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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  Best sports sedan under $25K - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By DN743559 - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive had Infinitis and Audis in the past, but this car beats them in overall performance and build quality (especially the piece of junk Audi). Its very quick with great handling and balance on a solid and rattle-free body and suspension. The interior is great too; I particularly like the well shaped and firm power seat, great sound system, and everything within easy reach. On top of all this, a 5 yr/50K bumper-to-bumper mile warranty with free maintenance for 3 yrs/45K miles.

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  Mitsubishis Underrated Endeavor - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By James M. Conn - September 20 - 10:00 am

  The Endeavor is underrated by all consumer publications because it is reliable, fun to drive, powerful, has good fuel economy, and is pruced $2000 to $4000 less than other SUVs in this group. P.S.- I drive 30,000 miles per year in this vehicle.

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  its no BMW - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By stuart - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had my car now 10 months and drove it across USA on vacation with no real complaints. I have had the roters turned once. I bought the GTZ which is nice as it comes with a lot of features for the $. I also looked at the Altima and to load that out the same way would have cost me $29,000 and change. I paid $24.750 for the Mitsubishi. It could have done with a little stiffer suspension as you feel roll when driving hard. Also I think Mitsubishi should have put more horsepower in the GTZ. Considering you are paying considerably more than the other Galant V6s but have the same engine,

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  its no BMW - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Stuart - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had my car now 10 months and drove it across USA on vacation with no real complaints. I have had the roters turned once. I bought the GTZ which is nice as it comes with a lot of features for the $. I also looked at the Altima and to load that out the same way would have cost me $29,000 and change. I paid $24.750 for the Mitsubishi. It could have done with a little stiffer suspension as you feel roll when driving hard. Also I think Mitsubishi should have put more horsepower in the GTZ. Considering you are paying considerably more than the other Galant V6s but have the same engine,

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  Fantastic Car - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By jillfitz - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Almost 2 years and 20k miles later my Galant is still as perfect as the day I purchased it. Fuel economy is much better than expected - Ive seen 31 mpg which is several better than the EPA highway rating. Engine is smooth and has plenty of power for passing. The transmission is fantastic, I never feel it shift. All the controls are simple and logically laid out so they fall right to hand. Reliability has been outstanding. Never anything other than regular maintenance.

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  Great Buy - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Mark F - September 18 - 2:00 am

  The Lancer is a great car for the money. Plenty of interior room, especially in the back seat where many small cars are too tight for adults or even for kids in car seats. Back seat is very easy to get in and out of. The ride is also very smooth and quiet but still with good, predictable handling. The engine is very smooth for a big 4- cylinder and has plenty of power for moving about in daily traffic. The cruise control is nice because its too easy to exceed the speed limit in this car if your not careful.

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  Value for money - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By ozlancernut - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have brand new yellow OZ-Rally Lancer . Inspiration on top! Every driver on a road looking on this beauty, breaking his or her necks! Tinted windows, OZ-racing rims, all body spoilers, and this car is fast, believe me. You only have to try smooth short manual transmission shifts. Its like a poem. Racing sound pleases your hart on 4000 rpm. The only issue tracking is bad! I mean really bad, my tires loose tracking when I force a car, even on strait road. Wanna more? AirIntake will improve performance for another dosen hp, for only 200 bucks. For my opinion it is the best car you can get on this price.

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  Good car, but not a sports car... - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By monepit2003 - September 17 - 8:13 pm

  I bought the car new in May 02 and had to replace the factory clutch in Sept of 02. The car now has 53k on it and I have only had to replace the front breaks. No problems since then w/ anything mechanical. But, for essentially a two-seat sports car it could be faster. The seats should also be more supportive and less cushiony. The suspension is noticable soft/bouncy and feels more like youre in a sedan than a sleek hatchback. It also turns like a Mac truck (40+ ft turning radius!) overstear also becomes a problem w/ more spirited driving. Consider the Acura RSX as well if you are considering a Mitsu.

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  Poor reviews are not warranted - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Greg - September 14 - 7:00 pm

  We are on our third Montero Sport XLS and have loved every one. We have had no problems running them each 50,000 - 60,000 miles, except the 98 which had a drivers side window defect. We do a lot of highway driving and live in very mountainous/rural Oregon. They have performed well on long road trips and four wheeling on local rough mountain roads and trails. Consumers Report gave them a bad rap because they drove like a truck. Then Mitsubishi modified the suspension and they got a bad rap for riding like a car! It seems like Mitsubishi cannot do much to please that magazine. The materials inside and out are high quality. It has good fit and finish. This is a rig to think about keeping until the wheels fall off.

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  Steel Blue Mitsu - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By hahmed87 - September 14 - 3:20 am

  I love the color that I got. The car is pretty quick for a GS. I like the style of the body, and most definitely love the interior light. I love the sub they included and plan on putting in my own.