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:

• 

  good family wagon - 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By spyklee - June 27 - 10:00 am

  i have owned my sport for about 1.5 years. 3.0L V6 auto trans. this is a good family veh. easy to get daughter in car seat, lots of space in cargo area, vehicle looks great. easy to manuver in tight city areas (UK). driving pos. is great. love those mirrors (big). upgrade to better shock, stereo is lame, more power is needed for city, on hwy going up hills the sport takesem like a champ. fuel eco. is soso 21hwy. no major problems except changing front brakes, the whole assembly,(pads & rotors) at about 52000 mils. good roadtrip veh/grocery getter. if you find a used one make sure driveshaft seals were done, it was some sort of serv. bulliton.

• 

  Bad Car - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By cccrop2323 - June 26 - 8:00 pm

  I have had this car for about a year now. At first it was a great car. It has a great look and style. Then it started having problems. The fuel injection wasnt working correctly. At first I though that the warranty would cover the problem, but it ended being caused by a bad tank of fuel. It caused a lot of damage to different parts of the car. It shows the car is not reliable at all. And when I talked with a Mitsubishi rep. she said that the car needs to run a middle grade fuel or premium fuel, otherwise it will have problems again in the future and not be covered by the warranty.

• 

  Sold at First Sight - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Mike - June 25 - 10:06 pm

  My previous car, an 02 Hyundai Elantra broke down so I decided to trade it in. I had been researching new cars and had considered this as well as the Suzuki SX4. Test drove my Lancer and I was hooked. I got the GTS with the standard stereo, no nav. I kinda wished I had gotten it but I couldnt justify the extra cost. As far as the performance, the car is quick and handles great. The tires seem to be the limiting factor. Everywhere I have looked people criticize the Dunlops for their lack of traction, especially in the snow. The car is comfortable and drives great. The gas mileage is awesome. Its better than the mileage I would get in the Hyundai, even though that engine was smaller.

• 

  Keeps on Tickin - 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By dap - June 24 - 10:06 pm

  We have owned our Red Montero Sport for around 5 years now, and this thing just keeps on tickin. I have been planning on buying a newer vehicle, but since this one is paid off and still runs so well, and still looks very good for a 97, I just cant see any reason for getting rid of it. One big plus is that it is roomy in the back seat for my two teens and has plenty of interior room throughout. The seat belts are beginning to lose their "spring" but its not a major problem, especially for an 12 year old vehicle. I have never owned this old of a vehicle that is so trouble free. Tune ups and other routine maintenance is about all we have had to do. Looks newer than 97.

• 

  Fun to drive if you like slow cars - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Andy - June 24 - 12:43 pm

  Ever get behind the wheel of a 99 GTP? No? Okay then you dont know where Im coming from. This car is fun to drive yet unresponsive if you didnt break it in right. Great car, Id recommend it to anyone. Reliability is top notch!

• 

  what a great car - 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By robi dog - June 24 - 2:00 am

  Best car ive ever owned

• 

  Fun car could use some upgrades... - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By phastinphilly - June 24 - 2:00 am

  Was driving an accord coupe that was too slow. This car is fast and definitely more fun to drive, but doesnt hand quite as well as Hondas are known too. Guess you cant have it all. Have had the car 5 months...so good so far.

• 

  I love my MO! - 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By cp2010 - June 21 - 8:13 am

  I decided to get rid of my truck for something more practical but I didnt want to look like a soccer mom. So I steered clear of the more popular compact suvs and fell in love w/ the Outlander. Its a blast to drive! The sound system is great (6 disc changer was a nice surprise), but the cool new redesigned grill is really what drew me to it. It looks pretty tough going down the road! Ive had it for just over 3 months now and Im more in love every time I jump in the drivers seat. The visibility is really good and its very easy to park. Overall, I am completely satisfied w/ my decision to get an Outlander and I plan to drive it for another 10 years.

• 

  Rated a Consumer Reports best buy. - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By GBC - June 21 - 2:16 am

  I purchased my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant in 2004 for $2400 (repossession). At the time it had 100,000 miles exact. Six years later I still have the car and the mileage is just over 243,000. The 2.4 Liter motor is bulletproof in my opinion and the transmission follows close suit. Aside from the necessary preventive maintenance I have had no major mechanical issues with the car. I call this one a good investment.

• 

  Good car, only for gas mileage - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By laukc7085 - June 19 - 11:46 pm

  this car has been a pain in my rear since i got it. I am going to school to be an automotive tech and i can tell you that this car breaks a lot and is hard to work on. the engine is crammed under the hood so there is no room to work. Ive only had the car for about 2 months now and i really hate it. ive had to replace a belt, had a bearing go bad, i have an oil leak from somewhere, an anti freeze leak, my release bearing in the clutch is going bad, had an electrical short, and just other things that irritate me