The Mitsubishi Galant is a compact car built from 1985 to 2012 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 89.6% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2010 it grew 4 cm longer and gained 230 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Galant is
The Mitsubishi Galant is a compact car that Mitsubishi built from 1985 to 2012 — 28 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2004. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Mitsubishi range: Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Mirage G4.
Where the Galant is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,328 Galants on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4A3, 483 | 1992-2012 | |
| Japan | JA3 | 1986-1999 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mitsubishi VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Galant belongs to. What every character in a Galant VIN means →
Galant generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Galant's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Galant that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 478 cm | 264 cm | 1425 kg | - | - |
| 2004-2010 | 482 cm | 272 cm | 1655 kg | +4 cm | +230 kg |
Between 2003 and 2010 the Galant gained 4 cm in length (+0.8%) and 230 kg in weight (+16.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Galant that is 230 kg against 4 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mitsubishi Galant tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Galant owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Galant have? Power & range
The Mitsubishi Galant is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.8L 6-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mitsubishi Galant, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.8L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S4) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Galant by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mitsubishi Galant. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Galant | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 67 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,032 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,869/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 72 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mitsubishi Galant?
The Galant is a compact car, built from 1985 to 2012 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Mitsubishi Galant made?
Across 1,328 cars in our records the split is: the United States (89.6%), Japan (10.4%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Galant have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2004. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Galant grew 4 cm longer and gained 230 kg.
What is the Mitsubishi Galant warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Galant reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Galant?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mitsubishi
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 140 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1990–2012 | 136 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 1985–2026 | 65 | 39 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2002–2017 | 78 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | 1991–1999 | 21 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011–2026 | 67 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |