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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  Great car, bad interior - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Jaxx - August 27 - 10:00 am

  Had a lease on a 2001 Eclipse so I had to purchase another Mistu or take a big hit. Drove the Galant GTS a couple of times, great ride, acceleration, handleing, features, radio, and I also like the lcd screen. The ice blue lighting looks great at night. The car has a lot of room, I test drove a Grand Prix and the Galant is bigger or just feels like it. As you can tell I like the redesigned Galant and this is my third Mitsu. but the interior is bad, a lot of cheap materials. The sand grain rubber that covers the upper doors and dash is hard and not comfy. I sat in the Diamante, very nice inside why does Mitsu not use these materials in the Galant!!

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  real 4x4 - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Bob TN - August 25 - 9:30 pm

  Forget jeeps or land rovers, the Montero is better offroad than any car Ive ever been in. The 3.5L engine coupled with its five speed auto gets 0-60 in 7 to 8 seconds. I have never had one single issue with it in 95,000 miles. great truck, with ultra low axle ratio, my Montero can light up tires in 2wd but only hovers around 12 and 16 mpg

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  Love it! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By 256 LMT - August 25 - 7:36 pm

  I love my endeavor! It rides so smoothly. I got the belts changed as recommended and havent had any problems. It gets pretty good gas mileage for an SUV. Ive been very satisfied and would definitely recommend it.

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  Great car - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Myfirstreview - August 23 - 10:46 pm

  This car was purchased in 2003, It now has 140,000 miles on it. After about 130,000k, it started to burn a little oil at high rpms, guess this is kinda my fault for always driving like a maniac and always in a hurry.. Anyways, now, if i keep it at low rpms the engine is fine, I havent had any problems with the transmission, heater and a/c works great.. Has been in two wrecks and this car holds up really well, regular maintenance and good driving habits this car will last a LONG time.. I mean, nothing is broken, it all works fine, and is what, 8 years old with 140k miles on it, great buy!

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  Japanese BMW!! - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Tim Zdrale - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I am very happy with my 2002 Diamante LS! I consider this automobile to be a real bargain!! The car looks good, rides well and is quality made! A good combo Japanese design and Austrailian built! I plan to keep the car so resale is not an issue and it is a keeper! I have every option I could want in a car! Japanese BMW? You better believe it!

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  Underappreciated compact car - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By keithu - August 23 - 2:00 am

  We looked for a good compact car and that is exactly what we found. The interior is sized like a mid-size sedan; adults are comfortable in the front or back. The trunk holds camping gear for a family of four. Fuel economy is in the low 30s highway, upper 20s in town. I think the Lancer gets a bad rep for performance, given the flashy exterior of the OZ Rally Edition. While it is not a true performance car it handles reasonably well and has plenty of power for passing on rural two-lane roads where we drive most. The car is 100% reliable and easy to maintain.

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  Absolute Favorite - 2007 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Mjkj - August 22 - 8:33 pm

  I purchased this car about 5 days ago after reading numerous reviews and having a friend who currently owns one. I have it say it is great car. I also have a 06 Dodge Stratus that is horrible on gas and bucks on the road when you pass the second gear, so this is a great step up!

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  Car with the Spirit - 2005 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Eugene - August 22 - 9:40 am

  I do not have any problems with this car after driving 12000 miles.

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  2000 Mitsubishi Mirage 4 Dr - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Mitsubishi - August 21 - 9:50 am

  Im not certain as to how i feel about my car right now. I just bought it. So far it runs good. Im concerned if i was to hasty in buying a car. I really didnt want to make car payments. The car dealer seem very trustworthy and honest.

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  Pure Passion - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By TB Hart - August 20 - 5:53 am

  The exterior style of this vehicle is a stopper, inch for inch, its sleek and impressive lines has on more than I care to count explicit compliments from ladies and strangers on the street. The performance of this machine is so fantastic. When one needs power, there is more than one could hope for in a smaller vehicle. I have an automatic and can burn rubber when I punch it at 25 miles per hour. One minor downside is its blind spot, but the mirrors are well designed to compensate. When one sits in this car and turns on the dynamic sound system, one feels as if one is truly "one" with the vehicle. I love driving on winding, country roads..this baby hugs the pavement.