2004 Mitsubishi Galant Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The 2004 Galant is entirely new. It's substantially larger than the previous-generation model. Nearly 5 inches has been added to the wheelbase, 3 inches to the overall length, 4 inches to the width and 2 inches to the height.

The new Galant also makes a stronger styling statement. Not everyone agrees on the success of the design, but there's no disputing it's fresh and different. Head on, the Galant brings to mind the Mitsubishi Endeavor and Outlook SUVs. A dominating, vertical bar splits the grille, the outboard ends of which bend upward as if it's grinning. Sculpted headlight housings cover the forward edges of the front fenders. A strong, fully integrated, one-piece bumper and lower fascia with inset foglights complete the presentation.

The profile of the Galant avoids the traditional box-on-box look commonly associated with conservative mid-size sedans. The roofline picks up from the graceful sweep of the hood and arcs cleanly over perfectly proportioned side windows. Door handles are perfect matches of each other with easy-to-grasp, full-round pulls. Wheel arches are mildly blistered and circular, wrapping concentrically around the tires. The deck lid seems truncated, as if it were abruptly chopped off when somebody realized it was getting too long to stay in balance with the front overhang. The aerodynamicists argue this works well in a wind tunnel, by way of relaxing the air flow over the rear of the car, but on the street, it's a bit of a visual hiccup.

The view from the rear is something else, almost as if different people designed the two ends of the car. Where the front is soft and sculpted, the back is angular and carved, trending much more toward the vertical than the opposite end of the car. Adding to the awkward, not-quite-finished look, the license plate hangs off the lower edge of the rear bumper, almost as if it were an afterthought. The GTS presents a much more finished rear departure, with a nicely tailored, understated spoiler lip along the trailing edge of the trunk lid and modular-looking taillight assemblies.

Interior Features

The 2004 Galant offers a roomy, comfortable interior. The seats are supportive without being overly firm. The GTS seems to offer a bit more support because the leather is more supportive than the cloth upholstery. Also, the GTS offers more adjustment. A dead pedal is positioned on the same plane as the accelerator, giving the driver a place to brace the left leg when cornering or for reduced strain on long drivers.

The Galant offers more headroom than the 2004 Honda Accord does, but the Accord has more leg room. Otherwise, interior roominess is comparable to that of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima. Taller people should think twice about ordering the sunroof, as it lowers front headroom by 2 inches. Visibility is good all around, notably to the rear quarters, thanks to decently slim C-pillars. The high beltline gives passengers a secure feeling.

Controls are right-sized and easy to use, with knobs and buttons and rocker switches galore. The HVAC (heater) knobs are big and easy to operate even with gloves on. The A/C indicator is hard to see in bright sunlight, however. At night the instruments are cobalt blue on black.

Quality of materials is hit and miss, with the climate control and audio panel a major hit, making the rest more of a miss than it'd otherwise be. The dash has a clinical look, friendly to the eyes but cold and austere in presence. Geometric shapes and angles in the steering wheel spokes don't mesh well with the slopes, arcs and arches of the gauge cluster. The interior of the DE model is quite plain. The GTS gets woodgrain trim designed to look like bird's-eye maple, but it comes off looking like plastic. The standard steering wheel doesn't feel like a high-quality piece; the Diamond Package replaces it with a nicer leather-wrapped wheel. Each door has a storage pocket. Two medium-size cup holders are molded into the front center console rearward of the shift gate; dust, dirt and spilled liquids are likely to require regular wipe-ups.

The rear seat is reasonably roomy and adequate, though the seating position is a bit low and the bottom cushions could offer a bit more thigh support. The rear seats offer decent headroom in spite of the Galant's dramatically sloping roofline.

The Galant's trunk is larger than the Accord's and the trunk lid opens wide. The trunk opening is a bit restricted, however, and the rear seats cannot be folded down to extend the cargo space.