Used Mitsubishi Galant Estate 1997 - 2003 review

With its aggressive styling, the Mitsubishi Galant certainly looks a lot different to the established crowd. It's not bad to drive, but it's by no means the best car of its generation - a Passat is better on almost every count. However, the Galant is much cheaper.

That said, the Galant handles reasonably well and cruises smoothly on the motorway. The only major complaint is that it rides a bit too firmly around town.

The cabin is undoubtedly a weak point, too, because of some cheap-looking materials and a shortage of space in the rear seats. However, the boot is big and practical, you get a lot of equipment for a little cash, and reliability is superb.

Although mechanical problems are very rare, when they do occur they can be quite pricey to fix. According to data from Warranty Direct, the cost of the average repair is almost double that of the Vectra and the Passat.

Don't worry too much, though. The Galant's reliability record is sufficiently superior, so you'll probably still be better off with the Galant in the long run. The braking system is the most common cause of problems, so check it thoroughly - make sure the car stops in a straight line.

The automatic gearbox can cause an expensive problem, but because this was a cost option when the Galant was new, it shouldn't be too hard to find a manual version. The Galant's suspension is also notoriously pricey to overhaul, so make sure it's in good order by checking for uneven tyre wear.

In comparison to the Vectras and Passats of the day, you'll be quids in. Few come as cheap as the Galant, especially when you consider how much car you'll get for how little cash.

Residual values were awful when the car was new, and while this made it unpopular, it now makes the Galant a brilliant used buy.

Servicing will prove a bit costlier than it will for Vectra or Passat owners, but there's not a lot in it. You'll spend less time at the garage, thanks to the Galant's bullet-proof reliability - very little is likely to go wrong.

The 2.0-litre GLS is the best engine. It has a healthy 134bhp and copes well with the extra weight of the estate over the saloon. Performance is reasonable and you'll get a competitive average fuel consumption of around 34.0mpg.

The saloon's excellent equipment list is carried over to the estate, so you'll get alloy wheels, twin front airbags, sunroof, remote central locking alarm, cruise control and four electric windows as standard.

The only other choice you have is the 2.5-litre V6. It's a bit disappointing as a sporty model because it's only a second quicker to 60mph than the 2.0-litre. That said, you don't lose too much in the way of fuel economy, because you'll still get 31.0mpg.

What you do gain with the V6, though, is more kit. On top of GLS trim you get air-conditioning, side airbags and a CD changer.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here