2009 Mitsubishi Galant Sport Review

MPG-o-Matic Mitsubishi Galant Sport Review Summary: The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant competes with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu among others in the highly competitive mid-size sedan market. The four-door Galant Sport delivers real-world fuel economy and value for the dollar.

Under the hood, the 2009 Galant Sport is equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine which produces 160 horsepower (HP) and 155 foot pounds of torque. The inline four is exclusively mated to a Sportronic four-speed automatic transmission.

If you crave horsepower over fuel economy, you’ll want to look to the top of the Galant line-up for the Sport V6 and Ralliart editions.

Both the Sport V6 and Ralliart are fitted with a 3.8-liter V6. The engine in the Sport V6 model produces 230 HP and 250 foot pounds of torque, while the Ralliart’s mill delivers 258 / 258. Both the Sport V6 and Ralliart are equipped with a Sportronic five-speed automatic.

The EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the four-cylinder 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Sport are 20 city / 27 highway miles per gallon (MPG).

We rolled up over six hundred miles on our Maizen Blue Pearl review unit and shattered the official Mitsubishi Galant mileage estimates, with an average of 34.1 MPG on the Interstate highway and 26.9 MPG combined.

As with the majority of vehicle’s we’ve tested, the Galant Sport scored better higher highway mileage with the cruise control off. Test period temperatures ranged from the sixties through the seventies. Highway testing was performed with the windows up, air conditioning off.

While the Galant responds extremely well to conscientious driving, Mitsubishi does not provide an instant fuel economy gauge as standard equipment. We used an Auto Meter Ecometer to provide the feedback necessary to achieve better gas mileage results by using a light-footed driving technique.

Note: It appears that the top-of-the-line 2009 Ralliart is the only Galant that can be configured from the factory with optional Mitsubishi Multi Communication System-equipped Navigation package. An instant fuel economy display is included in the flat-screen Nav system.

With a curb weight of 3,483 pounds, the 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated engine has its work cut out for it, off the line.

The Sportronic transmission lets you keep the four-banger in its powerband for a more enjoyable run when the road gets twisty. 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) are standard equipment.

Our test unit was equipped with the Sport Value Package with sunroof. On the exterior, the package include fog lights, handsome 18-inch alloy wheels and P235/45-18 tires, and a tasteful deck lid spoiler. Inside the cabin, the package adds a well-designed sport wrapped steering wheel with stealthy audio controls, hands-free Bluetooth, and heated front seats, among other features.

The Galant’s standard four-speaker audio system is ripe for upgrade. While it will play MP3 CDs, it does not provide digital music input as a standard feature. An iPod USB adapter is available as optional equipment.

The Sport Edition provides an eight-way adjustable drivers seat with manual lumbar support. There is a single power outlet at the front of the center console.

The mettle of a mid-sized sedan is just how comfortable is the back seat. The Galant passes the test with 37 inches of rear headroom and legroom, 56.6 inches of rear shoulder room, and 53.7 inches of rear hip room.

The Galant’s trunk is adequate, though not cavernous. While the rear seat does not fold down, there is a convenient center-passthrough for longer cargo.

All-in-all, we found the American-made Mitsubishi Galant Sport to deliver a solid value with a combination of ride, style, and real-world fuel economy.

Parts Content

US/Canadian Parts Content: 61%
Major Sources of Foreign Parts Content:
Japan 30%

Country of Origin:
Engine: Japan
Transmission: Japan

Final Assembly Point:
Normal, Illinois

– by Daniel Gray