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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  UNDER-RATED!! - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Happy Driver - November 15 - 9:52 am

  I traded my 2007 mitsu galant in for this gem and fell in love all over again! I searched for months for the perfect SUV upgrade from my sedan, and even test drove a few (rogue, rav4) but I could not get this car out of my head! The standard options that it comes with, no other car in its class offered... and not to mention its pretty! And the gas mileage on this truck is crazy good! Ive taken a couple of road trips, and have rode in comfort each time! This car company gets such bad/mediocre reviews, even the other dealers were trying to tell me that Mitsubishi is a bad brand to invest in, but I thought about it... every used car lot I went to was filled to the walls with Rogues, Rav4s and Escapes, but I could very rarely find a Mitsubishi... anything. Take that how you want, but to me (from my own experience with my 07 galant), that meant the owners are happy with their car and didnt need to get rid of it.

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  Run from Mitsubishi as fast as you can! - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By AJ EZ - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Engine completely broke after servicing at dealer who denied any wrongdoing. Needed to replace engine at my cost and what a cost. This company makes junk! Just look at their reliability records to see for yourself. You have been forewarned! AJ

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  Dont buy this car you will be sorry. - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By Rojas - September 19 - 6:17 pm

  The car has a metallic chain noise that comes and goes intermittently as you take off or when your going up hills or driving low. You have to use expensive gas 89 the dealership will tell you and you will still hear the noise chain (makes me think of a bike chain dragging) noise after. The dealership even told me to get the fuel injector cleaned and I still get the same noise with that done a few times and with octane boost put in with the gas. Dont buy this car. I want back to the dealer and I was told that the motor is making the SUV make that sound with all the power it need to run the car and it will always make that noise and it would only get worst in the winter time and get louder. I got a new car to have a problem free car not have a lot of new problems. The material that the seats are made with are cheap and the moldings at the bottom of the seats where made very cheap and will come off if you tap them and break. The SUV basically has no trunks you just have a cargo cover over your make shift trunk area and the bluetooth system is horrible you will be frustrated after the car asks you like four times whats the name of the person you want to call and then asks you actually want to call them over and over again. The radio is hard to navigate if you get the radio stereo stuck on repeat or shuffle you have to play with it a long time to get it off. Good luck and dont choose this problem car I want to trade this car in for something that isnt Mitsubishi now. First and last time buying a Mitsubishi. BUYER BEWARE. Dont buy it you will be sorry and in for a big head ache and disappointment.

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  Piece of JUNK!! - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Kelly - January 6 - 7:53 pm

  Worst car I ever had. Will NEVER but Mitsubishi again. Broke down constantly!! I know two other people who got the same car around the same time as me and they had the same complaints. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!!! Good thing it is a small car because there were numerous times I had to push it to side of the road!

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  wimpy car - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By tommy - December 25 - 2:00 am

  the previous model has more fun and power than this Eclipse. Totally boring

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  Very Poor Quality Car - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By BHL311 - June 6 - 5:03 pm

  I feel sorry for all Gallant owners! You think you have such a great car now, wait until four or five years from now when your clear coat breaks down and Mitsubishi wont do a thing about it because it is out of warranty! Be aware and stay away from Mitsubishi if you have not purchased one yet! It is a joke! Not only did it happen to me it happened to another person in the same apartment building! Stay away from Mitsubishi! They dont believe in QUALITY!

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  Dont Buy this car - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By dontbuythis - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst car ever build. Its a hunk of crap. I had to return this car to the dealer 3 times aready. The engine over heated, the fan was not running, and various interior electrical problems

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  the 2002 mit. POS5000! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By wkryder - August 31 - 10:00 am

  the interior is cramped and non functional. the exterior looks descent, but thats when you pop the hood and it is crowded. the trans gave out on me about 3000 miles!!@!

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  Great Car Horrible Paint - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Eric Vanhinkle - May 16 - 6:13 am

  I purchased this car with 4 miles on it. I noticed after my first oil change that there were specs on the cars hood. Very small at first then increasing to the size of a pea. At my next oil change I mentioned it to service who took pics and sent to corporate as the dealer cannot make warranty decisions on leather and paint. I had the regional director of service come out and inspect my vehicle who took more pics and turned into corporate. I was told these were stones and not covered under warranty. While I am not a care engineer, repair or sales person, I would think that if I was hit by something hit my car hard enough to chip my paint to the gray primer there would probably be a dent, which there is not. As the chips are increasing in numbers and size, I am anticipating my entire hood will be gray and not the beautiful cosmic blue before the loan is even paid off. So buyer beware and google mitsubitshi paint and I will assure you that one of the suggested phrases is mitsubitshi paint "chips" or "problems".

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  Stay Away - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Lancer Hater - October 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the worst car I have ever owned. At 35,000 miles I already needed a new clutch. At 37,000 miles I needed new brake pads, shocks and struts, a new piston, new timing belt and a new head gasket. Since I am so upside down on the car because of Mitsus "wonderful" no payments/interest for 1 year, I had no choice but to fix everything totaling over $2200. Do not buy this car!!!! You would be better off driving a Kia.