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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  Its New and Its Fun! - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Mickey - January 1 - 1:56 pm

  I just bought this vehicle a couple of days ago and I am very impressed so far by its quality and the fun to drive factor, while getting great gas mileage.

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  I love this car! - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By clownie94 - December 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car- perfect for our family of 3. Performs better than expected, and a good price. I bought mine in October of 2001, and have logged around 40K miles already. Not a prob yet!

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  What a great suprise - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Futureneck - December 28 - 9:33 pm

  I purchased my 1999 Mitsubishi Galant after a long relationship with a 1997 Hyundai Sonata that died the day after I made my last payment to the bank. When I drove the Galant I was quickly reminded of what Ive been missing, and how driving a car should be fun. This car also appears to be holding its value, which is something that my Sonata was not able to do. The transmission has a memory and adjusts to the way you drive, and the Galant has a fantastic look, kind of similar to a BMW.

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  Sleeper - 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By venster - December 28 - 3:13 pm

  CVT takes some time to get used to. Has its quirks but helps with the mpg. I bought the car for an economical commuter which it does beautifully. Averaging 35mpg on my commute-80%highway. Interior is decent-alot of plastic but mitsubishi pulls it off. Exterior styling is nice. Handles well. Its not a BMW, nor does it cost as much.

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  2003 Mitsubishi great car - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By vtuk - December 28 - 1:36 am

  I bought the car at 9,700mi and sold at 113,200mi. I have had this car for 7 years, no major problems. Mitsubishi galant never died on me. Build quality is good and I haven’t had any mechanical problems. Engine and tranny has been solid. Ive never had anything done to it other than normal maintenance. (Except battery=95,000 mi and starter=93,000 mi.) The GTZ is a great looking car with everything included. Great acceleration and handles great on highways. Drove this car to Lake Tahoe (HWY 80 and 5).Car had enough power to go uphill. Not good for city because of big radius U-turn. I normally get 22 around town and 27 on the freeway. Car uses premium gas. This car is comfortable, solid, reliable, fast and safe. Poor resale value, but it is good for buyer.

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  Its an OK car - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Rofro - December 25 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car new. I have had it in for 2 recalls and a sun visor that fell off. Its a fun car to drive. The sheet metal does dent and scratch easily. There is cracking noise around the windshield with body roll. Great exterior design. Large trunk. Cruises nicely at 60-70 mph with the 4-cylinder.

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  Good car - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By PT - December 25 - 10:00 am

  Got this car in January and chose this over the Mitsubishi Eclipse because of handling and fuel economy. The car hasnt let me down yet and it appears it wont. This car is manufactured actually in Japan unlike the civic which is made in the good ole USA and the sentra which is assembled in Mexico. So this is actually an import with japanease quality.

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  Great on fuel - 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jose Ventura - December 24 - 10:25 pm

  Good value, great on fuel, so far proven reliable, on every situation, over a 1000 miles a week, on delivery work, can complain at all, apple car play works great, Android auto, not...cant believe I dont see more on the road, for the $$ hard to beat...

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  Very much underestimated - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By FMF DOC - December 24 - 11:53 am

  I am in the military in the middle of nowhere, so I get a whole lot of highway miles. However, I am from Chicago so I am very much a city driver. The GTS fulfills my needs. My only after market modification is a K&N cold air, and my GTS is superb. Handling is definitely sharp, brakes and safety are more than what you can ask for. Lacks a bit of top end speed but with the right shifting you can overcome more than you think.

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  Mitsubishi Outlander Rocks - 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jeff Launiere - December 23 - 2:56 am

  This is likely the best vehicle I have ever owned. As some say the low end acceleration is not great, but it is fine. The Outlander has a real quality feel and is fun to drive. I tried the Honda CRV, Mazda CX7, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Murano, Kia and Hyundai and this was simply the best. And the price is better than all of these. I absolutely recommend this vehicle to anyone, other than the Navigation System unless you use it in an area where no new streets are put in.