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 value for a midsize car - 2005 Mitsubishi Galant
  By walkerci - February 14 - 10:00 am

  What attracted me to the Galant is value for the money, style, performance, interior room, and the great warranty. You simply cannot get more car for the money. My Galant was built with UAW labor and more than 50% US part content, so I can even feel a bit patriotic about my decision. My other cars are a 1999 VW Passat GLS and a 1997 VW Jetta GT. I considered buying another Passat, but the difference in price didnt seem worth it to me.

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  I LOVE THIS SUV !! - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By RNDB - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I OWN THE 2004 XLS MODEL OF THE ENDEAVOR AND I MUST SAY, I LOVE IT! BEFORE I PURCHASED I CONSIDER NISSAN AND LEXUS AND NONE OF THEM PLEASED ME AS MUCH STYLE AND PRICE WISE. IT SEATS 5 ADULTS COMFORTABLY AND I HAVE LOTS OF CARGO SPACE. THE GAS MILEAGE COULD BE ALITTLE BETTER BUT OVERALL I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE BEST SUVS OUT THERE. MY HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER ARE CONSIDERING TRADING IN THEIR CARS FOR ONE TOO!

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  All 10s - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Nam - February 10 - 2:00 am

  One of the best small cars I have ever had the pleasure of owning.

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  Diamante with performance - 2001 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By KCOBABE - February 10 - 2:00 am

  This car is great. The main thing I love is it has more HP than most of the muscle cars and 2 door sport cars you see on the road. Main thing it could have is RWD or 4WD. The front wheels spin to easy and when you are trying to get the car to go in the rain, here in the desert, it can be a problem. The looks a great. Gas milage is fine for what the cars compression is. You cant ask for high gas milage when you have a car like this. The only problem you will have is if you try to use Regular Unleaded instead of Premium.

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  mitsu montero sport - 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By tkuhn1 - February 10 - 2:00 am

  overall, a good, reliable car. comfortable, everything you would want in an SUV, but could use a little more boost in power.

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  Good in the snow - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By randyptl - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Overall it is great. Not much on acceleration, however, it rides well on the highway. My kids love the arm rest with the drink holders and the back seat fits two car seats well.

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  im in love with this car1 - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By clint - February 9 - 11:15 am

  This is my second car from Mitsubishi. My first was the 2014 Mirage. This is an upgrade leap frog years from what i had. the vehicle picks up speed from a standstill like a jag, leaving other vehicles in its dust. The ride is smooth, handles well, downshifts like a race car, sound system is boss, beautiful 18 alloy rims, no need to get after markets there. The look of the car is sexy, the grill reminds me of something from the Transformers. Get this car! you cant go wrong!

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  Cool Design, Poor Build - 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By MikeD - February 8 - 5:33 am

  The 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante looks great - it definitely gets praise for its "coolness factor.: However, the build quality is terrible. I’ve previously owned Toyotas so maybe I’m used cars being tight and relatively maintenance free. This car has had constant rattles in the interior, the console is made of all cheap plastic materials, at 13,000 miles the front rotors were warped (not covered under warranty), I have three rust spots on the hood (not covered under warranty), there is squeak when turning sharply (dealer can’t find), in cold weather the door takes about ten slams to get it to close correctly, and the glove box has somehow sagged, This car is now worth less than half than what I paid (no seriously, in less than two years it depreciated by $16,000).

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  My Galant - 2005 Mitsubishi Galant
  By ES - February 8 - 4:10 am

  The Galant is a great vehicle that drives well. Compared to the Nissan Altima, the Galant wins hands down. I have a newborn and the space, comfort, and drive of the Galant are excellent.

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  Fun for Teen - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Hadeswolf - February 5 - 12:03 am

  Had the GTS CVT for over half a year now, and I have to say, this car is extremely fun to drive. I paid a tad too much for this car, but it was worth every single penny. This car is great, looks aggressive, perfect for those teenage drivers like myself. Although I have to say Im a little disappointed in the engine power, its a blast to drive. The 152 hp engine could be a little better, certainly the 09 GTS with the 2.4 L 168 hp engine will be much faster. The fuel economy is rather good on this car. I get about on average 21 to 22 MPG. But for me this is hard to obtain because as a teenage driver, accelerating slowly doesnt give me a rush of adrenaline.