcd audio display with fuel mileage computer, maintenance reminder, outside temperature, calendar and compass; white-on-black gauges; color-keyed rear spoiler; special tail lamps; sporty-sounding muffler; 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with lower profile tires; tire pressure monitor; and a front suspension strut-tower brace. No options are offered for the gts. walkaroundthe mitsubishi galant makes a strong styling statement. The long, wedgy stance of the mitsubishi galant leaves no doubt that it is a bona-fide midsize sedan. not everyone agrees on the success of the design, but there's no disputing it's fresh and different. Head on, the galant brings to mind the mitsubishi endeavor and outlander suvs. A dominating, vertical bar splits the grille, the outboard ends of which bend upward as if grinning. Sculpted headlight housings cover the forward edges of the front fenders. A strong, fully integrated, one-piece bumper and lower fascia with inset fog lights complete the presentation. in profile, the galant avoids the boring box-on-box look commonly associated with conservative mid-size sedans. The roofline picks up from the graceful sweep of the hood and arcs cleanly over perfectly proportioned side windows. Door handles integrate nicely into the design while providing an easy grasp. Wheel arches are mildly blistered and boldly circular, wrapping concentrically around the tires. The deck lid seems truncated, as if it were abruptly chopped off when somebody realized it was getting too long to stay in balance with the front overhang. The aerodynamicists argue this works well in a wind tunnel, but on the street, it's a bit of a visual hiccup. the view from the rear is something else, almost as if different people designed the two ends of the car. Where the front is soft and molded, the back is angular and carved, tending much more toward the vertical. Adding to the awkward, not-quite-finished look, the license plate hangs off the lower edge of the rear bumper, almost as if it were an afterthought. The gts presents a more finished rear departure than the other models, with its nicely tailored, understated spoiler lip along the trailing edge of the trunk lid; and its modular-style taillight assemblies. interiorthe galant has a roomy, comfortable interior. The seats are supportive without being overly firm. The gts seats seem to offer a bit more support because of the leather upholstery. Also, the ls and gts offer more adjustments. Taller people should think twice about ordering the sunroof, as it reduces front headroom by 2 inches. Otherwise, interior roominess is comparable to that of the chevrolet malibu and nissan altima, placing galant among the roomiest sedans in the class. Visibility is good all around, notably to the rear quarters, thanks to slim c-pillars. The high beltline gives passengers a secure feeling. controls are right-sized and easy to use, with knobs and buttons and rocker switches galore. The hvac (heater) knobs are big and easy to operate even with gloves on. The a/c indicator is hard to see in bright sunlight, however. At night the instruments are cobalt blue on black, and on all but de the audio panel now features ice blue led illumination. quality of materials is hit and miss, with the climate control and audio panel a big hit, making the rest more of a miss than it would be otherwise. The es, ls, and gts add bright metallic trim (a silver tone for '06 replacing the '05's titanium) to the door handles, radio buttons, and the dashboard's accent panels; with a new black metallic finish highlighting the center audio panel. in addition to its standard leather upholstery, gts features wood accents for a richer look. Geometric shapes and angles in the steering wheel spokes don't mesh well with the slopes, arcs and arches of the gauge cluster. The standard steering wheel doesn't feel like a high-quality piece, either; fortunately a nicer leather-wrapped wheel comes with the gts. Each door has a storage pocket. Two medium-size cup holders are molded into the front center console rearward of the shift gate; where dust, dirt and spilled liquids are likely to require regular wipe-ups. the rear seat is reasonably roomy and adequate, though the seating position is a bit low and the bottom cushions could offer a bit more thigh support. Rear-seat passengers enjoy decent headroom in spite of the galant's dramatically sloping roofline. the galant's trunk is slightly smaller than accord's, and its trunk opening is a bit restricted. Galant's rear seats cannot be folded down to extend the cargo space, a significant omission in this segment. for 2006, the keyless entry controls have been integrated into the key, eliminating the separate fob. driving impressionthe mitsubishi galant delivers a smooth, quiet ride, thanks largely to its stiff platform, wide stance and long wheelbase. Passes on two-lane roads are completed without drama. The v6 is rated 230 horsepower and, more important, 250 pound. AM/FM✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Changer✔ Alloy Wheels
Boulder, COBoulder, CO at autoshopper.com