2008 Mitsubishi Galant

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By  Marty Padgett, Executive Editor

Side look of2008 Mitsubishi Galant 4dr Sdn Red
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 2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT STYLING | [7 out of 10]

Edmunds: "stylish in a contemporary way"
Automobile: "don't expect the neighborhood kids to follow you home"
Cars.com: "looks much cleaner than the overwrought Mazda"

The 2008 Mitsubishi Galant is essentially identical to the 2004 model, and that's one of its downfalls, according to reviews from around the Web and the experts at TheCarConnection.com. It's a fine-looking car--but in the past four years, the Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, and Honda Accord have raised the bar with hot new styles.

Car and Driver simply refers to its “confused exterior styling.” As Edmunds puts it, the Galant is now a "very dark horse in a stable filled with thoroughbreds." Cars.com says, “Hampering the Galant's attempt to attract buyers is its relatively forgettable looks; the front end is bland and could be at home on any number of sedans.” With the Ralliart edition, Automobile says the 18-inch wheels "give the Galant more dignity than a typical mid-size rental, but don't expect the neighborhood kids to follow you home on their bicycles."

The interior of the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant is covered in industrial-looking trim, and in general, the dark, plastic-addicted cabin needs a richer look and feel. Edmunds believes it gets lost in the crowd of its competitors when it comes to interior styling, but it still has attractive qualities worth noting, such as the "cascading center console, blue backlighting, white-faced gauges and metallic or wood-grained accents," which make it "stylish in a contemporary way." Automobile, however, isn't impressed with its interior styling, and Cars.com goes so far as to call the interior design "unfortunate." Cars.com also dislikes the fact that "buttons are arranged in an anomalous cluster of bizarre shapes."

Conclusion: Essentially unchanged since 2004, the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant has been passed by other family sedans that have sharper, cleaner styling.

2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT PERFORMANCE | [7 out of 10]

Cars.com: "transmission shifts smoothly and quickly"
Car and Driver: "feels pretty strong"
Automobile: "V6 is very responsive in any situation"

TheCarConnection.com discovered that even the smallest engine of the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant is more than adequate for power and takeoff.

The base Mitsubishi Galant DE and ES get their power from an adequate 162-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A Galant Ralliart model uses a punchy 258-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine teamed with a five-speed Sportronic automatic with manual shift capability. The four-cylinder engine has "more-than-adequate power for most situations," according to ConsumerGuide; they clocked a 0-60-mph run in 9 seconds. Car and Driver recommends, “the four-cylinder is acceptable, but opt for the V-6.” With that V-6 in the Ralliart, the performance image improves considerably. Edmunds says “the V6 engine delivers plenty of power and torque for passing and merging.” And as Cars.com reports, the Ralliart manages "60 mph from a standstill in 6.4 seconds."

A four-speed automatic transmission is paired with both engines. As a disappointed Edmunds points out, "a manual transmission is unavailable on any Galant." Automobile finds the automatic "remarkably responsive,” while “the Galant's 'Sportronic' transmission runs through all four forward speeds with acceptable alacrity, kicking down gamely for hillclimb and passing situations,” Motor Trend asserts.

Fuel economy ranges from 20/27 mpg in the four-cylinder Galant to 17/25 mpg with the V-6. Ralliart versions call for premium gas, while other versions make do with regular unleaded.

The handling of the Mitsubishi Galant 2008 is good, particularly in the stiffer suspension of the Ralliart model. Edmunds finds the standard Galant to be “one of the more fun-to-drive family sedans,” and says it “remains flat and predictable and feels smaller than it is.” ConsumerGuide deems the base versions "reasonably nimble," but also point out that they "don't control body motions as well on their softer suspensions." Not everyone is impressed with the handling of the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart, though; Car and Driver criticizes the "unnerving steering-wheel tugging" that is noticeable "during aggressive acceleration," while Cars.com states that the Ralliart model's "ride can become disruptive over potholes or other major bumps." Cars.com adds, though, that the Ralliart “confidently carves through turns” and has “weighty steering feel” that fits its demeanor.

Conclusion: For everyday driving, the four-cylinder 2008 Mitsubishi Galant will do; if you're looking for a fun, sporty drive, upgrade to the Ralliart's V-6.

2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT COMFORT AND QUALITY | [7 out of 10]

ConsumerGuide: "Easily accommodates six-footers"
Edmunds: "Roomy for four"
Cars.com: "folding seatback is not available"

The Mitsubishi Galant 2008 is a roomy and comfortable car, but there are a few repeated complaints about the quality and storage space/accessibility.

As ConsumerGuide points out, the car "easily accommodates six-footers." Not only that, but "three adults fit without undue crowding," which is a seemingly impossible task to accomplish in a mid-size. Edmunds agrees, calling the 2008 Galant "roomy for four." Reviewers also rave about the soft, comfortable seats available in the Mitsubishi Galant 2008 model, and for those who prefer a firmer support, the Ralliart model fits the bill. Cars.com concurs, stating that the front seats offer "plenty of support and not too much side bolstering," and adds “the Ralliart's leather-covered front bucket seats are quite comfortable and include seat heaters and driver-side power adjustments.” Motor Trend points out its “fabulous backseat -- oodles of foot room, terrific thigh support, nice armrests, and plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room.”

While there is enough space for drivers and passengers, there isn't much storage space for large items. Reviewers at TheCarConnection.com learned quickly that trunk space is a big drawback in the Mitsubishi 2008 Galant; one of the most frequent complaints is that it has a smaller trunk (13.3 cubic feet) than all of its competitors. Consumer Guide actually finds more problems with the design, saying that the "short decklid and high liftover limit utility of the roomy, usefully shaped trunk." And as Cars.com points out, "All four competitors offer folding rear seats in at least some trim levels," while the 2008 Galant doesn't. The Galant does offer a ski pass-through, but a lack of folding backseats equals a lack of storage space. ConsumerGuide sums it up: "Cabin storage is nothing special."

Another downfall of the 2008 Galant is in interior materials. As Edmunds states, "The Galant suffers from the typical Mitsubishi trait of subpar interior materials quality," and when put up against its competitors, it just doesn't match their "refined look and feel." Motor Trend reports, “Much of the plastic is cheap-looking.” Cars.com finds the opposite: "Mitsubishi used good-quality materials."

According to Cars.com, road noise isn’t necessarily so bad in the base models of the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant, but they say that in the Galant Ralliart, “road noise ranges from tolerable to intrusive.”

Conclusion: The 2008 Mitsubishi Galant is spacious and generally quite comfortable, but the limited storage capacity and quality of materials are disappointing.

2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT SAFETY | [9 out of 10]

NHTSA: Five out of five stars for frontal and side impacts for both driver and front passenger
IIHS: Overall "good" rating
Edmunds: "impressive crash test scores"

The 2008 Mitsubishi Galant achieves the highest crash-test scores in government safety testing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Galant five stars for front-impact protection; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the Galant as “good” for front impacts. Both are "impressive crash test scores," Edmunds acknowledges.

Among the standard safety features are dual front airbags, side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. Also on the roster: four-wheel disc brakes, a tire pressure monitor, daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes (for all models except the DE), and even traction control on the Ralliart. The major omission, as Cars.com points out, is that "an electronic stability system is not available."

Visibility is good, according to Cars.com, on the Mitsubishi Galant for 2008, “Thanks to a broad rear window and low trunk, rear sightlines are excellent.”

Conclusion: Achieving the top ratings possible, the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant is one of the safest cars in its class, but it lacks stability control, and ABS is an option on base versions.

2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT FEATURES | [8 out of 10]

Cars.com: "GTS trim no longer available"
Automobile: "killer audio system"

On the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant, TheCarConnection.com believes the sound system may be the most noteworthy feature of all.

There are three trim levels available on the 2008 Mitsubishi Galant: the DE, the ES, and the sporty Ralliart. The DE comes standard with "16-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, air-conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, full power accessories, keyless entry and a four-speaker stereo with single-CD player," according to Edmunds. No options are offered on this version.

The Galant ES adds cruise control and six speakers for the audio system; upgrading to the Sport package adds more features, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and rear spoiler. The Ralliart gets sport seats, a V-6 engine, sport suspension tuning, and other features like 18-inch wheels, which Automobile says gives it "more dignity than a typical mid-size rental."

Among the options, Mitsubishi hits a high note with its audio system. As Edmunds points out, the Premium system, available in the Sport package and on the Ralliart, consists of "an upgraded eight-speaker Rockford Acoustic Design sound system with six-CD/MP3 changer and satellite radio." The package also provides a sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels, and leather seats.

A DVD navigation system is on the options list.

Conclusion: The 2008 Mitsubishi Galant offers a variety of features--most notably the Rockford Fosgate sound system.