The rally-bred Lancer Evolution is the car most people associate with Mitsubishi performance, but the Japanese firm had already been building fast all-wheel-drive sedans long before the first Evo debuted, in the form of the Galant VR-4. Yes, most Americans may consider the Galant something a grandma might drive, but over in Japan (and briefly in the US, too), Mitsubishi was selling wild versions with turbocharged engines and sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems as far back as the 1980s.
The third and final Galant VR-4 was the ultimate version, packing a twin-turbocharged V6 that turned this seemingly ordinary family sedan into a genuine giant killer.
A Fast Family Four-Door That Stayed Under The Radar
1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 began life in 1987 as a Group A World Rally Championship homologation special based on the sixth-generation Galant. After Mitsubishi’s canceled Group B program with the Starion, the company returned to the WRC with a turbocharged all-wheel-drive Galant, pairing a 2.0-liter inline-four with full-time AWD and rear-wheel steering.
Over the next few seasons, the Galant VR-4 rally car scored six outright WRC victories, establishing Mitsubishi as a serious force in the sport. The road-going counterpart to the rally car was even sold in the US briefly, for just the 1991 and 1992 model years. However, the nameplate wouldn’t benefit from the motorsports spotlight for long.
The first Evo was announced in 1991 and made its WRC debut in 1993, just as a seventh-generation Galant arrived. With the Evo now the focus of Mitsubishi’s rally program, the VR-4 evolved into a more refined high-performance road car. With no homologation rules to meet, it moved to a smoother twin-turbo V6 engine while retaining the advanced AWD drivetrain. It also became increasingly focused on the Japanese market, meaning the VR-4 soon began to fade from view outside Japan.
The final, eighth-generation Galant VR-4, known to fans by its EC5A codename, appeared in 1996. By then, the first Evo had already established itself, and successive Evo models were rapidly building a dedicated following. Although the last Galant VR-4 continued to showcase Mitsubishi’s performance technology in a larger, more practical package – including a wagon version sold as the Legnum – the baton of the company’s high-performance image had firmly passed to the Evo. The Galant VR-4 was finally retired in 2002.
The Twin-Turbo V6 And AWD Tech That Made It A Giant Killer
1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4Mitsubishi
The third and final-generation Galant VR-4 was powered by the 6A13TT engine, a transversely mounted twin-turbocharged 2.5-liter V6 that produced up to 276 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque, respecting the voluntary agreement among Japan’s automakers at the time for a 276-hp limit (officially 280 metric horsepower). Some early versions had slightly lower outputs.
Power was sent through all four wheels via either a five-speed manual gearbox or Mitsubishi’s sophisticated Invecs-II five-speed automatic, which modulated its shift points for smooth cruising but could deliver sharper, more precise gear changes than conventional automatics when pushed hard. It also included a manual mode that let the driver manually shift gears.
Remember that this was in the early 1990s. The permanent all-wheel-drive system, fitted as standard, incorporated a viscous center differential. Higher-specification versions were also equipped with Mitsubishi’s active yaw control system, an electronically controlled rear differential that could vary torque between the rear wheels to sharpen handling and reduce understeer.
Silver 1994 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 noseJapanese Classics
The Galant VR-4 measured approximately 184 inches long in sedan guise, 68.5 inches wide and 56 inches high, with a 104-inch wheelbase, while curb weight was around 3,260 lbs depending on equipment. The Legnum wagon was both longer and heavier. Multi-link suspension at both ends along with powerful brakes with vented discs at all four corners gave the Galant VR-4 a sophisticated chassis for its class.
Performance reflected the hardware, with the manual version capable of accelerating to 60 mph from rest in the mid-five seconds, while the automatic required closer to six seconds. With the limiter removed, top speed could exceed 160 mph.
A limited 1998 Super VR-4 variant was produced in roughly 800 examples and added equipment including Recaro seats and a Momo steering wheel, along with unique exterior touches. Together, these specifications positioned the final Galant VR-4 as something much closer to a BMW M3 in character and performance than its humble family-sedan roots might suggest.But how close to the M3 was it really – and which car was actually the better buy?
How It Stacked Up Against The BMW M3
E36 BMW M3 Sedan, Coupe, And ConvertibleBMW
Unless you’re someone who’s still bitter that The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift didn’t take home an Oscar, you’re unlikely to ever cross-shop a Galant VR-4 with a BMW M3. However, there is a case to be made that the humble Mitsubishi was a proper alternative to the German missile, and perhaps even the better buy.
The M3 on sale during most of the final Galant VR-4’s life was the E36 generation, which included a sedan body style. The sedan was built between 1994 and 1998, with the E36 M3 coupe and convertible body styles ending production one year after their four-door sibling. The US got the M3 sedan for the 1997 and 1998 model years, and at launch, you would have had to pay an MSRP of $39,380.
While the Galant VR-4 was never sold in the US, its starting price in Japan at the time was ¥2.98 million, or approximately $24,620 at exchange rates back then. That made it a real performance bargain.
Under the hood of the E36 M3 sat a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six, which was upgraded to a 3.2-liter unit for the 1996 model year. Due to cost pressures, the 3.0-liter engine produced a relatively modest 240 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque for the US market, with the enlarged engine keeping the 240-hp rating but seeing torque rise to 236 lb-ft.
The European versions had a higher-performance engine that produced 286 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque in 3.0-liter guise, rising to 321 hp and 258 lb-ft with the arrival of the 3.2-liter engine.
E36 BMW M3 Sedan InteriorBMW
Ignoring its major price advantage, the final Galant VR-4’s performance still looks impressive next to the E36 M3 sedan. Both cars tipped the scales at roughly similar curb weights, yet the M3 sent its power only to the rear wheels while the Galant came with an all-wheel-drive system and rear-wheel steering.
The twin-turbo V6 also delivered stronger real-world performance than the US-spec M3’s 240-hp inline-six, which translated into quicker acceleration. The BMW retained a clear edge in luxury and refinement, but for pure performance buyers, that counts for little.
Should You Buy One Today?
1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4Mitsubishi
Because of its age, the final Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 is now eligible for import to the US under the 25-year rule. Examples can already be found on these shores, with collector car sites likeBring A Trailershowing multiple Galants up for sale. Most are first-generation cars that were sold here officially, but privately imported examples of the final VR-4 can also be found, including both sedan and Legnum wagon versions. Previous sales show these cars changing hands for around $10,000 or less, making them a great-value way into a seriously capable Japanese performance car.
However, the market is catching on to the car’s legacy. Prices in Japan have started to creep up in recent years, and that trend should also carry over to the US. Searching on popular classifieds like Japan’s Goo-net shows prices there today range between $10,000 and $15,000. That’s still a bargain, but the catch with a private import is that you’ll be dealing with a right-hand-drive car, while many examples have also been modified.
Finding parts and a mechanic familiar with the VR-4 can also be challenging. The payoff is that you’ll be driving something incredibly rare in the US, with genuine sleeper appeal – few will suspect they’re looking at a serious performance car.
Sources: Mitsubishi
