2002 Mitsubishi Galant

Always a capable and pleasant automobile, Mitsubishi's Galant midrange sedan has edged up another notch in all-around appeal. Improvements for 2002 aren't exactly earthshaking, but the end result adds to the quality of the Galant driving/riding experience—which is even more enjoyable than before.

Exterior changes for 2002 include a new front grille, color-keyed bumpers, new taillights and available 6-spoke aluminum wheels.

Sure, it's basically a compact family sedan. Unlike many competitors, though, the Galant is a practical-value car that's available in a sweeping variety of configurations, from tame to a little bit torrid. Fitting between Mitsubishi's new, smaller Lancer sedan and the bigger, near-luxury Diamante, the Galant is built in Normal, Illinois. In fact, its platform also serves as the basis for the Eclipse sport coupe and Eclipse Spyder convertible.


Appearance changes for 2002 include a restyled split grille, dramatically sloping front fascia, and revised taillamps. New 16-inch six-spoke alloy wheels are mounted on LS V6 and GTZ models. The high-luminance instrument cluster has been reworked. ES and LS Galants display titanium- or bronze-look finish on interior trim panels, while the GTZ's interior has the look of carbon fiber. A new four-cylinder LS model has been added, and all Galant sedans now have an emergency inside trunk-lid release handle.

Budget-minded buyers can choose the base 2.4-liter inline four, but the available V-6 puts out 55 more horsepower.

Galants come in half a dozen varieties, based on a pair of engine possibilities. A 2.4-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder engine, rated at 140 horsepower, goes into DE, ES and LS sedans. The 3.0-liter overhead-cam V-6, installed in ES V6, LS V6 and GTZ models, produces 195 horsepower and 205 lb.-ft. of torque. Mitsubishi's four-speed automatic transmission has Adaptive Shift Control, which tailors performance to the driver's personal style—from aggressive to relaxed.


Previous Galants were good companions on the road, but now they rank as excellent. Performance is satisfying from the energetic V-6 engine and easy-shifting automatic transmission. Occupants can barely hear the engine, even when accelerating rather hard. Particularly easy to drive and to judge, the Galant also promises excellent visibility all around. Controls and conveniences are well thought-out, and the driver faces simple but easy-to-read gauges.