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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  5 years old and running great - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Viener.Vanker - June 10 - 2:26 pm

  Purchased 10/2005 with 48,000 miles. Now (10/2007) has 75,000 miles. No issues whatsoever. 29 miles per gallon mixed driving. Does what a 4 door 4 banger econobox is supposed to do and does it well.

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  Competes with the rest of class. - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By falsesmall - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Havent had it long but already I can tell you this car handles as well if not better than my old Passatt. Very nimble and plenty potent for a 4 cyl. Quiet ride. I keep reading it hasnt kept up with the styling improvements of its competition. The Dover Pearl White with the the Gold Package lettering looks pretty damn good to me. Plenty of standard features.

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  Smooth and Practical - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By supervic - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Before last weekend, I never thought that I would get a Mitsubishi car in my life. The precise control is similar to and the ride is much smoother than my last car-93 Nissan Altima. I did some research and compared it to Accord, Camery, Altima & Torus that interest me. In my opinion, Galant ES V6 is a practical family car with excellent performance and is the best bang for the buck. Since not too many people desire Galant, there is much room to negotiate the price with the dealer. What impulsived me to get a Galant is because of its 0% Finance plan for 60 months.

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  A Great Vehicle - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By glorkar - June 4 - 1:10 pm

  Purchased Used with 66,000 miles. When I started looking for a different vehicle, the Outlander wasnt even on my list. But after I saw it and test drove it, I fell in love. The exterior is fairly aggressive and the seats are very comfortable. The ride is nice and smooth and it has been able to haul anything I needed. I have not needed the AWD yet but with winters in Wisconsin Im sure it will come in handy. The mileage is ho-hum at about 20 mpg and its not very peppy off the line, but I knew it wasnt a race car when I bought it. The mesh cloth seats are great. Even though they are darker, they are cool to the touch even in 85 degree weather.

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  Great - 2005 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Debbyjo - June 2 - 2:46 am

  I love it......Its so roomy and it has just the right amount of power. I would buy it all over again.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By wymanc - June 1 - 5:50 am

  I just bought an Outlander ES and was surprised by the performance along with the list of standard features. Originally I was set on the new Honda CR-V, but felt it was too weak. My second choice was the Toyota RAV4, but I felt that the V6 engine was way too expensive. The Outlander is the perfect middle ground. Im used to driving sporty cars and was surprised by how much better it handles than vans / SUVs Ive driven in the past. The only negative I can think of right now is the fact the second row seats dont fold all the way flat down.

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  Awesome Ride - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Greg Aumann - June 1 - 2:00 am

  The ride and comfort is exellent. The power and gas mileage is excellent. The comment about not enough power is misleading. This is not a sports car. Much more room than the Hyundai SantaFe and Honda CRV, especially Rav4. Would recommend it to anyone. Drive it to believe it.

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  Great Car - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Bob White - May 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned this car for over a year now and i love it just as much as the day I bought it. Ive had several friends tell me that if you removed the badges it could pass as a bimmer. Great power for a 4 cylinder and the fake wood paneling make the interior very nice. Alloy wheels, spoiler, and moon roof are a must. The car is a little heavy though, maybe some weight reductions.

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  One of the best purchases to make - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By JMH - May 27 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 1.8T for this (yes I am growing up or whatever I guess), so to me it had no power what-so-ever, but Im not the most unbiased based on my former vehicle. Once I got used to the idea that I was no longer going to see the acceleration, I got quite used to the adequate engine. Also, by switching to clutchless shifting for freeway ramps you can keep the car in a better gear. Cup holders are placed in a position where I have to take my eyes off the road in order to locate my can of Coke. Maybe I just havent owned it long enough though. Small, small issues with an otherwise great vehicle.

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  Fun to Drive! - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By cyntax713 - May 23 - 6:26 pm

  Fun to drive, great on gas (especially the 5 speed), Everyone and I mean Everyone looks. Its a really fun sports car. You will definitely get bang for your buck! Just remember, keep up with maintenance!! Really really important. The engine can take a real beating in these cars, but you have got to do the timing belt and oil changes and you should be fine.