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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  New Mitsubishi - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By rroze - April 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd Mitsubishi...I loved my full size Montero, looking for better gas mileage we decided to try the Endeavor limited. It drives great, and has all the options. The one problem I have is the interior plastic dash which has a tendency to rattle.. the r2d2 looking design, trying to replicate a silver metal, but indeed is still very plastic...all in all it is a very comfortable drive, the options are great, but then again they are not cheap. If had to do over again I would stay with my full size Montero

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  Good Value, Nice Ride - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By SF Paul - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This Outlander made an immediate impression on me and my wife. The first thing that stood out was the fit and finish of the interior. Nothing about this car feels or looks cheap. Looking at the front end it has a more aggressive appearance, but the rear end doesnt seem to match. The performance is good for a four- banger. Its nimble on the curves, and 160 horses come in handy when passing or getting on the freeway. On smooth surfaces the road noise is nominal and youd swear you were driving a six. Engine noise is nicely buffered too. Im averaging around 22 mpg with plenty of city driving. The mpg drops if you use the Sportronic shifter.

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  2004 Lancer ES Experience - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By MK_MA - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Economical. Good ride for compact. More features than Honda Civic. Nice looking. A bit on the noisy side. especially engine with noisey valve tappit. However, still breaking in with only 600 miles on odometer. Interior nice except poor simulated woodgrain dash appears scratched. Very smooth shifting automatic. Nice radio/CD.

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  Poor thing... - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By jenni63 - March 23 - 3:11 am

  Ive had my 01 Eclipse since I was 16, about 6 years now. I must say, I do love my car and have done my best to take care of it, but it loves the shop too much. Every year I have to replace the battery, and everytime its gone out getting it to the shop is a piece of work. Supposedly the computer has to be reset otherwise it completely shuts off while driving. Weve replaced the battery cables, etc. but it still eats through the battery. Fortunately (from an optimistic view), when something breaks, other things (unrelated) break as well so its killing two birds with one stone, but its a hassle. Everyone Ive known who had this car has already had to trade it in from far too many issues.

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  Almost but not quite - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Deborah Garcia - March 21 - 12:23 am

  The third seat is difficult for children of any age to get into. The seat belts are impossible for 4 year olds to get on by themselves and impossible to reach from outside the car! There are no charging ports Back there and the cup holder is only on one side. The 7th seat belt is a joke. The paint is a very low quality, it has already chipped all over the hood, my car is 6 months old now but i noticed it 2 weeks after purchasing. I emailed the salesman, he did not respond, went in to talk to them but they pawned me off on a manager that acted like it was normal, its not. So disappointed!

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  4th Time around - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By 4thOne Bought - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is my 4th Montero - each traded at 100000-125000 miles. Each has been extremely reliable, particularly off road. Highway ride is smooth although this new one seems louder than my previous 98. With the 3rd seat out the rear is a cavern. The second seat is comfortable even on long trips. Even with the new larger engine it still seems a bit underpowered off the line but cruises effortlesly on the turnpikes. The 2 wheel/4 wheel/all wheel drive system is the best anywhere that I have experienced. It has the feel, fit and finish of a LandCruiser for a lot less money. This is a very underrated vehicle in the US.

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  Great car, but some annoyance - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Erik Harris - March 18 - 10:00 am

  I love my GTS, but it suffers from build-quality issues. The window seals dont seal (wet windows after rain, sometimes moldy smell), there are unfixable rattles, the mirror motors are weak, and the sunroof has minor issues (sticks, control housing comes loose periodically). Reliability hasnt been an isuse at all, it drives very smoothly, and is very fun to drive. My only complaint about the ride is that the turn radius is horrendus; worse than the minivan I owned previously! Im focusing on the negative, though. I love my car, and for the price, theres nothing Id rather own. Its fun, comfortable, and is one of the best-looking cars under $30K on the road.

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  A Hi-Tech Delight - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Joe Guo - March 12 - 5:53 am

  I was in the market for a fun-to-drive compact car with A/T. I liked the GTIs power and paddle shifters, the Civic EX-L with its stylish exterior, and the Zoom-zoom feedback from the 2010 Mazda3 hatchback GT. However, Ive found that the perfect combination of these features exists on a Lancer GTS, with all three available packages (sun & sound, technology and touring). Sure, it hasnt got the power of a GTI, but who redlines their cars on a daily basis? It handles just like a Mazda3 with lots of excitement, and it looks much better than all of the above mentioned models. At a price tag of a mere 22500 (w/rebates&tax), I can see myself smiling and enjoying this sweet ride for years to come.

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  Good All Around - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Patty - March 9 - 4:50 am

  Ive have had the Endeavor for two months now and love it. Its solid built, comfortable to drive and feel very secure driving my toddler around town. Which to me was important in selecting my new car, something that I feel safe with my child in. Handles curves and turns with ease. Roomy in the back even with the car seat.

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  Sportback Soccer Mom - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Sprotback R Mom - March 7 - 1:36 am

  I bought my silver 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart on Nov. 8, 2005, with 800 miles on the odometer. I love the room in it and the way it looks...sporty and practical. It has quite a bit of interior space...I am 510" and my husband is 6 and there is ample room for our two children. There is more room in the rear seating than a full size SUV that we were testing. The cost was $14,500 out the door. This is one of the best buys remaining out there. My husband sold a roadster some time ago...but now he says that it has been recreated in this Lancer Sportback Ralliart. The sound of the muffler takes some getting use to...I am getting used to it and beginning to enjoy the sound. I think Im now starting to understand my hubbys love for sport cars.