2007 MITSUBISHI GALANT RALLIART

Transcription

1 2007 MITSUBISHI GALANT RALLIART A midsize front-wheel-drive sedan, the Galant is available in three trims: ES, LS and Ralliart. Only the ES comes with a four-cylinder engine; the other two are powered by a V6. The Ralliart is a new version, replacing the GTS. Distinguishing features include a more powerful MIVEC engine, a sport suspension paired with 18-inch wheels, a distinctive interior and exclusive styling touches. Interior and trunk The front seats are easily accessible and very comfortable thanks among other things to a high seatback and good side support. The driver gets adjustable lumbar support. The driving position is very good even though the steering column has only a tilt feature. With the sunroof, headroom is a bit tight for tall people. Access to the back is easy, and the bench seat is comfortable for two adults. While legroom is good, headroom is limited for tall individuals. The seatback does not fold; there is only a small pass-through to the trunk. The trunk is roomy but its small opening limits the size of objects that can be stowed inside. What s more, the navigation system s disc charger is mounted to the top of the trunk where it can easily be banged when loading cargo. Mitsubishi won t win any awards for ingenuity for this design. Convenience and safety The cabin is generally well finished, but there is room for improvement as far as the joints at the ends of the dashboard are concerned. All materials are of good quality. There are several good storage spaces, including a spacious centre console. Photo: Mitsubishi

2 Instruments and controls are well laid out. Only the power window control on the driver s side is lighted at night. The navigation system s screen stands way up and, unfortunately, is not retractable. The heating system is efficient. Safety equipment includes dual front, side and air curtain airbags, bright headlights, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. In front, the head restraints are too far back from the head while in the rear, the two protuberances on the top of the backrests cannot really qualify as head restraints. Visibility is good except to the rear and on a rear slant, which makes it hard to judge distances. In US government tests, the Ralliart obtained five stars out of five for frontoccupant protection in a frontal collision and for all occupants in a side collision, and four stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Ralliart a Good rating, its highest, for driver protection in an offset front collision and for all occupants in a side collision. It gave it a Poor rating, the lowest, for rear-impact protection. Engine and transmission The Ralliart s 3.8-litre V6 with the MIVEC electronic valve timing system puts out 258 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Without this system in the LS version, the V6 produces 230 horsepower and 250 pounds of torque. The Ralliart accelerates with alacrity, and pickup is instantaneous. This is an energetic, supple engine and it is very well adapted to the sport sedan Ralliart. It has a nice sonority in strong acceleration, but otherwise runs very quietly. It meets LEV (Low Emissions Vehicle) standards. The five-speed automatic transmission shifts with silky smoothness. It is well geared, and it will let the vehicle start off in second gear. On the road The Ralliart s sport suspension offers a finely tuned mix of firmness and compliance and provides a firm, comfortable ride. At times, though infrequently, you can feel an almost harsh reaction. Road holding is very good. The Ralliart has a tenacious grip and will demonstrate understeer only if it is pushed to the limit. The power steering is heavy at low speed, after which it is well weighted. It is steady, precise and quick, but its turning circle is very wide, which complicates parking and other manoeuvres in tight quarters. The four-wheel disc brakes are powerful and resist well to fade.

3 In our inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical centre, we found that the Ralliart is generally well assembled, with a sturdy underside and suspension, good corrosion protection and a well-designed emergency brake. However, the windshield washer fluid level cannot be checked, and there is a big opening under the front bumper through which debris could reach and damage the transmission cooler, air-conditioner condenser and radiator. The overhead cams are chain driven. Consumer Reports magazine predicts average reliability for the Ralliart. Conclusion Thanks to its engine, transmission, road comportment, standard equipment, warranty and quality-price-performance ratio, the Ralliart should prove attractive to certain buyers. However, with its navigation system layout and the lack of such elements as a folding rear seatback and effective rear head restraints, the Ralliart is starting to show its age in a category where nearly all the competition is of more recent design. PROS: lively engine, smooth transmission, comfortable front seats, road comportment, good warranty and standard equipment CONS: no folding seatback, wide turning circle, front head restraints too far back from he head, disc charger in trunk, small trunk opening, no real rear head restraints MITSUBISHI GALANT 2007 Engine: 16-valve, 2.4-litre 4-cylinder; 24-valve, V6, 3.8-liter; MIVEC 24-valve, V6, 3.8-liter Horsepower: 160 hp at 5,500 rpm; 230 hp at 5,250 rpm; 258 hp at 5,750 rpm Torque: 157 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm; 250 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm; 258 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm Transmission: 4-speed automatic; 5-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 275 cm Length: cm Width: 184 cm Height: cm Weight: 1,560 to 1,700 kg Tires: P215/60R16; P215/55R17; P235/45R18 Maximum towing capacity: prohibited Airbags: dual front, plus two side and two curtain airbags

4 Fuel consumption with 3.8-liter MIVEC: Transport Canada rating: City 12.8 L/100 km (22 mpg) Highway 8 L/100 km (35 mpg) Test result: 9 L/100 km (31 mpg) Test temperature: C to 5 0 C Fuel tank capacity: 67 litres Fuel requirement: premium grade gasoline Acceleration: km/h: 6.9 seconds km/h: 4.5 seconds Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Magentis, Mazda6, Nissan Altima et Maxima, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat. Warranty: Full basic coverage: 5 years/100,000 km Powertrain: 10 years/160,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 5 years/100,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system). Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $653 Front brake disc: $133 Brake pads: $75 Muffler: $363 Front fender: $282 Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $779 to $1,098 Price according to trim level: ES: $24,998 LS: $28,498 Ralliart: $34,998 Main options: Diamond Package: $3,000 (ES)

5 Price as tested: $34,998 Freight and preparation: $1,245 Dealers: Quebec: 18 Canada: 61 December All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec