1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT Review
Introduction
When you're talking about the Mitsubishi Galant ES, you're talking about a vehicle that's truly multicultural. After all, it's a classic Japanese four-door sedan with a fuel-conscious four-cylinder engine. But the vehicle also boasts a European flavor both in look and feel with a ride as firm and crisp as Saab or Volvo models. And finally, it's made in America, rolling off the line in Normal, Illinois-ironic for a car that's anything but normal.
This background helps give the Galant a sense of distinctiveness in a competitive market. But a four-cylinder vehicle that reaches the $18,000-$22,000 price range may leave potential buyers wanting more engine for their buck.
To placate them, Mitsubishi has improved the Galant's interior and packaged an impressive set of standard features that are offered only as options on most similar vehicles.
Our test car came equipped with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, dual air bags, a four-wheel independent suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering, a rear-window defroster, retractable cupholders, a power antenna, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, and an AM/FM radio with a cassette player. The only significant option we chose was an anti-lock brake system (ABS) that, along with destination charges, brought the car's price up to $18,192 from an MSRP base price of $16,775.
Interior
The new-for-'94 dark gray interior of our Galant ES offered a nice mix of comfort and convenience. A six-way adjustable bucket seat looked able to accommodate drivers of various sizes, though getting it completely upright required a bit of maneuvering. Both front seats had adjustable headrests.
The steering wheel range movement was impressive, tilting up and down far past what most drivers would require. The instrument panel flowed into the center console for a cockpit-like appearance, and an arch-shaped display allowed easy viewing no matter where the wheel was tilted. Ergonomically designed controls, many with large rotary dials, were always at hand and were well-lighted at night. Vents at the extreme ends of the dashboard provided much-needed side-window demisting. One negative up front: The vinyl that covered the passenger air bag was uneven compared to the excellent finish of the rest of the dashboard.
Rear bench seating could handle three passengers for short hops, but putting three in back for a long journey might make for an uncomfortable trip. Legroom in the rear was minimal when the front seats were pushed all the way back.
The Galant's trunk is roomy: If more space is needed, a key connected to the rear seats allows them to be pushed forward. The rear seats also fold down to accommodate oversized cargo.
Walk-Around
Crisp and neat would be the most appropriate way to describe the exterior design of the Galant ES. Thanks to Mitsubishi's unit body construction, the fittings around the doors and the attractive curve of the hood of our test vehicle were superb. Despite its sleek, aerodynamic look, the car boasts a higher profile than comparable vehicles--say, the Mazda 626.
High-impact plastic headlights set into a rather slender horizontal band give the Galant an angry look. Hazard lights are deftly set into the fascia below. Two large scalpel-shaped panels wrap around the rear of the vehicle and are connected by a strip of lights that runs across the back of the trunk lid. The painted-to-match bodyside molding was smartly stylish, but we questioned how much protection it would provide from other car doors in parking lots.
Our vehicle was coated in a distinctive Savanna Green Metallic and was topped off with Diamond Coat, an automotive finish that Mitsubishi says will protect the Galant's paint job from harsh elements and preserve its lustre.
Impressions
Our Galant's 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine went a long way to dispel any preconceptions we might have had about its power. It sped from 0 to 60 mph in short order, with little engine roughness and no trace of torque steering. Our four-speed, electronically controlled transmission shifted quite smoothly, due mainly to new technology called "fuzzy logic," an intricate system of sensors that recognized the terrain we were on and selected the most efficient gear for the task.
The Galant was also smooth from 60 to 90 mph. Noise was minimal, thanks to Mitsubishi's Dual Engine Stabilizers and a new engine mounting technique working together to reduce vibration. However, when we had the cruise control set at 70 mph, the engine was running higher than 3,000 rpm-too high, as far as we were concerned. In this case we'd just as soon see Mitsubishi go with higher gearing. All in all, it was a fast four-cylinder, though it lacked the acceleration power of the 2.5-liter, six-cylinder found in its competitor, the Mazda 626.
Road bumps were handled well by the Galant, but we felt more ripples than we did when driving the 626 or Ford Taurus. Nonetheless, a multi-link suspension with steel arms controlling each of the Galant's wheels ensured crisp steering and easy maneuverability.
Our ABS performed beautifully in a variety of conditions. We jammed on the brakes at 15 mph on gravel, and again at 40 mph on broken, loose pavement, and stopped surely both times without locking.
Summary
Unfortunately, despite improvements made this year to the Galant's interior, it still feels smaller inside than comparable vehicles we've tested. And maybe above all, there's still a very real prejudice against four-cylinders in the Galant ES's price range.
On the plus side, the Galant ES has ride and handling that rival the European models, as well as an effective power train that has addressed previous problems concerning noise and vibration. And it's hard to ignore a car loaded with standard features that run the gamut from cupholders to cruise control.
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