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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  BEST OF BEST - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Gene Leahy - July 25 - 12:56 am

  I have 25 tears experience in the atomotive industry. I have driven themall and repaired and serviced most In my book better than a Lexus or BMW for a much lower price. This is a real winner and I higly recommend this car to those who enjoy the ultimate experience in driving

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  Holds up to standards... - 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By dsciandra - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I drove a Mitz 3000GT and wanted a comparable new car when I was ready to buy. This car was not a step down, it is smooth, quick, stylish, comfortable. I recommend the leather package with sun + sound, it makes it stand out when outside the car. Also, when AC is on, you feel a noticable decrease in acceleration, I suggest a performance air filter to give you a 10% boost in HP. Love my car, waiting to buy the new 2006 when it comes out!

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  Fun, Fiesty, and Frugal - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By chiarra - July 22 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is both stylish and fuel efficient. Great steering capacity and pick up makes driving pleasant both in the city and on the highway.

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  Best Performance Car for $18,000 - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By jjorgens - July 15 - 4:06 am

  This is the most fun car Ive ever driven! I absolutely love the cool look of the car and how it turns heads everywhere I drive it. The performance is amazing and it accelerates *extremely* quickly in 1st and 2nd gear. The stock Eagle RS tires were kinda junk tires, but were fun to abuse. This was my first stick shift car and the drivetrain has sustained my abuse. The stock sound system with the Sun & Sound Package is AMAZING! The only problem I had was with the rear suspension squeaking in extremely cold Wisconsin winters which was fixed under warranty after finding a good service manager.

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  awesome vehicle - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By madsforu - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I have had the "Monte Boy" as my wife calls it for 3 full years, picked up the 2001 Limited edition, finished 50000 miles in every possible road condition, snow, desert, mountain, slush, u name it. It has been one great vehicle with no major repairs of problems so far, it stands out as far as looks go , the only thing I feel sad about it is it gets poor review from the so called Automobile experts but the customers always rate it as excellent!

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  I love my new Eclipse! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Michelle Luciuk - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I dont think there is anything that I dont like about this car. From the beautiful and sporty body to the sleek and modern interior. It has a smooth powerful ride...enough get up and go even though mine is a 4 cyl. The power shiftron was handy for the snowy winter here. I love the sunroof/moonroof, the excellent stero system. Yes, I am in love with my car!

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  Exactly what I was looking for in a low-cost daily - 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jason K. - July 13 - 11:49 pm

  I knew going to the dealership what the pros and cons were of this vehicle but I desperately needed to replace my 15 year old daily driver with something better. I weighed the options and considering that this is the 3rd car in our driveway and didnt need many bells or whistles, I chose the ES model for its overall value. I truly enjoy driving this car everyday and it does exactly what its supposed to do, get me from point A to point B with zero issues or worries. Shes a very nice looking SUV, has plenty of room for cargo, drives perfectly sound and true, isnt to loud, handles the elevation changes like a champ, and is very comfortable including in/egress. The trip computer is nice but sometimes a little goofy as is the radio but its nice that it has a 6.1" touchscreen with bluetooth standard, not many cars include that in the lowest trim level. I got a great deal on the car with the help of a pre-approval from my finance company and Ive gone from filling the tank once a week with premium fuel to filling it once every two weeks with mid-grade fuel. Im very aware that many people will have complaints about little things but as I said initially, the total value and amenities provided by my Outlander are exactly what I was looking for in a tidy and attractive package. Ownership level: 2+ months; purchased in November 2016; review written 2/7/2017

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  Exceeded Expectations - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Joe101286 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a 1998 Mirage DE Sedan after I lost my first car in a wreck. What a great purchase it turned out to be! Wonderful appearance for an economy sedan. Its very refined and clean looking. Interior design is very eye pleasing and fit and finish is great. The performance is what surprises me about this car, its very peppy for a 92 hp engine!

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  Eclipse GSX - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Spooln - July 13 - 12:33 am

  I bought this car from a lady I worked with. I bought it from her with 150,000 miles on it. I knew she was nice to it so I got it. I had a few minor issues with the car. The struts just went, the master cylinder just went and my truck opens sometimes. I dont mind because it is an old car. It is fast with the turbo at 9 PSI. I like the design of the exterior and the nice GSX rims. It has amazing handling and makes everyone look at it because of the nice design. Good car to mod if you plan on it. Has quick acceleration. Girls love it and I would for sure buy another one if they come out with another GSX version.

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  Best Compact Available - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Linda S - July 11 - 9:56 pm

  We test drove most CUVs and once in the Outlander XLS, there was no turning back. Our second choice was the RAV4, but it didnt have the nice features and the swing tailgate/tire would be annoying when launching our boat. The Outlander will be great with the lift gate and tail gate. The Navigation system is impressive and in winters, the Active Skid Control and 4WD are a must for ND winters. The warranty is top notch.