New Car Review of the 2005 Mitsubishi Galant Mid-Size Sedan

Description: Mid-Size Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $18,999 - $26,499
Invoice Price Range: $18,107 - $24,960
Where built: USA

Mitsubishi's mid-size sedan series scored a glitzy new design in 2004 with a larger five-seat cabin and stronger powertrains pumping more usable torque. These issues continue into the 2005 line but with seat-mounted side air bags as standard equipment on all versions -- from the DX price leader and a mass-market ES to the luxury-laced LS and top-of-the-line GTS.

Cabin decor varies from trim to trim, beginning with a treatment in black for DX but adding metallic silver highlights for ES. And the top-end GTS gets fine leather upholstery.

Mitsubishi puts muscle aboard from 4-cylinder and V6 powertrains. A base four displaces 2.4-liters and rocks with 160-hp. A 3.8-liter V6 makes 230-hp and works with a Sportronic automatic. Galant DE has the 4-cylinder plant and a 4-speed automatic transaxle with disc brakes, while Galant ES upgrades with anti-lock brake system (ABS). Galant LS V6 uses a Sportronic automatic with traction control system (TCS), as GTS V6 earns sporty suspension tweaking plus projector headlamps up front.