The Mitsubishi Galant delivers a smooth, quiet ride, thanks largely to its stiff platform, wide stance and long wheelbase. Minimal noise leaks into the cabin, just a slight rumble from the tires and a discernible whistle from the mirrors at highway speeds.

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in the popular DE and ES models develops 160 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 157 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm, competitive figures for the class. It features Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control (MIVEC), which switches between two cam profiles for optimum power, response, and efficiency at high and low engine speeds. It's a sophisticated setup.

The four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, although it does hunt a bit in hilly territory. In the normal mode, it shifts automatically. With the Sportronic feature, it can be switched into a semi-manual mode. It will not shift up or down automatically when in the manual mode, so the driver has full control over shifting.

The V6 in the GTS makes freeway merging easy. Passes on two-lane roads are completed without drama. The V6 is rated 230 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, the latter one a substantial figure; torque is that force that propels the car from intersections and up hills. Premium fuel is recommended but not required.

V6 models come with electronic traction control, which can selectively apply the brakes at one or more wheels and/or reduce engine power to control wheel spin on uncertain surfaces. It's especially useful in the rain, but even in dry weather can eliminate annoying screeches when taking off from intersections. The new five-speed automatic transmission with Sportronic also features a manual override.

For its size and heft, the Galant feels decently planted on all but the most twisting roads. But with the arrival of the Ralliart, the GTS is being repositioned as a luxury model, and has surrendered its rear anti-roll bar. That means it will handle more like the base-level DE and ES.

The Ralliart handles well and rides nice, though it shouldn't be confused with an Audi S6. The Ralliart features higher-rate springs and dampers along with a larger, 21mm rear anti-roll bar (that has disappeared from the '07 GTS). The Ralliart model's P235/45R18 all-season tires promise prodigious cornering grip and braking performance.

The Ralliart V6 uses the MIVEC variable-cam system and slightly higher compression (10.5 vs. 10.0:1) to boost its output to 258 horsepower at 5750 rpm, and 258 pound-feet of torque at 4500. It's a smooth, powerful engine. Mitsubishi says it develops 220 pound-feet of torque at just 2000 rpm, which makes for a smooth, responsive engine when riding around town, yet it's not annoyingly jumpy with an overly sensitive throttle like some performance cars. Mitsubishi claims the Galant Ralliart can sprint from 0-60 mph in about seven seconds, which is a fine performance.

Brake feel is solid and reassuring, but the Galant is not a light car. Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) come standard on all but the base model. EBD proportions braking pressure between the front and rear wheels depending on how the car is loaded, and adjusts stopping pressure dynamically as weight shifts forward under hard braking. The idea is to send the brake pressure to the wheels with the most weight on them, which is where it can do the most good. This gives the Galant stable braking performance.