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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  Great Car! - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Skyler - July 26 - 9:33 pm

  I bought it used at about 50,000 miles, and only had to replace the clutch and tires from the original. Believe it or not the brake pads have never been replaced in eight years! No major problems, only maintenance costs. Very reliable car. Alright in snow. And for some reason every girl that sees it falls in love with it. Thats never a bad thing. I drive all in the city and still get 25 mpg in the winter, and 28 in the winter.

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  Great Car! - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By BigRuss - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This is my first car and it drives great! It gets about 27 miles per gallon. I havent had any problems with it, except the steering wheel would shake around 75mph. But that stopped when I had the wheels rebalanced and rotated. Very good car for the price it is going for.

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  LOVE IT!! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By zzeeker - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I have only had the vehicle for a month and a half. I am trying to find something wrong with it but I just cant. The truck is solid as a rock and handles beautiful. I love the more radical look of it. So far I am extremely happy with my purchase.

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  Good car - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Shane - July 22 - 2:43 am

  Loved this car, I have the ES. Nice cheap car to get you around. Have taken it to Dallas and back a few times which is about 4.5 hours away from me. Loved driving it every mile of the way. Havent had any problems with it at all yet. The engine doesnt feel that luckluster for a tiny 4 cylinder which is good. Car is amazingly sharp when just putting tint on the windows and giving it a good wash. A real looker. Gas mileage is awesome, I drive the highway to work and back and get around 33mpg when I dont use the a/c. Very very nice car, I would recommend it to anyone who doesnt have kids. Backseat is a little small.

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  It Just Feels Right - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Bizbomb - July 22 - 2:00 am

  If your looking for an exhilarating new car experiance, stop here. The Exclipse GT Premium is by far the best value in a sports car. Just test drive one down a country road with some tight turn and you will see. The more I drive mine, the deeper I fall in love. It is a car truly designed around the driver and their needs.

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  2004 Outlander XLS, replaces our Spyder - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By skarst1 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This is our third Mitsubishi and we have been very happy with all three. This has to be the best so far. It replaces a 2001 Spyder GT which was not being used. The Outlander has the power we need with the convienience of all wheel drive which comes in very handy during Pennsylvania winters. My wife is no longer afraid to drive in the snow, she now enjoys it. We dont even miss the Spyder, this is as much fun to drive. Would highly recommend this SUV. We chose this over Hondas CRV and Element

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  GREAT CAR - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By CARRIE - July 18 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS MY FIRST NEW CAR EVER. I WAS LOOKING FOR A WHILE AND I JUST LOVE THIS CAR MY HUSBAND HAS A LX LANCER WE PURCHASED 1 MONTH AGO AND I LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT I BOUGHT MY OWN LANCER AND THEIR TWINS SAME COLOR BUT I HAVE THE ES AND HE HAS THE LS

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By sunshyndrmr - July 16 - 10:50 pm

  What a fantastic car! I had seen the Outlander but thought it was out of my price range and moved on. After test driving the Scion Xb which I originally planned to buy, I was less impressed than I thought I would be. I wanted something or more quality not just fun. This is both! I got lucky, they had 2 07s on the lot that they were trying to get rid of, and I ended up with more options that I couldve ever afforded

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  The Best - 2008 Mitsubishi Galant
  By master - July 15 - 7:50 pm

  One of the best cars driven in the mid luxury car segment. Ample leg room, good 4 side visibility. Stable.

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  2003 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X - 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By R.L.Green - July 11 - 7:36 pm

  My 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X has been outstanding in every category. I immediately put on aftermarket wheels and tires. Along with the optional VR-X package, I have one of the best looking and running cars on the road. The Infinity stereo system is awesome with an amp. There are several ways to improve the engine performance in this car. Just do a little homework. It is really a shame that Mitsubishi discontinued the Diamante. What does that say about them when they discontinue their flagship model in search of something geared toward the younger buyer. I am a proud owner and will keep my Diamante for a very long time. I plan to enter it in some car shows since it will be in a class by itself. It is a 10 out of 10 in my book.