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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  Who would have thought? - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By JGandHJ - June 19 - 10:00 am

  My finace and I have always ood and ahhd over this vehicle since the first time we saw one. Going strickly on appearances, we didnt think it was in our price range. After stopping by the dealership we were suprised at how affordable it was. We absolutely love it. Test drove the Trailblazer and no comparison. The build quality is far better on the Montero. The interior materials on the Trailblazer feel cheap and generic. The V6 on the Trailblazer is supposedly much more powerful but you could have fooled me. Ive read the other reviews but see no reason for a more powerful engine. As for gas mileage, what do you expect for a huge SUV???

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  MONTERO LUXURY & SATISFACTION - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By WILKE - June 18 - 11:10 am

  IT DOES IT ALL!

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  Powertrain Problems - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Mitsi Problems - June 18 - 10:36 am

  We bought this GTS in Oct 08 from Northside Mitsubishi in Edmonton. The car looked great and seemed to be fairly tight. We were pretty excited being our first new car for my wife. at 4000km, the rear main engine seal half way through a 1200km trip. The engine needed to be pulled and the seal replaced. Roadside assistance did nothing for us and we limped 600km to the dealership, filling oil every 50km. At 6400 the transmission started packing it in and will be going in for replacement on April 13th 2009. The company will do nothing for us other then repairing the major issues even when they struggle in todays market. Replacing the vehicle would be the solution, which they declined.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By KSt13 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I love my new Montero. It is a pleasure to drive, has lots of room and has a very refined interior. The drive train is where the real fun starts. The engine and transmission work well together for good acceleration and a quite but powerful driving experience.

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  disapointed - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By maciek - June 15 - 10:00 am

  underpower , week exterior , front bumper damage in 20 mph crash .power window mechanizm freez up in winter , rear doors bottom part over rear fender dirt collector , srs slip controll system somthing like abs prewenting from good off road capabiity spetialy on snow .great interior , center consol all instruments right location , third row seat to small , children size like .

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  Awesome!!! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Db34 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my 8th Mitusbishi that I have owned and it is the best vehicle I have ever purchased. I took home the Limited version with the sun roof instead of the dvd system. I cant believe how great it rides and how awesome the stereo system sounds.

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  Amazing SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Mikeeynyc - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Fast - Safe - Confy - Powerful - Fun to Drive - Nice sound system (stock?!) - Great Breaks - Turning fast on corners is responsive - overall this is a winner above other

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  Great Little SUV!! - 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By stevem777 - June 14 - 2:21 pm

  I recently bought a 2014 Outlander Sport SE. I cant believe this vehicle is below everyones radar for anyone wanting a smaller crossover. I did all of the research and found that by far this Mitsu was ranked higher in customer satisfaction that all of the others. I decided to test drive this car and was really impressed with the performance and smooth ride it has. It didnt take long to make a decision when looking at the options for this vehicle. We got every option except for the navigation and the panoramic roof... the 6 speed paddle shifters and INVECS -III - CVT Sportronic transmission makes this a fun to drive, sporty compact SUV.

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  Great truck - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By T-bone - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a well-built, powerful, comfortable vehicle. It has a huge cargo area, especially with the seats folded. It is a very comfortable highway cruiser yet remains very capable off road. It gets gets good mileage for a 2 ton truck.

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  Awesome Buy - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Al33 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This 4 cyl has to be one of my best purchases in the last 12 months! It has enough power to scoot me around the San Antonio freeways, but it is still easy on my wallet when i have to fill it up.