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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  Exactly what I was looking for in a low-cost daily - 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jason K. - July 13 - 11:49 pm

  I knew going to the dealership what the pros and cons were of this vehicle but I desperately needed to replace my 15 year old daily driver with something better. I weighed the options and considering that this is the 3rd car in our driveway and didnt need many bells or whistles, I chose the ES model for its overall value. I truly enjoy driving this car everyday and it does exactly what its supposed to do, get me from point A to point B with zero issues or worries. Shes a very nice looking SUV, has plenty of room for cargo, drives perfectly sound and true, isnt to loud, handles the elevation changes like a champ, and is very comfortable including in/egress. The trip computer is nice but sometimes a little goofy as is the radio but its nice that it has a 6.1" touchscreen with bluetooth standard, not many cars include that in the lowest trim level. I got a great deal on the car with the help of a pre-approval from my finance company and Ive gone from filling the tank once a week with premium fuel to filling it once every two weeks with mid-grade fuel. Im very aware that many people will have complaints about little things but as I said initially, the total value and amenities provided by my Outlander are exactly what I was looking for in a tidy and attractive package. Ownership level: 2+ months; purchased in November 2016; review written 2/7/2017

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  Exceeded Expectations - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Joe101286 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a 1998 Mirage DE Sedan after I lost my first car in a wreck. What a great purchase it turned out to be! Wonderful appearance for an economy sedan. Its very refined and clean looking. Interior design is very eye pleasing and fit and finish is great. The performance is what surprises me about this car, its very peppy for a 92 hp engine!

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  Mediocre Galant - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By galantinDM - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Weve put approximately 35000 miles on our 2001 Galant. Weve enjoyed driving the car however, the build of the car is cheap. it dents or dings if you barely touch it which is difficult to avoid when you park in a parking ramp everyday. we love everything else. its a little small for us but that is because my husband is 66" tall. Not very many cars are built for a man that size!!!

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  Eclipse GSX - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Spooln - July 13 - 12:33 am

  I bought this car from a lady I worked with. I bought it from her with 150,000 miles on it. I knew she was nice to it so I got it. I had a few minor issues with the car. The struts just went, the master cylinder just went and my truck opens sometimes. I dont mind because it is an old car. It is fast with the turbo at 9 PSI. I like the design of the exterior and the nice GSX rims. It has amazing handling and makes everyone look at it because of the nice design. Good car to mod if you plan on it. Has quick acceleration. Girls love it and I would for sure buy another one if they come out with another GSX version.

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  Best Compact Available - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Linda S - July 11 - 9:56 pm

  We test drove most CUVs and once in the Outlander XLS, there was no turning back. Our second choice was the RAV4, but it didnt have the nice features and the swing tailgate/tire would be annoying when launching our boat. The Outlander will be great with the lift gate and tail gate. The Navigation system is impressive and in winters, the Active Skid Control and 4WD are a must for ND winters. The warranty is top notch.

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  Love this SUV - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Shane10940 - July 11 - 7:06 pm

  I have owned three Subarus and one Honda SUV prior to owing this my Outlander. I must tell you that the critics must not know anything at all based on what they have to say about the Outlander. The Outlander is of high quality, drives and rides well, attractive and has tons of luxury like features. I will likely never buy another Subaru based on how much better the Mitsubishi Outlander is when compared to the Subaru Tribeca.

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  We had a love/hate relationship.... - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By haylzmr - July 11 - 3:48 pm

  I hated this car, but loved it so much at the same time. I totaled it not too long ago, and for one final time, it saved my life. I walked away without a scratch. The car, on the other hand.... It was pretty bad. My car had not been properly maintained (thanks to the person who had given me the car), so it had a LOT of issues. Aside from the issues, though, it was a great car to drive. I loved the way it handled. I always had fun driving it. I took it back and forth from Indiana to Virginia three times. We had some issues, but it got me there. It was pretty hard saying my final goodbyes to this car.

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  Hot Cha Cha - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Howie Gustafson - July 11 - 10:53 am

  This is a great and fun car to drive. I set up a high performance air filter and love the sound. It really can push you back in the seat.

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  So Far, I Love It! - 2007 Mitsubishi Raider
  By IMDHulk - July 9 - 11:20 am

  To anyone out there who is not sure about the Raider...I am a believer in it! I have come across a few bad reports of Raiders but for me, overall its the baddest truck on my block for sure! It has handsome styling, a smooth ride, and a nice sound system. Its everything that I was looking for and the price was decent for me also. I got it for $23,000 with a lot of extras on it. So far I am definitely in love with it, and I hope others feel the same way.

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  Love the Outlander - so fun - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Love it - July 9 - 1:33 am

  Ive been driving the Outlander for a year now. Bought it brand new. My favorites are the torque (very quick), fun to drive, turning radius, love the liftgate (perfect for changing babies diapers), backseats lay down easily, the upgraded bluetooth is nice, all the cupholders are handy, great setup in the front seat, and the long warranty are just some of my positives. My husband likes the head space, yet it is small for tight garage. My only complaint is the seats are very sporty & not as soft and comfy as I would like. After about 6 mo, I had a problem with the circuit breaker (I may have blew something out) and the dealership replaced everything free & immediately with no questions asked