Mitsubishi’s mid-sized sedan makes a Galant comeback

As far as product lifecycles are concerned, the eighth-generation (counting from the first-generation Galant in 1974) shark-nosed Mitsubishi Galant has had one of Tolkienesque proportions. Its basic body and platform first made its local debut in late 1997. That’s over eight years ago! That first model came in two variants: a 2.0-liter Super Saloon and a 2.5-liter 24-valve V6-equipped VR flagship. The latter model quietly disappeared from the landscape in 2000 with the Super Saloon soldiering on and eventually evolving into the sportier GTA model in 2002.

In the intervening years, the Galant’s competitors have grown in both number and physical size. The 8th-gen Galant saw off two generations each of Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords, Hyundai Sonatas as well as an untold number of Nissan Cefiros. Its Opel Vectra GM rival has ridden off into the sunset, replaced by the much bigger but underrated Chevrolet Lumina. Then there is also the racy Mazda6.

So what does Mitsubishi do to make a name for itself in this relatively small yet high-profile segment? Launch the 9th-generation Galant, that’s what! Which is precisely what Mitsubishi does today in festive rites at the Le Pavillon near Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City.

Now called Galant 240M, Mitsubishi’s latest and much-awaited mid-sized contender is bigger and better in every way. Despite all-new sheetmetal, the new Galant is instantly identifiable as a Mitsu, thanks to the now-trademark split grille and triangle-shaped "beak" with large chrome Mitsubishi logo in the center. The headlamps (with those exotic-looking High-Intensity Discharge bulbs) and taillamps are bold and expressive; the sides smooth and gimmick-free. It has a gracefully sloping roofline that tapers off with a near-fastback backlight. A prominent styling element is the sharp and near-vertical curve of the C-pillar. Yet another is the Mercedes-inspired side mirror-mounted signal lamps. Overall, the new Galant wears a look of understated elegance with a hint of sportiness.

Under the hood is a 2.4-liter SOHC 16-valve inline-4 motor with Mitsubishi’s MIVEC variable valve timing. (The Galant 240M gets its name from its engine displacement and the MIVEC system.) It develops 162 ps at a relatively low 5500 rpm and 22.3 kg-m at 4000 rpm. The only transmission it comes with is a 4-speed automatic with artificially intelligent driver-adaptive INVECS-II software and Mitsubishi’s Sportronic manumatic shifting.

Just like the previous-generation Galant, this latest one rides on independent MacPherson struts in front and multilinks at the rear with coil springs and stabilizer bars fore and aft. It rolls on 16x6.5-inch wheels wrapped by 215/60R-16 tires. Braking is by ventilated front/rear solid discs with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution or EBD.

Inside the spacious and well-appointed interior, you’ll find leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel (that frames a large instrument panel with cool blue 3-stage illumination), tasteful wood trim, an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, full-auto climate control, rear aircon vents, and a CD/MP3/AM/FM audio system that can be upgraded with a subwoofer and center speaker. It even has a fin-type roof-mounted antenna similar to those seen on new BMWs.

Safety features include a driver-side airbag, Euro-standard ISO-Fix child seat provisions, auto-on headlamps, rear bumper parking sensors, high-visibility LED taillamps and third brakes lamps, side-impact beams, the aforementioned ABS and EBD, 3-point ELR seatbelts for four passengers, and an emergency trunk lid release latch. Security comes from an alarm system with engine immobilizer.

So will the new P1.548M Galant take its established competitors to task? Only time and the fickle Filipino buyers will tell.