2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart - Imagine our surprise then, when we first toed into the Ralliart’s throttle and it responded right now! In fact, the reaction is almost too quick—the average Camry driver would likely provoke the Gallant into a full-blown tire-spinning, traction-control-inducing launch—but once you respect the throttle, it’s a good thing.

Hey, this sedan feels pretty strong, too, and, in fact, it is quick. At the track, we blasted to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 14.8, which is enough to outrun all four V-6–powered mid-size sedans with automatics (Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, and previous-generation Toyota Camry) from the last comparo. This wasn’t a total surprise, however, as the Ralliart is powered by a 258-hp version of the 3.8-liter V-6—an engine we’ve found to be quite vigorous in the Eclipse GT—which is 28 more horsepower than this V-6 makes in lesser Galants. The nearly 3800-pound Ralliart is a bit of a brute, though, outweighing that comparo-winning Accord by almost 350 pounds.

However, the Ralliart can’t keep up with an Accord V-6 manual or the V-6 versions of the new-for-2007 Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. And although Mitsubishi would like you to consider the Ralliart a Mazdaspeed 6 competitor, to us, that’s a different, far-sportier animal, one we would classify as a sports sedan. The Mazda doesn’t offer as much passenger space, but it's far quicker, has all-wheel drive, handles better, and doesn’t cost much more, either.

The steering is a touch light on-center but then weights up, although it doesn’t provide Accord levels of feedback. Suspension motions are deliberate and well controlled, and the Ralliart pulled 0.83 g on the skidpad, shaming most mid-size-sedan competitors. It even understeers less than we expected. The ride does suffer, though, as the car tends to clomp heavily on pothole-ridden roads. We think it’s stiff enough to scare off the average Accord or Camry buyer, but maybe that’s a good thing.

On the upside, the Galant has enough space front and rear for over-six-footers and a class-competitive, 13-cubic-foot trunk. But it doesn’t stack up nearly as well when it comes to interior materials. There are lots of cheap-looking hard plastics throughout, and the $1850 touch-screen navigation system—the Ralliart’s only factory option—looks tacked on, isn’t all that easy to use, and washes out in direct sunlight.

The $27,624 Galant Ralliart is the top Galant model—a far cry from a base $20,524, 160-hp four-cylinder model. The Ralliart starts $2000 higher than the 230-hp GTS model that has the same 3.8-liter V-6. At least the Ralliart has a bunch of standard equipment, including leather seats (heated in front), automatic climate control, a sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Sirius satellite radio (with a six-month subscription), and HomeLink.

However, set the vehicular sights a bit lower—think Chrysler Sebring or Chevy Impala—and the Ralliart is worth a look for those who want a sporty mid-size sedan. It’s not only competitive on price but is also much quicker and more rewarding to drive. You might just be as surprised as we were.