It’s not enough to be a good car these days.  Not everyone wants to be a fashion plate, of course, but cars that can’t stand out from the herds of generic three-box sedans clogging the freeways are increasingly doomed to also-ran status, no matter how good they are.  As a result, the competent and conservative wallflowers of the industry have taken it upon themselves to dress up a little in recent years.

A lack of distinction has always been the only problem for Mitsubishi’s Galant.  Long hailed as an equal to segment heavyweights Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Galant tended to get lost in the parking lot shuffle thanks to a face that was somewhat, ahem, understated.  Actually it was downright anonymous.  For 2004, Mitsubishi has changed that as an all-new Galant makes its debut, with a powerful new V6 engine and all-new family-look sheetmetal.  It’s not a left-field design like the wacky Nissan Maxima, but the ’04 Galant is identifiable as a member of the Mitsubishi family at a glance, and that’s a good thing.

The new design incorporates a beakish front end, with a split grille and a distinct character line that flows into the hood.  The look was first seen on the Outlander SUV, and repeated on the Endeavor.  As Mitsubishi revamps the entire lineup, the Diamante and Lancer will also take on this family sheetmetal.  It’s striking without being weird, thanks to smoothly integrated lines.  The car’s visual size is enhanced by a waistline which rises toward the rear of the car, and by rakish C-pillars at the rear.  It’s considerably wider than the outgoing Galant, for improvements in interior room and handling.  The rear is angular, with a vague resemblance to Volvo.  New 16″ wheels are standard, with 17s available on the sporty Galant GTS, but the overall design is still generally subdued.  Even GTS models get little more than foglights and special grille treatments to distinguish them.  Mitsubishi says the new car “speaks softly, but carries a big V6,” which is apt, but we haven’t yet decided if we’re going to forgive them for the awful pun.  As for the design, we got a thumbs-up on the freeway from a couple driving a Chrysler 300.  We’re used to getting kudos while driving flashy Hummers and Jaguars, but not family sedans.

Under the skin, the new Galant is stronger, and Mitsubishi hopes this will translate into a quieter, more luxurious ride.  The new interior is as eye-catching as the exterior, thanks to bold two-toning and a prominent center stack whose design was influenced by home entertainment systems.  It’s similar to that of the handsome Endeavor, and lights up blue at night for mixed reviews.  Contrasting trim flows from the dash into the doors, and the three-dial instrument panel is far sportier than previous Galants.  On the safety front, side-impact airbags are available.

Two engines are offered.  The 2.4 liter four-cylinder is similar to that offered in the new Lancer Ralliart, with Mitsubishi’s Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC).  MIVEC offers more aggressive cam profiles at higher engine speeds, allowing the 160-horsepower engine to work harder when it’s time for acceleration.  The 2.4 is also on the low-emissions happy-list in several states.  Leadfeet will want to upgrade to the all-new 230-horsepower 3.8 liter V6 that we drove.  For the moment, this powerplant is the most powerful in the segment.  The 3.8 is a torquey long-stroke engine, with most of its power available down low in the rev range.  It’s happy on the freeway, too.  Both engines are hooked up to a four-speed automatic transmission.

The suspension is familiar; MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link rear, for a fully independent ride.  The rear suspension is compact, to help maximize trunk space and keep the center of gravity low for better handling.  The stiffer suspension available in the Galant GTS may be a bit too taut for some.  Four-wheel disc brakes are now standard on all Galants, and traction control is available but somewhat lacking in reaction time compared to others.

The new Galant is available in four trim levels; DE, ES, LS V6, and GTS, in order of increasing price.  The base-line DE comes with the four-cylinder engine and includes keyless entry, air conditioning and a CD player as standard equipment.  The options list appears to contain a lot of trickle-down from the luxurious Diamante, with premium sound systems, leather interiors and wood trim on the menu.  We drove a hot-rod Galant GTS, which was equipped with a selectable “manumatic” transmission, larger wheels and a stiffer suspension including a strut tower brace.  Pricing for the ’04 Galants hasn’t been set yet [that is, it wasn't set when this article was written in 2003! --author], but if it’s anything close to the current model Mitsubishi may find itself getting the attention of a lot of new buyers.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2004 Mitsubishi Galant. GTS, which we tested.
Length:         190.4 in.
Width:            72.4 in.
Height:            57.9 in.
Wheelbase:        108.3 in.
Cargo space:        13.3 cu.ft.
Engine:     3.8 liter SOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:         230 @ 5250
Torque:         250 @ 4000

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