Mitsubishi Galant

Mitsubishi Galant at a glance

Mitsubishi used the name on several spin-offs, such as the Galant GTO and FTO coupes and the Galant Lambda, which are listed separately on our Mitsubishi brand page.

Generations

Years follow the Japanese launch; the eighth generation stayed on sale outside Europe and North America until 2006. Chassis codes are given where Wikipedia or ADAC name them.

The rear-drive Galants (1969-1984)

The Colt Galant appeared in December 1969 as a four-door saloon with "Saturn" four-cylinder engines of 1.3 and 1.5 litres, followed by an estate, a two-door hardtop, the GTO fastback and the small FTO coupe. A 1.7-litre with 85 kW (115 PS) topped the range from January 1973. The second generation of 1973 added the Astron engines of up to 2.0 litres and 92 kW (125 PS).

The third and fourth generations were sold as the Galant Sigma, and in some markets as the Galant Eterna or Mitsubishi Sigma; Australia built its own with a 2.6-litre Astron four. The fourth generation of 1980 offered a Sirius turbo petrol with 107 kW (145 PS) in Japan and 115 kW (156 PS) for export, and a 2.3-litre turbodiesel with 62 kW (84 PS) that Wikipedia describes as Japan's first turbodiesel passenger-car engine.

Front-wheel drive and the VR-4 (1983-1996)

The fifth Galant of August 1983 was the first with front-wheel drive. Europe received it from 1984 as a saloon and hardtop with 1.6 to 2.0-litre petrol engines and a diesel; the 2.4-litre 4G64 version was sold in Europe as the Sapporo. In Japan a 2.0-litre V6, the Cyclone, arrived in October 1986.

The sixth generation of October 1987 was Japan Car of the Year 1987. Its Galant VR-4, with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4G63 and four-wheel drive, was Mitsubishi's World Rally Championship car from 1988 to 1992, and the same engine and drivetrain went on to the Lancer Evolution. ADAC's German list for this generation runs from the 1800 GLi with 66 kW (90 PS) to the 2000 16V GTi with 107 kW (146 PS), including a 2000 GLSi 4WD.

The seventh generation of September 1992 brought a 2.0-litre V6 with 110 kW (150 PS) and a 2.5 V6-24 4WD with 125 kW (170 PS) to Germany. In Japan the VR-4 now had a twin-turbo 2.0-litre V6 and weighed 1,430 kg.

Eighth generation (1996-2003): GDI and the estate

The eighth Galant arrived in 1996, again won Japan Car of the Year (1996-97), and introduced the 1.8-litre 4G93 GDI, the first mass-produced car engine with petrol direct injection. Europe received a saloon and an estate. ADAC lists the 2000 GLS with 100 kW (136 PS), the GDI 2400 GLS with 110 kW (150 PS) and the 2500 V6-24 with 120 kW (163 PS) from January 1997. After the October 2000 facelift the range was the 2.0 with 98 kW (133 PS), the 2.4 GDI with 106 kW (144 PS) and the 2.5 V6-24 with 118 kW (161 PS). German sales ended in December 2003. Japan also had a twin-turbo 2.5 V6 VR-4 in saloon and Legnum estate form.

Ninth generation (2003-2012): built in Illinois

The final Galant was mainly a North American car, built in Normal, Illinois, from October 2003 and sold in a few other markets, but not in Europe. It used a 2.4-litre 4G69 four-cylinder with 119 kW (160 hp) or a 3.8-litre 6G75 V6 with 175 kW (235 hp); the Ralliart had 192 kW (258 hp) and weighed 1,696 kg. Australia built a related car as the Mitsubishi 380 with a 175 kW V6. The Concept-ZT of 2007 was expected to become a tenth Galant, but it never reached production.

Engines and performance

Our power converter translates these figures into other units.

Dimensions and space

Our sources give no official boot volumes, so we leave them out. The figures show the class: the Galant was a typical D-segment family car of its time.

Running costs and prices

ADAC records these German starting prices (older figures converted from Deutsche Mark): EUR 12,501 for the 1800 GLi (1991), EUR 18,958 for the 1800 GLSi (1995), EUR 20,882 for the 2000 GLS (1997) and EUR 22,350 for the 2.0 Comfort (2000). The 2.5 V6-24 4WD of 1993 cost EUR 29,322. Today Galants are cheap used cars or, in VR-4 form, collector's cars. Calculate fuel costs with our fuel cost calculator.

Safety

Our sources contain no Euro NCAP result for any Galant sold in Europe. The US NHTSA tested the sixth, seventh and eighth generations, but the results are not included in the material we used, so we do not quote them.

Reliability and known issues

We found no reliable fault statistics or recall lists for the Galant in our sources and do not repeat forum claims. The GDI engine was new technology in 1996; on any used car, service history matters more than the badge.

Rivals

Compare versions side by side with our comparison tool.

Photo gallery