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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  What a Hot Car - 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By lbritain - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE my Montero Sport. Bought it new in 1999 and cant bear to part with it. Fun to drive - have never had any mechanical problems in 5 years and 52000 miles. changed brake pads at 35000 miles - no problems - fun and easy to drive. Suspension is a little stiff for a bit more rougher ride but still comfortable. No body problems - 5 years old and still looks brand new.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Amit - November 16 - 7:56 pm

  I have nothing but praises for this vehicle. Its built to last, has a powerful V6 engine and is a fun ride. I have had this vehicle for over 4 years now and used it for over 45K miles. The only other thing that I had to do besides the regular oil servicing was to change the brake rotors a couple of times (which is common to all vehicles, std life span being 2 yrs) .

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  One of the Nicest SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Monty 2004 - November 14 - 4:43 pm

  The Mitsubishi Montero is one of the best vehicles one can own. I can see people complaining about its fuel economy but which midsized SUV doesnt have bad fuel economyThe interior and exterior are excellent, extremely stylish. This truck is extremely comfortable.

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  My First Import - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Linda Jones - November 13 - 7:06 am

  I have never bought a non-American car before. I have been driving Cryslers Sebrings and Dodge Avengers since the Avenger first came out. I do like the previous cars, but they no longer make a Sebring with a manual transmission and I couldnt find a used one. The Eclipse caught my eye with its stying. I LOVE it. Its very fun to drive! I love the looks and feel. Well see about the reliability. Time will tell. I sure hope it holds up as well as the Cryslers, as I have very good luck with them. This car is quieter as well. It does not have as much road noise. It handles like a dream and is very comfortable to drive. The lumbar feature is wonderful on the back on long drives!

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  great for the cost - 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Jimbo567 - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Excellent drive and value for the money. The car handles well and is very quick when needed. Excellent chick magnet

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  Best car for the money - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By Vidal - November 11 - 1:10 pm

  This is such a great value. If you purchase a similar vehicle from a different manufacturer youll be paying too much. The engine and transmission are great, it accelerates faster than expected with the 2.4 liter engine. I would recommend this car to my family members.

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  Tough enough for Australia - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Mark Hunter - November 11 - 7:10 am

  Everyone gushes about how much they love their new car, of course. We were in Australia for three months, and drove two of these for just over 10,000 KM (about 6,300 miles). This is a useful seven passenger three row size, partway between the smallest and biggest SUVs. The Outlander’s third row seat is not the biggest, but it does offer about a foot and a half more room between the second row and the hatch. That means a lot to us on an extended road trip with lots of luggage and gear. We drove the ES/SE (rental hybrid of trim levels) with the 2.4 CVT in Australia, and bought the SE S-AWC a month ago here in DFW. I had the same experience as other private reviewers. I don’t understand what the pros are talking about when they say this doesn’t have enough power. I never had to floor it to merge into traffic. It has plenty of power for passing, easily goes from 55 to 70 uphill in the mountains with a full load of gear, and tachs at 2,300 when cruising at 70. It has a very smooth stable ride, a good driving position with comfortable seats, feels confident when cornering, and brakes well. The interior is remarkably quiet. The salesman said it has acoustic glass. Who knows? One feature not available on any other small SUV (that I am aware of) is the ability to disengage the AWD system altogether, using just the FWD and saving a penny on gas. We test drove most of the manufacturers, and could feel the difference between the AWD and the FWD. The Outlander’s AWD was not noticeable whether engaged or not. We spent a lot of time and miles in the Outlander ES/SE in Australia, and found it (and Australia) altogether agreeable. We test drove the GT (V6) and the Sport (shorter wheelbase). The GT and the Sport have firmer rides for different reasons. The seven passenger ES S-AWC 2.4 CVT is the way for us to go. It’s an all day driver, and carries our full load of gear without breaking a sweat.

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  GREAT CAR! - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By KATELYN - November 7 - 10:00 am

  LOVE MY NEW CAR. GREAT BUY FOR THE MONEY! GREAT HANDLING, SMOOTH RIDE! VERY HAPPY. SHOPPED AND TEST DROVE OTHER MID SIZE CARS AND THIS WAS BEST BUY FOR DOLLAR. 9.4 RATING AND WARRANTY WERE VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME. I OWNED A 929 MAZDA FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE PURCHASING THIS CAR!

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  Sturdy SUV - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Chuck - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I sold my 89 with 197,000 to a salesman. For the $ I think the ML series should be a comparable truck as well. I got a blk/blk leather fully loaded for under 40k (well under). It has a new 3.8l engine not the 3.5 that came in the 02s. The truck has plenty of pick-up. With all the standard equipment I ruled out the ML and QX4 easily. Everyone loves it.

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  personal - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By amis - November 5 - 2:00 am

  the car is the best buy out there right now. it is comfortable, and very affordable.