Overview & Reviews

Mitsubishi has built its brand in the United States with a selection of cars and SUVs that tend to offer above-average performance and style. The parent company has its roots in producing commercial vehicles for its home market of Japan.

A Japanese word meaning "three diamonds," Mitsubishi was founded in by Yataro Iwasaki, a descendant of samurais, in the early 1870s. The company's initial focus was on shipping, but it quickly diversified into areas such as mining and ship repair. In 1917, Mitsubishi unveiled the Model A, Japan's first series production passenger car.

It wasn't until 1960, with the launch of the compact Mitsubishi 500, that the company began producing passenger vehicles on a large scale. That decade also saw the launch of other Mitsubishi light passenger vehicles like the 360 Van and 360 Pickup. The company also distinguished itself on the racetrack during this decade, taking top honors in Japan's Grand Prix.

Mitsubishi's automobile production arm was officially spun off into a company of its own with the establishment of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 1970. The company's Colt made its way to American shores in 1971, the same year in which Chrysler purchased a 15 percent stake in the new company. However, the Colt wasn't sold under the Mitsubishi name, but rather under the Dodge brand, reflecting Chrysler's interest in the company. By the end of the decade, Mitsubishi was producing more than 1 million cars per year.

In 1982, Mitsubishi began selling cars in the U.S. under its own name. Through the '80s it offered a variety of cars for the states, including the subcompact Mirage, turbocharged Starion sports car and midsize Galant sedan. Mitsubishi hit its stride in the '90s, thanks to the popularity of the Eclipse sport coupe and 3000GT sports car in the U.S. and the turbocharged Lancer Evolution in other parts of the world.

Chrysler made the most of its partnership, as it used Mitsubishi platforms under many of its models. The Eclipse, in particular, was a key vehicle produced by the Diamond Star Motors partnership. In 1998, Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz to become DaimlerChrysler. Mitsubishi's partnership continued with DaimlerChrysler for a few years but was financially terminated by 2003.

The new millennium has been a struggle for Mitsubishi. Its vehicles have grown stale with consumers and sales have wavered. At one point the company was forced to admit that it had systematically covered up vehicle defects in Japan. On the upside, though, the company's compact, high-performance sedan, the Lancer Evolution, has been a continuing success in the United States. Going forward, Mitsubishi plans to revitalize its brand by developing environmentally friendly vehicles (such as its all-electric "i" hatchback) that are still fun to drive.

User Reviews:

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  Satisfied Buyer - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Baltimore Buyer - December 14 - 5:56 pm

  I am VERY pleased with the handling and how smooth the car is. Lots of space on the front seat (I am 602") and the truck. Very comfortable and luxury interior. Little space on the back seats (I think this was corrected in the new Gallant). The engine has very good power for a V4 and such a big car. Both a/c and heater do a perfect job. The only serious problem is the poor gas economy. The car makes 24 m/g (average city/hwy), while my old Sentra with 160K miles regularly got me 30 m/g.

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  Ready to go - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By 159,000 - December 14 - 2:10 pm

  I have had my car for almost two years. I have had to replace the catalytic converter, some gaskets and right now I have to replace the solenoid switch. I still love my car.

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  Good Family Vehicle - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By C - December 11 - 7:16 am

  Ive always had minivans before this and I was reluctant to go to an SUV because I enjoyed the extra backseat. However, after test driving the Outlander with my family of five we decited to buy. My three kids fit comfortably in the backseat (with two booster seats) The height is simliar to a van and the trunk is a lot roomier.

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  What a great car! - 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
  By MATH - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Galant S (5 speed manual) in December 2001 with about 80k on it. So far I have put almost 25K. This car is by far the most reliable I have ever owned. Engine is strong, acceleration and braking are very good. Now on the down side... * The RPM indicator and some of the Dash lights (A/C knobs) have started working only part-time! * Water gets in the trunk every time it rains. But hey, for the money, the age and mileage of this vehicle, I am not complaining!

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  endeavor rules - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By PaRtYgOd123 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  the endeavor is a wonderful suv with complete comfort good looks and very low priced for whats its worth.it gets good gas millage for an suv and is very roomy in the inside.

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  best car ever made - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By lop - December 8 - 4:50 am

  the nice handling and the beautiful pur this engine makes, makes it all that much better

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  New Outlander Sport GT - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By btwells - December 7 - 9:43 pm

  I bought the new 2015 Outlander Sport GT. Wow! What a nice vehicle. I got a gray one with the Touring package, Rockford Fosgate sound system, panoramic roof, cargo package, and exterior side moldings. The GT version also comes with the 2.4 liter engine. For me it drives beautifully. Nice pickup and acceleration with the improved engine. The black leather interior and matching black carpet make the interior fell rich and comfortable. The navigation system/audio system is LOADED with features and looks and sounds great. At the push of a button the ceiling retreats and panoramic roof with its LED backlighting appears-- very impressive!

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  Galant GS - 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Monkey - December 5 - 6:56 pm

  Great little car. Even after adding some bolt on power (turbo) the car was very reliable. This is until we hit 170000, then the engine had a few stumbles. At 175000 the engine said its about my time and the transmission soon followed. I am sure that had this drivetrain remained stock it would have easily hit the 250000 mark.

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  Awesome machine - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By bfrost2 - December 5 - 5:36 am

  Alright so this car is absolutely worth the money, I commute 150 miles a day round trip and it runs strong with decent comfort. The only negatives Ive found with this car are if you live where it snows you WILL be jamming out your rims with a snow brush every time you get out of the car or drive around with the car shaking so bad you cant read the guages, it also doesnt do as well as promised on gas I average 23ish. You 100% want the rockford sound system and the CVT transmission is complete junk so buy a 5 speed. (traded my automatic back after 2 weeks because it was so annoying). Other than that this car is amazing and I may buy another one when trade in time rolls around.

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  Sleek, Fun & Fast - 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By JC Frenzy - December 4 - 12:03 pm

  Overall, the Eclipse is a nice sports car with some punch. I have the V6 GT SE, so mine has a few more bells & whistles than most. Its a fun ride, not great in the snow, but not a death trap either. I threw an intake on it to give it a bit more oomph and a nice engine sound. With a few mods this will be a beast. Stock, its definitely a solid buy.