Mitsubishi Galant Fortis 2007-2015 used car review
The Mitsubishi Galant Fortis is a small sedan with a sporty look. It offers a lot of features for a low price.
The Mitsubishi Galant Fortis is a small sedan with a sporty look. It offers a lot of features for a low price.
The Mitsubishi Galant Fortis is the Japanese version of the Mitsubishi Lancer sold in New Zealand. The Galant has differences though in the engine and transmission options. It also has a lower level of safety equipment. It looks sporty but it is very much a conventional car to drive. A high-performance, turbocharged Ralliart version provides the basis for the famous “Evolution” model.
Inside and out
The Galant is a typical “three box” sedan. Angled headlights point towards a large, raised centre grille. At the rear, the boot is tall, with unique angled tail lights running diagonally across it. Our Sport review vehicle also has additional side skirts and front bumper caps. The alloy wheels are aftermarket.
Even though it's classified as a small car, the Galant offers the space of a medium-size car inside. You can feel how spacious it is as soon as you get in, despite its dark colour scheme. The leather-covered steering wheel has buttons for the cruise control, audio system and Bluetooth connectivity. The gauges are set into two pods, with a red LCD screen between for trip data.
Most Galants have a touchscreen infotainment system, which will require a band expander to receive local stations. The navigation system is only for Japan and does not work here. Three simple knobs control the climate control system. In the cubby below is a USB plug for connecting your phone to the stereo or for charging.
The front seats are soft, supportive and comfortable. The rear seat is excellent for a “small” car, with great leg and headroom. Three smaller adults will find it comfortable, although the middle passenger might not like the slightly raised centre section.
The Galant’s boot is an excellent size at 400 litres. Four medium and two small suitcases could fit, helped by a wide boot opening. The rear seat splits and folds 60/40 for more load space, though the gap through to the cabin is relatively small.
On the road
Three engines are available in the Galant. Early models are powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder engine, while in 2009 a new, more powerful and efficient, 1.8-litre “MIVEC” was introduced. The top Ralliart model receives a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit. A CVT automatic is most common, with a five-speed manual a rare option.
The Ralliart uses a six-speed automatic. Our Sport review vehicle gets the 1.8-litre engine, which produces 102kW and 172Nm. It’s a nice engine that likes to be revved for the best performance. It is zippy around town and while lightly loaded but a little more pull might be appreciated on the open road when fully loaded.
The CVT automatic is smooth and can be shifted through six ratios using the paddles. The way the Galant drives is not as sporty as it looks. The tyres offer plenty of grip but the ride is a little soft. The steering is very light, which makes the car easily manoeuvrable, however, it lacks any feel. It is still pleasant and comfortable to drive - just not as much fun as you would expect. It is, however, quiet - both from the engine and the road noise.
Visibility to the rear is not brilliant. The high rear tail and sedan shape makes it hard to see what is behind the car. Reversing cameras appear on almost all models above the basic Exceed model, including on our Sport version.
The tow rating for the Galant is low for a car of this size. It can pull 550kg unbraked (a small garden trailer) and 1,000kg braked (a small trailer boat).
Safety
The biggest difference between the Galant and the Lancer lies in the safety specifications. The New Zealand-new Lancer carries a five-star ANCAP rating. It features a full suite of airbags and electronic stability control.
The Galant Fortis was tested by Japan NCAP and was rated six-stars for driver and five-stars for passenger protection. It has driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution. Side airbags, curtain airbags and electronic stability control are optional only and are not common.
ISOFIX child seat mounts are found on two of the three rear seats which all have full shoulder-type belts offering more protection than the lap-only type.
Reliability
The Galant Fortis and Lancer have a good record for reliability, with any bugs mostly worked out in the later production cars. The engines use a timing chain which will not require regular replacement.
The transmissions are known to have issues at mileages above 100,000km. Make sure any vehicle you’re considering takes off without shudder and shifts smoothly. A replacement transmission can cost $2,500 to source and fit.
The ABS system in the Galant is known to have issues. Although this won’t cause the brakes to fail, it could mean the ABS is not functioning. Ensure the ABS light comes on and then goes off again once the car is running. If the light flickers or stays on, avoid the vehicle - the control unit needs replacing.
Cost of ownership
Our local Mitsubishi dealer told us the Galant Fortis needs to be serviced every year or 10,000km. Each service is at the relatively low price of $220.
Over 14,000km of driving a year, RightCar says the Galant will cost $1,960 a year to fuel, which is low for this size of car. The 59-litre fuel tank will cost $118 to fill at $2 a litre and should take you 770km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the Galant costs $99.02 a year, with the car in the second cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a Galant Fortis valued at $12,360 will cost $49.71* per month. That’s $4 more than a Toyota Corolla.
Buyers' guide
The Mitsubishi Galant is available on Trade Me from $6,000 to $26,000 - with the Ralliart model worth the most. The hatchback version is a rare find so it can be worth a little more. When shopping, also consider the New Zealand-new Lancer, which is the same car with slightly different engines and transmissions and generally a higher safety specification. All-wheel drive, which unlike most cars can be turned on and off, was an optional extra.
Variants
- Exceed - Features steel wheels, fabric interior, remote central locking, driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes and electric windows.
- Super Exceed - Adds alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, automatic headlights, premium seats, reversing camera, manual shifting for the transmission and smart key system.
- Sport - Adds sports alloy-wheels, body kit, fog lights, sports suspension and high-intensity headlights.
- Ralliart - Powered by a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched to a six-speed automatic. Adds rear spoiler, 18-inch wheels, electronic stability control and sports seats.
Timeline
- 2007 Launched in Japan
- 2008 Ralliart model launched
- 2009 Hatchback version added
- 2009 2-litre engine replaced with new 1.8-litre engine
- 2011 Sport model dropped
- 2015 Sales end in Japan
Details
2010 Mitsubishi Galant Fortis Sport
$8,000 to $19,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
1.8-litre four-cylinder, 102kW and 172NM
CVT automatic, front-wheel drive
Six-star Japan NCAP
10,000km or twelve months
Space saver
7-litres per 100km (claimed)
Premium
4570mm
1760mm
1490mm
550kg (unbraked), 1000kg (braked)
10m
This review covers the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis for model years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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