After spending time with the majority of Mitsubishi's relatively small lineup over the past couple of months, it seems obvious why people seem to be shying away from that company's vehicles - drivers expect so much out of cars nowadays and Mitsubishi hasn't quite reached the ultra high standards of other Japanese automakers. Most of Mitsubishi's vehicles are quite competent - including our latest tester the Galant sedan - but there's nothing about them that makes them really stand out.

The Galant, at the very least, covers all the hallmarks needed of a midsize family sedan. First and foremost, customers have the choice of two engines (an 2.4-litre inline 4 or a 3.8-litre V6), a comfy ride and room for five.

The styling is also a little more 'out there' than a lot of family sedans, though Toyota pushes things a notch or two further with its 2007 Camry redesign. As with most Mitsubishis, it doesn't stand up to the '07 Camry in terms of interior material quality, though not much does.

Also as with most Mitsubishi's, it may lose out in horsepower but trumps competitors when it comes to torque, where it has more than the V6-equipped Camry and Accord. Unfortunately, the only transmission available in the Galant is the 4-speed automatic, whereas the aforementioned competitors have a more fuel-efficient 6-speed and 5-speed, respectively. The LS and GTS Galants get a clutchless automatic that allows the driver to choose gears on their own. It helps with saving fuel or allowing for more aggressive driving, depending on how you like to drive, but it's nothing compared to the Camry's.

There's a lot of standard safety equipment on most 2006 Galants, but it's worth noting that the lowest trim level, the DE, doesn't come with ABS brakes, traction control or a tire pressure monitoring system.

The Galant GTS includes standard front heated seats, CD changer and tire pressure monitor - the first two only come on the much more expensive Camry XLE. The top-of-the-line Galant GTS costs a bit more than the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord's top trim levels but come with a lot more standard stuff.

The Galant really is a perfectly respectable vehicle for families. It's quiet, it's comfortable and safe, it handles very nicely, it has a big trunk for long trips, it's attractive and it can be quite fun for those ocassions when more lively driving permits itself. And if you're worried about how reliable it is compared to other Japanese entries, never forget Mitsubishi's excellent warranty.