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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  Are These Guys Kidding...? - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Truth or Consequence - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Like many others, I fell in love with this vehicle at first sight; well, the exterior looks anyway. I have to say that after the exterior appearance, things appear to go down-hill in a hurry. I read several reviews & have to ask all those people, how can you provide a "performance" value of greater than "5", & then state that the vehicle is wholly underpowered? Yep, the gas mileage sucks a bit also, but to be expected in a 6,000 pound vehicle sporting a whopping 200 HP engine! Breaks are substantially under- achievers if you consider all of the break replacements youll need. Paint is also a problem. But the interior, thats another story & mostly good.

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  Amareno - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Perdomo & Veloza - October 29 - 10:00 am

  This is the fourth new Mitsubishi we have. This is top of the line for us, a colombian gay couple from Queens NY, excellent, beautiful, quiet, powerful, dependable, spacious in passengers area and trunk. 2003 Galant was wonderful but not roomy enough. This 2004 galant engines makes sport car noises, different as the 2003 voitire. We are happy with it, thinking on next step needs to be a full breed german Audi or Mercedes, after experiencing this nice mitsubishi.

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  My Ralliart - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By rob36 - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I love my lancer. it handles great going into turns. takes alot to get the tires to break.

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  An ok car... - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By KC - October 29 - 6:23 am

  I have had quite a few problems with this car (most early on), mainly due to cheap parts. The headlights actually burned up the electrical wiring & had to be replaced & theyre still terrible. The oil pump (bad part) caused severe engine damage. After a month of work, I had to get a new engine. The interior is the cheapest. It gets scratched up easily & snap on parts have all come off (& wont go back on). The hooks on the trunk for the back cover broke off. My windsheild wiper fluid doesnt work bc the clip that holds the tubing broke off from heat. Transmission is ab to go out w 112,000 miles. Sun roof went out long time ago. Been hit a bunch & the exterior is like a tank (except 4 low front end).

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  Till The Wheels Fall Off - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Bkuhns - October 24 - 1:10 pm

  I bought my car in April of 2008 after getting rid of my jetta (which was a lemon). This car is a terrific car to own! I have taken it on many roadtrips and it has no problems. My friends always have me drive cause they love to ride in it. It has amazing handling and it has some speed to it. For awhile I got bored of it and was thinking of selling it until I went and washed my car and I fell in love with it again. I live in Colorado and it handles great in the snow. This is definitely a car a buy.

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  Exterior paint - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Michelle Pendergrass - October 24 - 8:06 am

  I purchased my Mitsubishi in Jan. 2002, purchased it with only 8 miles on it. I purchased a Black one, I did love it at first, then after about 3 years, the paint has started disappearing. Great big chunks of paint gone. I have had it looked at, and have been told, I i just look around at other black Mitsubishi vehicles, I would find that I am not the only one with this problem. Since then I look very closely at any Black Mitsubishi, and all of the older ones have the same problem with the paint that has just disappeared. I was told that the older models have that problem.

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  03 Galant - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Chris Sosnowski - October 23 - 2:13 pm

  Paid $10,900. Engine is good for fast acceleration at low speeds. Handling is accurate and quick. Interior is nice and comfortable. Large trunk, good mileage. Excellent sound system. You get a lot of miles for your gas. Very efficient car, well designed.

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  Lose The Plastic! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By New to a Mitsu - October 23 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Mitsubishi I have owned and am impressed thus far, having come from the sport/luxury class. The AWD and the TCS work to gether nicely, and are comperable to that on the A6 I owned previous to this. The acceleration and over all power seem to be above the other vehicles I test drove in the class. I am finding the MPG to be as advertised, but the premium fuel requirement is a minus. I am verry happy with the cumfort of the seats, and overall storage capacity. As the weather turns I am finding that it handles rain, snow, and Ice like a champ. I like the overall concept of the interior design, but the plastic needs to be rethought, aluminum would be sweet!

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  Bloody Amazing! - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By ccmike25 - October 21 - 12:15 pm

  This car is amazing and it still suprises me when people have never heard of it. First of all it gets great gas mileage and secondly its like an indestructable tank I have had this car for years when I bought it it had 70K miles on it at current it has 215K miles on it and have never had to replace anything other than standard maintainance. It may be small and cramped (or I am just way to big) but it makes up for it in reliability and ease of care i have had no problem doing all the maintainance to this car myself and it is a breeze.

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  Superb Vehicle for the class - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Dino - October 21 - 2:00 am

  A nice car to own. Smooth driving experience for long distance. Good music system. More features for the price in this class.