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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  Fun Car - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Gerardo Ceballos - April 17 - 2:06 pm

  Great car in my opinion, very fun to drive, mine is manual and the gears and the shifts are very sporty, the clutch is soft. It has a quick response when you switch to a lower gear, it has reasonably good acceleration for a 4 cylinder. I have had no trouble with the engine nor transmission. The interior is comfortable for the driver and one passenger if you are not big or tall. No room for the back seats, maybe for a child. The ride is very comfortable, the suspension is not that hard. It has good grip around corners. It is a bit noisy on the highway. In general a great car, I would buy again.

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  It feels good. - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By dorothy - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the first car-truck that I have liked to drive since I had my 57 Chev Belair. It does have style.It feels safe to drive. Its a little hard on the gas. Its nice to know that I can hop in it & take off anywhare, & not worry about it breaking down.Its fun.It also holds a lot of fishing equipment, grandkids, dogs, and other cargo.

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  Happy Purchase - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By sarah - April 12 - 1:43 pm

  When I was looking through possible vehicles to purchase upon a move to snowy Minnesota, I met with a dealership that found the Outlander would match my needs. While I wasnt a big fan of the outer appearance, it was nice to look at a car that wasnt exactly the same as all the other small SUVs. I ended up buying the car after checking out some of its competitors (i.e. CRV, VUE, RAV4) and have found my Outlander to be a terrific buy. I think it is very comfortable, with a simple, clean interior. I would recommend this car to someone looking for a smaller AWD vehicle.

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  Good car for the money. - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Zhenia - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought mine in June of 2000. Since then I put 65,000 miles on it. Overall, I am happy with it. The price for it was just under $18K. The 0-60 time is rather slow, about 8.6 secs. I would have liked it to be faster. The back seats are cramped. However, the front seats are rather comfortable and arch my back very well. I like the stereo system. Its loud and pretty clear for my ears. I like the looks of an Eclipse. In my opinion Celicas are plain ugly so I went with Eclipse. So far I havent had any major problems or repairs other than your usual change oil, brakes, tires routine.

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  Safe, Reliable, Comfortable, Economical, and Fun - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By R.E.Rohrbaugh - April 5 - 9:36 am

  I am very pleased with the purchase of this Galant ES V6. This is my family car and daily commuter (120 miles daily). Starting with a modest price, I enjoy the performance of a 24 valve Fuel injected V6. A solid shifting automatic transmission. Good steering response and agressive 4 wheel disc brakes. Comfort for a 61" male to drive. Fuel usage ranges 29/24 mpg depending on driver agression. I do not enjoy paying for "Premium grade fuel only". Also the faded paint is not fun to look at.

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  It is a Shame... - 2006 Mitsubishi Raider
  By Macflo - April 2 - 4:13 am

  I heard this truck will no longer be sold. Mitsubishi will stop its production. It is a shame because this Dakota makeup is the best truck I have driven in years besides the additional benefits like 5/60k warranty and lots of toys included for a very reasonable price. I owned a 02 Dodge Dakota equipped with the same engine; when I tested the Raider the salesman told me the trucks are the same. I only needed the demo ride to know this guy was wrong, the Raider is a superior vehicle in all areas. This 4.7 engine made by Daimler is the best in all the Chrysler/Dodge inventory. I suggest adding a K&N filter to improve gas mileage and wow you will see the acceleration. Take care not burn too much rubber.

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  Fun, affordable, and good looking - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By bradk - April 1 - 11:00 am

  I bought my Eclipse (2001 Black GT) about a year and a half ago. I try to keep it out of the sun, however the roof is still beginning to fade and crack a little bit. Great fun to drive, could use a little more power but that would sacrifice the decent MPG. Easy to drive. Rear spoiler in the way occasionally, but not too bad. Corner support beam could be a little smaller for better visibility, Great look, great sound. Performance alright for the price range, I would call it a very sporty car, not a sports car. Never had any major mechanical issues, it used idle a little quick but just a minor adjustment. My trunk lid (part separating trunk from cabin) broke, no big deal. Not a bad buy.

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  Eclipse 07 GS - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Rob - March 31 - 12:33 am

  Purchased as a first car for my daughter but Im driving it more than she. Every time I drive it Im more impressed. Today I drove a combination of interstate and U.S. Rt 1 from Richmond, VA to D.C. in heavy downpours and lots of standing water with my wife and daughter onboard and felt in control at all times. Always looking for an excuse to drive. Peppy, sporty ride and handling, great braking, tight steering, just overall fun to drive. Lots of compliments on styling with the sunset color. Weird because I was looking for BMWs when my daughter talked me into driving it. The price was $500 more than Kelley Blue Book TRADE IN with the balance of a 6 year, 60,000 mile warranty.

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  Worst Car that I have Ever Owned - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By clrcode - March 29 - 7:33 pm

  Since buying my 2000 Eclipse it had the transmission re-built at about 30,000 miles, this took three weeks or more. The sunroof has never worked right. When car was under warranty it was in shop about nine times the first two years just for the sunroof. At about 65,000 miles the transmission is giving me trouble again. The car was in the shop dozens of times for different reasons. After complaining to Mitsubishi about the car while under factory warranty I was then told by the dealer if I did not stop complaining about the car they would refuse to work on it. This was said in front of Mitsubishi District Manager. Guess its okay to sell a car to you, but fixing it was another story. I would never recommend any Mitsubishi to anyone.

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  2006 Eclipse - Buy It! - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Mike R - March 29 - 4:03 am

  This mid 40s male retires the family minivan to buy the Eclipse GS manual trans (couldnt afford a Porsche). I got both the Sun & Sound and Accessory packages, which both add nice features. The GS is more than peppy enough around town to get me into trouble, but it could use a few more HP on the highway to pass. It really begins to shine on twisty backroads. Its acceleration, handling, and braking are all excellent. This car is built very well - no squeaks or rattles. Its fit and finish are execellent. The ride is a little harsh depending on road surface, but hey, its a sports car. It is a real head turner and its even got a little growl from the intake/exhaust. It is very fun to drive! Compared to the Mustang, RX8 and 305Z - this is a much better value.