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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  My Mitsubishi - 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Susan - January 30 - 1:00 pm

  This is my first Mitsubishi. It is a 2005 Eclipse. I feel that it handles great, especially on the corners. The ride is smooth. I find it hard to see what is around me though, whether I am trying to change lanes or back out of a parking space. I also have found the stereo system to be one of the worst I have owned in a car. For the price, a better system would have been expected.

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  Galants are great! - 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Kay - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Since the purchase of my 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, I have had absolutely no major problems with it. I make sure it has its regular check- ups, and it has been good to me. My husband loves the power behind this vehicle. Looks are definitely deceiving! Its quiet, easy to maintain, and sporty. I have been searching for a family car, but havent found one that can match my Galant. I would have to go greatly out of my price range to get something in comparison.

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  Pretty good car - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Just4God - January 25 - 11:46 pm

  Over all this is a good car. I drove it for a little over 3 years when I traded it in for something larger. Very dependable.

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  Outlandish - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By T.CAGLE - January 25 - 1:26 am

  I have only owned my 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander for a month, but I have been thrilled with it. It has quite a bit of pep and handles really well. I have been fairly pleased with the gas mileage. I am not disappointed with buying the vehicle I would recommend the Outlander to anyone looking to buy a small SUV. And it just looks tough!

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  2015 Mirage ES - 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By aschreffler75 - January 23 - 11:29 pm

  I have gotten 48 MPG as long as I stay at 55 mph or less. Dont use cruise control at freeway speeds 65+ mph or up mild to steep hills. The CVT transmission is like a slipping clutch and cruise control is not designed to handle this. It will reach RPMs over 4500 and kill your gas mileage instantly. The transmission itself can not handle 65+ mph. The gas mileage has been as low as 30 MPG at speeds of 65 mph. I should have bout the 5 speed. The Mirage is everything the Geo Metro should have been except that horrible CVT transmission. I dont know what kind of highways they test mileage on but even a level road at 65+ will not get you even in the 40s with or without cruise control.

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  Mitsi Outlander is a good choice! - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By suvluvr72 - January 23 - 10:00 am

  We intended on purchasing a Ford Escape. The salesman said we couldnt afford it, even w/2 trade-ins. We were disappointed. We liked & checked out the Honda CRV & Nissan Xterra. We took the Outlander for a 24hr test drive. It actually feet like a 6cyl! The exterior is similar to the Lexus RX300. I got used to the interior, not much to look at. We liked the Pontiac Vibes interior better, but it sounded like a wind-up toy. The Outlander has a nice amount of space. You dont see too many on the road. Purchased for $21,000 & 5,000 miles + warranties.

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  Great Value Japanese Quality at Korean Prices - 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Cokey - January 21 - 10:51 am

  A nice alternative to the run of the mill Civic, Corolla, Sentra. Much better car than the Korean "run em til they die" Hyundai and Kias. A quality made in Japan vehicle. And yes, sorry America, they do build better cars than us. This is our 3rd Mitsubishi, my wife has had a Mirage and a Outlander Sport, I got this one for our daughter whos in the military and then off to college. I owned a 2002 Hyundai that I drove for work, and will never own another Korean car, theyre fine new cars when they are under warranty; in the case of this Lancer I shopped for a used one with around 100k on it so I knew I wanted Japanese. When you buy one with 100k miles on it get it for a price that will allow your budget to pay for a new Timing Belt and Water Pump Kit($600 at most shops) and replace the Spark Plugs and put a new Valve Cover Gasket on it($150). People get rid of their cars at 100,000 and they hardly ever pay out for a Timing Belt Replacement(manual states 100k), if they break your engine is totalled(interference engine = valves and pistons collide). And if you cant afford OEM Mitsu parts, get a GMB brand kit. Good acceleration, handling, braking; at least for an economical 4 door basic sedan. Engine design is proven and somewhat simple. The biggest complaint with this car, as with most "Mitsus", is the interior controls are fairly cheap and break easily. Dont worry, you can find replacements on Ebay or at your local salvage yards. Overall, I consider the 02 to 07 Lancers a 4 out of 5 star car. I bought mine for $3600, put $800 into it, now have a $4400 car that my daughter informs she likes driving.

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  Happy with it - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By gamedad - January 21 - 4:13 am

  Ive had this vehicle for slightly more than 2 yrs now. Had some minor issues when I first got it. The initial acceleration was a bit delayed but was fixed with a re-programming, about a 6-months wait. The side-view mirrors were rattling a bit and a cap beneath it was loose and fixed. The only thing not fixed is a delay when shifting from Reverse to Drive. Theres always a couple of secs delay and will cause a lurch if the shifting is too fast. Ive verified that this is not a problem on other vehicles. Other than these 3 minor stuff, it is a fun car to drive. Very responsive to acceleration after car is in motion.

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  dreamcar - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By dreamcar - January 18 - 8:06 pm

  I purchased my Eclipse about a year ago, right when they came out and iIjust love everything about it. I think it is one of the most stylish cars Ive ever seen. I mean its been a year since it came out and people still turn their heads to look at it.

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  Best Features for the Price - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Sean R - January 17 - 2:36 pm

  Ive had my Outlander XLS for almost a week now. I compared it to the Escape/Milan, Nitro, CX-7, and a few others. For the price you pay, this truck has some nice features. The FAST key is one of the coolest things. It allows you to lock/unlock, and start your truck without ever pulling the key fob out of your pocket. Great idea! The nav/stereo system is nice and easy to operate, and loud when you need it. Bluetooth hands free for the cell is a nice touch. Rear seats not only slide forward and back, but also recline. Plenty of room all around, and Im 63", 240. Engine power is just fine, and in-town mileage has been at 20 mpg so far. No telescoping steering wheel, though.