2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart Review

2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

SEE ALSO: Mitsubshi Buyers Guide

By Bob Gordon
The Auto Channel

As I approached my latest test car; a 2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart, I started humming the Frankie Avalon 1959 song hit “Bobby Sox to Stockings”…which some of you original Rock and Rollers might remember (although it’s getting harder and harder for this vintage R and R pioneer to remember stuff) is a song that describes when a girl goes from wearing Bobby Sox to Stockings and she starts trading her baby toys for boys, she’s old enough to give her heart away…well this song popped into my head because I must have missed the transformation of the Mitsubishi Galant from an also ran compact into a competitive sports sedan. As I opened the trunk to stow my luggage, its transformation was even more evident in the more than competitive large spacious trunk. Although the placement of the CD carousal unit mounted at the top front center of the trunk eliminated some of the wide open spaces.

As I opened he driver’s door and entered the car I noticed the really cool fit and finish… from what looked like a composite dashboard that surrounded white faced instruments, which were generously sized and allowed even an old rocker to easily see …to its eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with controlled lumbar support, a great feeling sport-wrapped leather steering wheel which included audio controls, its leather seating surfaces, baseball-stitched leather shift knob aluminum pedals, and heated front seats…all made me smile…

Caterpillars to Butterfly’s; Ugly Duckling to Prom Queen; ….well you get the idea, the Galant has become a competitor in the crowded and popular family sedan segment…maybe not a slam dunk but worthy of consideration and as I always preach…DRIVE IT before making any purchase decision.

And DRIVE IT you can…the Ralliart model with its 3.8-liter, 258-horsepower MIVEC V6 under the hood, a five-speed Sportronic® transmission that offers adaptive shift control and clutchless manual shift mode (very handy coming down hills); anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), tire pressure monitoring system and P235/45R18 94V tires, gave me everything I asked it to do.

Oh yeah, I was so busy waxing poetic that I clean forgot (see I told you so) that my driving would take place in Colorado. Driving as they say “up the hill” to Vail…during my week with the Galant I never felt that I needed any more power to do what I need to do…and I averaged 27 MPG for the trip…not bad for a lead-footed up and down the mountains kind of guy. I must admit that although the manufacturer recommends premium grade fuel I cheated and pumped in regular, and noticed no difference in power or response…because it was summer I never had the chance to see how well it would perform in the normal snow and ice of the mountains.

One of my pet peeves is with car makers that offer a nav system that is so complicated and so non-intuitive that it never gets used …well the Navigation Package in the Ralliart was easy to operate and easy to understand…and was fun to use. The installed Mitsubishi multi-communication system with DVD-based navigation is a full-map type with seven-inch color touch-screen panel that acts as your choice of an in car concierge or tour guide…or just silent map librarian.

So if you are looking for a new sedan, make sure that the made in Illinois USA Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart is written down in ink on your short list…and remember don’t buy without a thorough test drive of many hours… a new car is like a new couch… it has to do more than just look good…make sure that it fits your lifestyle and your seat.