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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  mitsubishi vehicles are great - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By mikegacsy - July 4 - 10:00 am

  i cannot figure out why more people do not buy mitsubishi vehicles.this is one of the best built vehicles i have ever owned.it is fun to drive has lots of room,looks good,has an excellent warranty.

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  Endeavor 4 Ever ! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By G - MAN - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I cant say enough about this SUV... this truck is built tough,you cant compare any north american car to this! All the other japanese car companies dont offer a better built SUV the just offer the higher price tag. I love the engine torque, the smooth the carlike steering, the four wheel disk brakes, the cargo space, the seating room ...front and back... the leather seats, the dvd package was an awesome option for the kids, the aluminum wheels, the stereo, the rugged looks,

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  Great Truck - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By mitsuman - July 3 - 4:46 am

  This is a great truck for me. I only wish it had a better payload ability. It doesnt like anything over 500 lbs in the back. Looks tough, but bottoms out easy. Gas mileage is 18.5 in city! and 22 highway. Always has very even tire wear. Tracks like a train.

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  Ill think Ill keep it - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By keeper - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Researched for over 6 months before buying, liked design and 4WD. Had minor paint problems (chipping) and have replaced brakes(30k). Some road noise but drives better than any comparable SUV I tested.

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  Fantastic, XTERRA ++++! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By javagirl1 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  very similar to Nissans XTERRA only with additional features and better gas milage. Only drawback is it is a bit less stable due to narrower roadbase footprint. Had EXTERRA, like this much more for a comparable price. Bettrta than Honda CRV too! 4cyl is amazing...skeptic till I test drove it.

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  I love this car!!! - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Jstagirl - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I have had my RS Eclipse about one and a half years and still love it. I was sold on the car from the moment i test drove it. It handles great, looks sharp and gets great mileage. My husband loves it as much as I do. We take turns driving it around town.

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  Save money on gas with this Mirage - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Gary - July 2 - 12:53 am

  This car was made in Japan and came with 94% parts made in Japan also. For 5 years, it gave me no trouble at all. I just drove to dealership to buy a little bottle of touch-up paint. Its average gas mileage has been 31 mpg in local driving (with the air on most of the time during the summer),. I am not sure about the highway mileage, but it must be better. The only thing I dont like is that its not equiped with cruise control. It makes my leg sour over long trips.

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  Gsx Power - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By TurboGsx10 - July 1 - 5:43 pm

  This is a great car to own. With a stock quarter mile in the upper 14s this car is a performance monster. With better fuel economy then the big V8 american powerhouses and similar performance i would say this is the best bang for the buck. This also is in my opinion one of the best looking cars on the street.

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  Ultimate SUV - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Samuel - July 1 - 2:20 pm

  Lots of compartments for storage. Very spacious interior. V6 power is good. Only have 1200 miles on vehicle, average about 24 mpg, switching from 2 wheel to 4 wheel drive. Sound system is excellent.

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  Great little car for a great value! - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By AGKB - June 30 - 11:50 pm

  I bought this car to escape the crazy gas prices a while back. This car is the best bang for the buck. I looked at a lot of cars in its class and none came close; most (Civic, Mazda3, etc.) were more expensive with less options. You cant find a better car loaded with these options at this price. This car is much better looking too; looks like Bimmers, Audis and Volvos in the 40- 50K range! Not thrilled with the performance from 0-30, after that, its great. I chose the CVT (convenience) over performance.