The more powerful V6, up 35 horsepower over last year's engine, makes freeway merging even easier yet, and passes on two-lane roads are completed without drama. The V6 is rated at 230 horsepower and, more important, 250 pounds-feet of torque; torque is that force that propels you from intersections and up hills.

The transmission shifts smoothly, although it does hunt a bit in hilly territory. The Sportronic transmission shifts automatically in normal mode, but can be shifted into a semi-manual mode for more control; it will not shift up or down automatically when in the manual mode.

Brake feel is solid and reassuring, but the couple hundred pounds of weight gain don't do anything to shorten the stopping distance.

For its size and heft, the new Galant feels decently planted on all but the most twisting roads. The GTS model's suspension feels firm. The LS suspension is softer, allowing the car to move around a little more when driven hard.