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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  Amazing car - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Scott Jacob - November 8 - 5:16 am

  I looked for a very long time to get this car. I bought it with the Rockford stereo, which was a must, and complete with all the options. I was reluctant at first to buy any car with a 4 cylinder, but was very satisfied after driving mine. It did not take long to figure out that it has an amazing ride, as well as, all the power and handling anyone could ask for. This will not be my last Mitsubishi I promise you that.

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  Awesome Mitsu! - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Jacob - November 7 - 3:43 pm

  Got my 2002 Mirage in 03.I hear a lot about bad mpg but mine gets an awesome 35+ mpg. Fun car with killer body kits, carbon fiber hoods, cold air intakes, etc. Ive done a lot to mine and it just gets better mpg. Turbos for the 1.5l is out there but are expensive. Mine has 100+hp with 2.5 exhaust and cold air intake. So power is good and easily achieved. Cheap car, so cheap interior can we expect more? It does the job!

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  Excellent Car to Own - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Small Car Lover - November 7 - 10:00 am

  This is an easy car to drive. Im a short person and too often I am not comfortalbe. This car fits well - i can even parallel park it on a first try. It moves that well. Great mileage.

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  Wasnt even looking... - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Spakie - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Outlander for a little over three months, and really like it. When I first started looking for a small SUV, due to lower back problems aggrivated by my current car, I was primarily focused on the Honda CR-V and lookig at Pre-Owned. The price tag of the 3-year old CR-V with 38K and the brand new Outlander LS AWD were almost identical. I found the Seating in the Outlander far more comfortable. No brainer... bought the Outlander. Like everything thus far but, like many others, would like to have about 20-30 more HP on occasion. The Sportshift mode does help.

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  The Sleeper of the Cute Utes! - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jewels - November 5 - 4:26 pm

  Bought fully loaded with all the extras and have never been happier. Picked it up and drove up and over the Rocky Mountains, through snow and ice etc. I got a chance to test the 4wd, the anti-skid and the anti-lock brakes (on purpose :-)). Handling was super and it really hugged the road when I tested it on the dry hairpin curves. Easy to park compared to the Dodge 3500 Diesel 4x4 I normally have been driving! Looked at the Escape, Rav and CR-V and feel like I got more bang for my buck and a great warranty. Just wait... you will see a lot more of these in the future

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  Perfect Car - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Missy - November 4 - 11:26 am

  Im definitely a poor college student...but this car saves me some cash. It is totaly awesome. It only takes about $23 to fill up and it is so cute. People always wanna race me!

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  Great car both mechanically and structurally. - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By mhannah1 - November 2 - 8:52 pm

  My daughter was in a terrible accident at a very high rate of speed on the interstate. The front end was unrecognizable. My daughter walked away without a scratch. This car can sustain major front and side impacts. We truly believe this car saved our daughters life. We bought it brand new and never had a problem with it, very reliable. We will be looking for another one as a replacement.

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  1998 Mirage DE - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Gabriel - October 31 - 2:33 pm

  The Mirage is extremely reliable car. I have over 97,000 miles on my car and have not had a single major mechanical problem, except for the poor quality brakes that came from the factory. Ive kept up with the scheduled maintenance of the car and engine, transmission, a/c still run perfectly. My only complaint was the very cheap radio that came with the car. (It stopped working when the car was only a year old).

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  Mitsubihi Outlander - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Sherrill - October 31 - 10:00 am

  The Mitsubishi Outlander is spacious and comfortable with a jazzy exterior. The ride is smooth. Handling is more on the lines of an automobile - specifically the Lancer chasis it is built on. Not meant for road racing, but for tooling around town and in the country (which I do) this crossover vehicle fits the bill for a solid performer.

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  Outlander - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jeane - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Overall its been a great vehicle. The only draw back was the heat/ac system died at around 3500 miles. But the warranty kicked in.