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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  Good Buy - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Galant Owner - February 15 - 9:03 am

  I got my LS after its original lease ended and the car had 25K miles on it. Have been driving it for over 3 years now. Not a single problem with the car. What a difference from my previous Audi A4 which was breaking down every week. Like the interior - mine has leather seats, sunroof, side airbags, CD player. Back room is really for kids and not for adults. It is fun to drive and it easily goes 90-100 mph on highways - stable and solid run. Great car for the money. Not as refined as Maxima or Accord, but youd pay much more for those.

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  great car!! - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By miljam - February 15 - 2:00 am

  i would recommend its better than a honda, great driving like on air...

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  Mitsu Eclipse GT 2000 - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By delhi_dude - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Needs oil change at proper interval. The Sun-Roof gets bad in Rainy cities. Worst Resale Value.

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  I love this car!!! - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By MistyKin - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I got this car and the only thing i can find that bothers me about it is that i cant figure out how to use the climate controls correctly the air only goes off if the little orange light is on is that a glitch?

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  Great first car I must say! - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Tarantula - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought it about 7 months ago with 132k miles on it. Was a little skeptical about it but when I drove it, I couldnt believe its 7 years old. Great gas mileage (about 30 mpg combined), fun to drive (in short commutes but not on the highway), and great reliability. I drove like 12k miles in just six months of purchase and needed nothing other than regular oil change. There is some room for improvement such as, temperature knob is hard to rotate and Im not the only one facing this, no abs/cruise. But other than these issues the car is great.

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  Great Compact! - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By big spank dogg - February 14 - 11:33 pm

  My Lancer is an awesome little car. I opted for the base ES, 5 speed, no options, but got most of the features I wanted anyway. This car handles very well and is a joy on mountain roads; however, the base 14-inch tires are much to small and the Yokohama rubber offers no grip in the wet. Fuel economy has been a little disappointing (I average about 27 MPG on my 120-mile round trip commute), but I drive it hard so thats to be expected. The Lancer is an awesome compact that beats everyone else in price as well.

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  Great for the Family! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Jen - February 14 - 1:43 pm

  I love this vehicle! Interior is durable for my 2 small children, roomy for car seats. Back of the seats are plastic, no worrying about small footprint marks! We are a tall family and we have ample leg room! It is stylish and sporty. Drives like a car, smooth and plenty of power.

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  One Punishing Ride - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Alltone - February 14 - 7:03 am

  A kidney belt might be a nice option, you will feel every crack and bump in that supposedly smooth black top. The ride is harsh and tiring, like a bicycle with touring wheels, otherwise the car is a joy. We got the basic $20k model, upgraded to leather, moon roof, CD changer, 10 yr warrantly.

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  A Must Buy! - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Whitney - February 12 - 12:30 pm

  I just purchased the Outlander XLS 2WD today! I have to say, after searching for the past six months and doing some homework, this is the car to get. I test drove the CR-V, CX7, and Santa Fe, plus the old Trailblazer (previously owned). There is no comparison, this is the best and a definite MUST buy!

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  not so great - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By kristin guptill - February 11 - 4:29 pm

  Had the car a few months.states 4x4 . couldnt get up hill in snow.couldnt move in small amount of mud in driveway..was thinking 4 wheel drive didnt actually work but brought it to tire place and they said its probably because dealer gave me garbage tires at this point they were bald.at no point in my probably 5 oil changes did dealer ever tell me my tires were worn.very annoyed.so im 700 dollars in on tires.we will see if its tires