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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  slow, heavy, cheap interior materials, gas guzzler - 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Sean - October 18 - 5:05 am

  do NOT buy this car unless you are a short female. the seats hurt you spinal cord, neck and hips like a mother-fkr! I regret purchasing this car. The looks are great dont get me wrong but the power is horrid with the 4cyl. Everything in the car is ghetto-cheap plastic. What was Mitsubishi thinking???????? My spinal cord hurts now as I type this in my home. The car has destroyed my body. Ive seen chiropractors, acupuncturist galore... I have owned the car 5 years and planning on buying an SUV just so my body can heal! Im really heartbroken w/Mitsubishi. The End. Ps. If you do buy one make sure its 6cyl and please be short or your body WILL suffer!

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  Blah! - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By mikedwood - October 18 - 4:02 am

  I like the way it drives and its strong as can be for a non-turbo 4 cyl, but pray to God for guidance if you need to do much more than change the oil or air filter. This is my 2nd Mitzu and my last ever. Parts are hard to come by and expensive! My wife got it in 2009 and in 2011 before 80,000 miles it needed a head gasket, 2 struts and plates, front axle and two 02 sensors. Parts only avalible from Mitsubishi on all but the 02 sensors. Fortunately my mechanic works at a junk yard by day and stripped the heck out of a wreck and we were able to get about $2,000 in parts for about $500.

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  Good Value - 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Daniel P Gale - October 17 - 10:00 am

  The Montero Sport, in my mind, is an underrated SUV. The craftmanship is of quality, it is very reliable and priced very reasonably. My wife and I test- drove the 4 Runner, Chevy Blazer and Dodge Durango during the decision making process. We found the Montero Sport a better vehicle then the Chevy and Dodge. And very close to the Toyota!

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  Whats with the performance complaints? - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By TobyG - October 17 - 10:00 am

  OK, granted that I wasnt looking for a sports car when I purchased my OZ, but Im still not sure where performance complaints are coming from. When compared to the other compact cars that I owned in the past (a 93 Sentra and 87 Horizon), my Lancer is just flat out more fun and a better performer. Add to that much better fuel economy (along with the other two) than the truck I traded for it (96 Nissan Kingcab SE), and thats a recipe for an excellent compact transport.

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  1 year model only - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By don booth - October 15 - 8:50 pm

  Cant figure out why this model was only made in 2004. It is a great vehicle, my favorite of the 34 cars Ive owned. This baby scoots when needed, love the exhaust note, very comfortable, I love the simplicity of the guages and control knobs. Id love to buy another and keep it for a spare in case this one gets hit. My only complaint is the gas mileage: 20 in town, 25 on the highway.

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  Handles like a charm - 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By James - October 15 - 7:46 pm

  I just got my Lancer Ralliart last month and the handling is great. As for the performance stock my friends Spec V can take it but with a little money all he can see is my clear tail lights. This car is great around turns and rides smooth. The all around performance and handling is great for this FWD Sedan. You must drive it to understand.

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  Somewhat overrated - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jhill99357 - October 15 - 12:50 pm

  After an extensive test drive and looking at the available competition, I thought that this was overrated. I saw the great reviews by everyone and thought that it was going to be a home run. Since the Outlander is based off of the Lancer, it definitely drives more like a sports car. The ride is very firm and you have a tenancy to feel every bump in the road. The interior left a lot to be desired compared to the Santa Fe and CR-V. The plastic door panels looked cheap and the arm rest was made of hard to clean cloth. The car itself is basically a clone of the RAV 4 in how it looks and drives. If you like that car, youll love the Outlander.

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  Excellent Car - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Michael Paul - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. It is very dependable and is a smooth ride. The seats are comfortable and the sound system is good. If you are looking for a sporty sedan, then this car is for you.

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  Great warranty, looks, & plenty of power - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By DocW - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Shopped SUVs for months. My wife hated the way most drove and they pretty much all looked alike. Drove the Endeavor, loved it, bought it same day, something Ive never done before in 30 years of new car buying. I love the power, the large sedan like ride, and the leg room. My wife also loves the ride and she really likes the looks. She happy, Im happy, and the Endeavor is really fun to drive. The 10 year, 100,000 mile drive train warrenty with roadside assistance aint bad either!

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  Great car - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By FLASH - October 11 - 11:53 pm

  This is a reliable and sporty ride. Its quick and good looking. The only negative is after 3 years, the black paint became spotted with white dots and the dealer in Florida would not warrant the repainting. This is my 2nd galant purchase brand new, this one being the V6. It now has 86,000 and with the new paint job(silver) looks great. The resale however is poor.