Mitsubishi still seems to be finding its way after years and years of struggling with lagging sales. Things are at least looking up somewhat with the new Eclipse and Outlander, but other vehicles like the Lancer and more importantly Galant, are lagging behind in terms of styling. The Galant is forced to battle it out in one of the most competitive segments in the automotive world, the mid-size sedan category.

For 2007, though, Canadians have been given a Ralliart version of the Galant, and there's no doubt that it does the job in terms of performance - as in, a powerful V6 engine, gobs (yes, gobs) of low-end torque, 18" wheels and tires, fog lights and aluminum pedals. Unfortunately, it still lags behind in terms of quality, especially when stacked up against the likes of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Dodge Charger. Sure, the former two can't touch the Galant Ralliart in terms of performance, but can't sportiness and quality go hand-in-hand?

The Galant Ralliart replaces the GTS model in Canada, and comes nicely-equipped at a shade under $35,000, which isn't a bad price at all. There are really no options to choose from but I always say, this keeps things simple, especially when so many standard items are included (automatic climate control, leather interior, navigation system and premium audio system to name just a few of the cooler add-ons).

The Galant's V6 is mated to a 5-speed auto transmission that has the ever-popular manual-shift feature. The full automatic mode does its job quite well though and the manual shifting is mostly unnecessary. It's the one aspect, actually, that makes this a little less sporty - the fact that all you really have to do is 'press-gas-go-fast'. No thinking involved.

Though the seats are a little lacking in support and comfort, it is roomy for four adults (using its five-person capacity is pushing things a little bit). It may not be much for road-trippin', but it can still handle daily commutes to and from work.

It was a very smart move on Mitsubishi's part to keep the price low on the 2007 Galant Ralliart. It doesn't stand up to its competitors in categories such as fit and finish, but the vehicle is admittedly very fun. Seeing the low price may be just enough to lure prospective parents into a test drive, and seeing how fun it is to drive, the Galant Ralliart could take away some Accord and Camry drivers.

Summary:
Test vehicle: 2007 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart
Price range: $24,998 to $34,998
Test model price: $34,998 (before taxes)
Options: No options
Freight: $1,245
Basic warranty: 5 years/100,000 km
Competition: Dodge Charger; Subaru Legacy; Nissan Altima 3.5; Pontiac G6 GTP; Mazdaspeed6

Strengths:

• Great performance
• Good price
• Big, easy-to-use buttons and controls

Weaknesses:

• Awkward seating for tall drivers
• Interior looks, feels cheap
• No manual transmission available