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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  Prior owner of 96 Eclipse in love again - 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Dorf - August 13 - 6:33 am

  I love Eclipses! Use to have a 96, and recently an 08 Versa (DULL ride). Just got this 2008 Eclipse GS in Rave Red (beautiful color!). What a difference between the Versa and this car. This car makes driving a THRILL again! Love it!

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  Fun, quality, reliability and great valu - 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By PS3Fanboy - August 7 - 1:00 am

  I bought an auto DE last fall and have been extremely happy with the car. What attracted me was the loads of features for the price, including power everything, 16-inch wheels, 7 airbags (more than cars that cost twice as much), performance reputation, high reliability ranking (backed by long warranty), and high safety ratings from the govt and IIHS. I have not been disappointed at all, in fact everything has exceeded my expectations. I drive the car a lot, 50/50 highway and city, and the fuel economy is excellent (I dont hard accelerate). The styling draws a lot of attention -- which unfortunately got me a speeding ticket! In short, this is a great compact car, best in its class.

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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Stephen R - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This has been my first SUVs and after lookng at several this one suited my needs in terms of having a good amount of space and not spending the money for an Escalade or Navigator. It is a very comftorable ride and isnt as bad on gas as some other larger SUVs. I am a little dissapointed in the overall handling for highway driving and I think they could improve the 3rd row seating.

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  Mostly Happy So Far - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Jim F. - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The buying experience was excellent compared to five new purchases in the past from other dealerships. The Endeavor has met all of our expectations with the exception of mileage. The ride is excellent.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By kmbc - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I just traded in my Montero Sport Limited for Endeavor XLS. What a difference. This is a great vehicle. My only regret is not getting the Limited model.

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  DONT BUY IT!!!! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By RichardK84 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  In March of 03 I bought a new Eclipse GTS coupe. After the fact, I come to find that the delership screwed me on my purchase order and incresed my intrest rate by over 2 points. This is a common practice however the rate I was quoted then got the 2 point hold tacked on after the contract negotiation. As far as the vehicle is concerned, the doors consistently sag I have had them adjusted 3 times, the service engine light continually comes on even though I have it maintained my Mitsus service schedule. The vehicle is a horrible choice considering Ive had it 5 months and it is worth LESS THAN 50% of what I payed for it. If you are intrigued by this vehicle think twice.

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  Mirage review - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rasid - August 5 - 11:33 pm

  I have had this car for over 4 years. It has always been reliable to me, getting about 30-35 mpg, even with aftermarket wheels that weigh about 3x more than the stock ones. The 5 speed manual shifts very smoothly and has some get up and go to it, and handles corners fairly well. The stock sound system is decent enough to the average driver. The interior cloth pattern is unique, but nothing special. The back seats are better suited for small children as they are compact. The instrument panel is easy to read, but most mirages dont come with a tachometer. Over all it is a reliable, fun, and has a great fuel economy.

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  Excellent for its price! - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Ana Ben-David - August 5 - 4:20 pm

  Highly recommended. I bought my car when it had 35k miles on 04, today it has 93K miles and still drives perfectly. Regularly maintained, there are no problems at all. Definitely an excellent choice.

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  Ralliart Experence - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Bob - August 4 - 4:36 pm

  I have had this car since June of 09 and drove for about 13,000 miles B 4 selling it. I do think it is important to give a review after having a car for awhile to get to know it. The Ralliart for the money was a good car. Built like a tank, quick, agile, and had good looks. It felt like you were driving around in a shell, road noise permeated the cabin, stock tires were very poor. The car improved greatly when they were replaced with Toyo T1Rs. Handling and road noise were greatly reduced. Good car for the money but needs some refinements. Happy with it overall.

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  Great value and great performance! - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jimbo52 - July 31 - 1:16 pm

  We have been looking for a compact crossover with occasional third row seats. The XLS provided more than expected features and performance at a reasonable price. No problems and a great warranty. Anyone looking at vehicles in this class should try this one last.