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The 4-cylinder Galant
was called a “generally good car without a reason to overlook its flaws.”
Choosing the V6 option gives a reason to overlook the car’s other flaws. It
provides exceptional acceleration, a nice complement to the car’s nimble
handling to give it a sporty feel all around. The V6 version costs more and
gets rather poor gas mileage, but it has what the 4-cylinder lacks: a unique
strong point in this class.
The Galant has a
comfortable, though rather firm ride. It is well-controlled, but is not as
absorbent as many family sedan competitors. The car handles well, with
responsive steering that offers good feedback, but it doesn’t feel as nimble
and fun to drive as the most sport-focused competitors. The 3.8-liter V6 blows
away everything else in this group, V6 or 4-cylinder, and is very smooth and
fairly quiet while doing so. Road noise is noticeable, wind noise is
unobjectionable. The Galant V6 gets the worst gas mileage in this group by a
wide margin, the tradeoff for its power.
Inside, the Galant’s
front seats could be higher, but are roomy, supportive, and well-shaped. The
rear is also too low, and headroom is somewhat lacking. The seat cushion is
very well-shaped for maximum comfort and support however, and there is plenty
of leg space. The
dash features liberal use of insubstantial shiny false aluminum, but all trim
pieces fit together well on it. Many trim pieces feel cheap on the rest of the
car however, and don't fit together as well as on the dash. The shiny plastic
trim also can make glare on the windshield, and the limited contrast of the
instruments hurts their legibility. The gauges, at least, are very large and
clear. Entry/exit is complicated by the low seats and rather small door
openings. Drivers sit fairly comfortably, and have good overall visibility.
The trunk is small, and the rear seats cannot fold to expand its volume.
The Galant did particularly
well in crash testing. It earned five stars for both the driver and for the
front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test, as well as five stars for
both the driver and for the rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test. The
IIHS rated it Good in both its offset and side crash tests, though its head
restraints were rated Poor.
The Galant reviewed here
came in at $20,294, virtually identical to the price of the 4-cylinder
version. The difference is in the features, this Galant lacks the
4-cylinder’s heated leather seats and 6-disc CD changer, but it still has
standard torso-protecting side airbags with a head-protecting extension and
antilock brakes, and a power driver’s seat. But both versions still lack a
sunroof, traction control, automatic climate control, and a power passenger
seat at that price, and stability control and curtain-style side airbags are
among the features that are not offered.
Overall, this Galant is
convincing as a sporty alternative to the typical family sedan. It has
excellent power and handles well, and still has the refinement, interior
space, and ride comfort that are required for success as a family vehicle. But
while it’s a good blend between a family and a sport sedan, it’s a pricey one
with the compromise of poor gas mileage. If sport is a more-important
consideration than economy, then this is a worthy choice. But for the majority
of family sedan shoppers, it is not.
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