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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  Worth the dollar - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Flavio Medeiros - January 18 - 9:23 pm

  This is a very nice car for the city, highways and not much for off road. Its very nice to drive and has a low gas consumption (20 - 21 mpg) driving in the city. It is worth to have it.

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  Great rig - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By SteveBB - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Needs a little more power but awsome otherwise

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  Love my Endeavor - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By captain766 - January 16 - 12:56 am

  I purchased my Endeavor used 3 years ago and have absolutely loved it everyday since. The seats are very roomy which makes for a comfortable ride on long trips. The cargo area is incredibly spacious. The only thing that I could see Mitsubishi doing to improve the car is adding a third row seat. But, for me, it works perfect as is. The gas mileage is about what a person should expect for a vehicle this size (I avg. 18, but have gotten 23) and is comparable to what my friends get in their Escapes, Pilots, and Muranos. The manual says it likes >91 octane fuel, but I run 90 octane (which is the cheap stuff in Nebraska) ethanol and it performs great. It is a little sluggish with 89 octane.

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  Coming from a new Civic.... - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By GypsyBlu - January 15 - 2:33 pm

  I checked this Lancer out, I had an old one and then a new Civic coupe EX fully loaded. The electric blue is amazing, it was the very first thing that made me want to look at the car. With the keys in hand I took a 50 mile test drive. The handling of the car was great, almost like my BMW. It is heavy and stays on the road. The sound system is awesome along with the bluetooth, all the info screens and the FAST key - love that I no longer need a key. The car does use a bit more fuel then my Civic, but the handling is well worth it.

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  GTZ Owner - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Sug6ar - January 15 - 3:20 am

  Yes I agree that the Camry is nice and so is the Altima, thats if you want to pay too much and lack a sense of style....but as a GTZ owner, I cant get enough compliments. So what if its a BMW knock off, at least I paid half the cost. Since Ive owned it, driving has become fun again and I always feel safe driving it. It may not have been your first choice...but its #1 with me.

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  I love this car! - 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By loiscae - January 13 - 1:15 pm

  Absolutely love everything about this car. Ive only had it a few months so I cant give it a 5 rating on reliability until Ive had it longer.

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  eclipse gt - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By shawn gt - January 11 - 10:00 am

  i have driven the rest and i picked the best,i tested the celica gts,acura rsx,sentra vspec,tiburon tuscani,and a miata,as far as i am concerned the eclipse is the best bang for your buck

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  Fun car - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Britt - January 10 - 7:30 pm

  I have loved this car!! I bought it a few years ago, and I have had minor problems. The biggest one was probably that the coil went bad, but ever since then it has just been tightening of belts and routine maintance. It takes a lot of abuse from me. I have to admit Im one of those aggressive drivers. So Im not the easiest on the car and it still does great. It has a lot of get up and go when you need it. I have put about 40,000 miles on it since Ive had it and it runs great. The A/C could be a little colder.

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  New car on the block - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By lucas from canada - January 9 - 9:33 am

  This car was love at first sight. I love the look, the drive, and most importantly the price tag. As my first car, this car has all the features a young businessman could want. Sporty with a touch of elegant, its perfect for my daily commute and weekend drive to the beach. Mitsubishi made a statement with this car and they do have the most competitive price. Good job Mitsubishi Motors!

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  Off-road champ that goes to the Opera - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By East bay area owner - January 6 - 8:20 pm

  The Mitsubishi Montero is an awesome off-road vehicle! I went to Hollister Hills SVRA and owned it! It beat all of the other trucks out there. I washed it up and went to San Francisco to blend in with all the snobby folks out there.