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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  buyer beware - 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By figgins - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a new VRX in Dec 03. I love the power and performance. On the down side, this car has been back in the shop 9 times for repairs in six months. Once for lights, four times for brakes and three times to adjust the window on the drives side. (Door would not shut) Three times to repair the lumbar in drivers side seat. Other than constantly having to return to the dealership(which is 30 miles away) for what they call minor repairs and adjustments, I love this car. Very powerful and an incredible drive.

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  Nice ride - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By midcapwarrior - March 16 - 3:13 pm

  Would like better fuel economy. Overall a pleasant drive and good buy for the money.

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  Happy with our first SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By good2135 - March 14 - 9:50 pm

  We bought our Endeavor used with 24,000 miles on it and have been pretty happy. We had one issue with the electrical system in the front driver side door - the wiring harness had to be replaced - about $250. No other problems. We really like this vehicle, it is our workhorse. The only quirks are that groceries in the back will fly around, no matter how slow you drive; and if you have the back window(s) down, you have to have a front window down as well or their is a very weird, unpleasant cabin pressure issue. We love the AWD living through Minnesota winters. We would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a fun, comfortable, affordable SUV.

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  awesome sleeper car - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By mikal69 - March 13 - 6:06 pm

  only had my Outie for a few months, but she has been great, you get a lot of quality for the used price, liked it better than the typical Toyotas and Hondas, and better build quality than pretty much everything else in its range, its no BMW or Mercades though. sporty ride and steering, and perfect for those of us 6ft plus. lots of room. Love that the back seats recline and adjust, so that the person sitting behind me isnt cramped. overall, a really really nice Suburban Utility Vehicle, just wouldnt trust it off-road.

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  02 GS, automanual, sun and sound - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By kdavis - March 12 - 10:00 am

  This car cant make up its mind if it wants to be sporty or comfortable.

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  06 Eclipse - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By J - March 6 - 11:50 am

  The 2006 Eclipse is a beautiful car inside and out. For a 4-cyl. car it is suprisingly peppy and has quick acceleration. The sun and sound package is a necessity with the GS putting out an impressive 650 watts. I am very pleased with the car overall and feel that it will give the compitition a run for its money.

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  Decent Value - 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jaydoh - March 4 - 10:43 am

  Compared lots of other models (Mazda CX-5, Buick Encore, Kia Sorrento and Sport age, more). This one won on price, warrantee (over Mazda, Buick, and other 3/36 warranties), and room/versatility/fuel economy for the price. They were all good, but this was lowest priced and came with a lot of room, flexibility and deceng mpg. Only real complaint is build quality. Kinda cheaply built. But overall, very nice so far.

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  2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Reid - February 26 - 10:26 am

  I been driving my 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS for nearly a year and a half. It has just resently been wrecked and it held up well though the accident, the air bags saved me a lot of pain. This model holds tight to the road and has great control.

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  Depreciation - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By njdonman - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Nice Car, reliable,had no repair problems in 39,000 miles .The back seat is a little tight. The trunk is smaller then the Cammry but ok. The paint held up well. The car depreciated very quickly due in part to the 0% for 5 years and the glut of used Gallants being sold by rental car companies.

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  Fantastic Automobile - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By ballbreaker910 - February 22 - 8:40 pm

  I am the original owner of a 2003 Galant. I cannot express how much I have enjoyed this car. I purchased the car with 42 mile one the odometer. Now it has 201,000 miles. My only complaint is the paint. Every time I see a Galant like mines, the paint is faded terribly. Also the Brakes seem to wear easier than most cars. The climate control needed to be replaced but luckily it was still under warranty. This car has taken a beating. It had been driven every day for about 110 mile a day. Never had a major problem. Engine and tranny has been solid. The one time the car didnt start was because it needed a battery. Mitsubishi has put together a solid car that can compete with all major car brands.