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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  I LOVE MY TRUCK - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Chris - September 27 - 3:53 am

  Very happy with this SUV. I do not regret purchasing it at all.

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  Wow! - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Gene Nigrelli - September 26 - 3:03 pm

  I cant believe that you can purchase a vehicle with all of these features for such a low price. Electronics are outstanding.

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  Great Value and Fun to Drive - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By M185 - September 26 - 10:40 am

  I purchased my 07 LS used with 44,500 miles. It is the best value in a used compact SUV out there. I shopped against Toyota RAV4 and Highlander, Acura MDX and RDX, Nissan Murano, and Ford Escape. The Outlander with leather seating, V6 engine, AWD, rear seat DVD, and upgraded MP3 stereo was $3-10K less than the competition. It is not the most luxurious, road noise is a little higher than the Acuras and Toyotas, and the suspension booms over some potholes but for the money, it cant be beat. It blows away the 2003 Pathfinder we sold and I really liked the Nissan. Highly recommended if you are shopping for the best value in a CUV. My kids love it too.

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  Style + Value + Performance= Total Pkg. - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By FLShadow - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Ok so I havent had this car very long, I drove it off the showroom floor today and everyone has stopped and complimented me on this car - it is a head turner. The engine is peppy and well suited for its task. I was able to work a few dealer specials to really take a whack at the price. I got 200 gallons of gas, 3 Years of Free Schedule Maitance, $2000 Cash Back & $1000 Loyalty Bonus. It was like I robbed the place for all that is worth - I have the Kalapana Black and it is so glossy and perfect with the beige leather and birchwood trim.

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  A great value purchase - 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Vik - September 23 - 7:00 am

  We bought this to replace a 3-series BMW sedan. With a growing, athletic son and two large dogs, we needed to return to having an SUV for toting everyone around. Having previously owned both a Pathfinder and a Highlander, we were familiar with the virtues/vices of both truck- and car- based SUVs. We researched the Outlander thoroughly, and this model is recommended by both Edmunds and Consumer Reports. In fact, this model gets the nod over the 6 cyl, and we agree with that assessment. It is truly a great value purchase: fun to drive, very good technology, comfortable, and highly useful. The vehicle is thoughtfully designed. Yes, they could have used nicer interrior materials.

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  Hasnt Let Me Down Yet - 2000 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By mitmit - September 22 - 6:53 pm

  My 2000 Mitsubishi Diamante has been extremely reliable and fun to drive. Ive always liked the styling of the Diamantes, and you get a really nice car for a reasonable price. The only disadvantages Ive observed are their poor resale value, and some components could be of higher quality. For example, I was told at 38,000 miles that my struts were going to need to be replaced soon. (However, I havent replaced them, and it still rides fine.) The other quality issues were more cosmetic in nature, like a trim piece that peeled.

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  Best SUV for the Money - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By tommybo76 - September 22 - 1:13 pm

  My wife and I love this SUV. It gets great gas mileage, has lots of great interior features, a 10 year warranty, and all the safety features standard. This is a great SUV for the money.

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  A Great Standout - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Brian - September 22 - 6:23 am

  This car is great for its class and offers more for the money than any of the competitions. It looks good and is very fun to drive. It is an athletic yet comfortable car that has always been great so far. It is faster and more agile than most other small SUVs and has a host of great standard features. I also really like the gauge computer and the 6-speed auto is unheard of in this class. Also, the 4WD system is great and I highly recommend it for buyers who encounter snow and slick road conditions like I do.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Delma - September 20 - 10:06 am

  This little SUV is just right for me. Its got everything I need. Its nice and roomy in the front and rear. Bottom line, I love my Outlander.

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  Galant review - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Mthomas - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Great car so far. My other car was a 1996 galant, no major problems. This is why I chose to stick with the new galants. I enjoyed the car, it was easy to handle and manuever with great ease.