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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  what a blast - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By ricky babcock - May 30 - 2:00 am

  a truly great car to drive. its the best handling car ive ever driven.

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  Mixed Feelings... - 1997 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By rowe0816 - May 27 - 3:46 pm

  I love my Diamante, especially since its my first car. Styling is beautiful (looks like a BMW) and is the definition of luxury. Brakes do wear fast, and transmission does jerk a lot. Gas mileage is actually decent considering it has a V6 engine (I usually get 18-20 MPG). Around 100,000 miles, it seemed like every part needed replaced, radiator, starter, 2 head gaskets. It had a lot of mechanical problems which shouldnt be happening at only 100,000 miles. But all things considered, its a fair car, and I got a great deal on it so its hard to complain about that.

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  Its Not a civic - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Cybergypsy - May 25 - 7:43 pm

  The Car is fun to Drive, but seems you sit higher then in the new Civic, the navi is a pain to use....and the Lancer still feels tinny. I had a Lancer OZ before my Civic EX Coupe and the civic is more of a solid well built car.

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  Love it! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By bekalynn - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This is actually alot of car for the price! My husband and I decided to just get the LS trim with the convenience and appearance packages, which gave that extra edge for sportiness. The ride is extremely smooth and its not so high up that I (as a shorter individual) have to climb into it. The mini SUV has alot more cargo room that first appearance and there is alot of storage all throughout.

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  STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 13 YEARS - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By kycat52 - May 24 - 9:46 pm

  I bought this Mirage new in February 2000, Ive driven it for 13 years and it still gets 34 mpg. I drove it in Washington DC from Feb 2000 to Jun 2007, 76 miles a day, in heavy traffic and on the beltway. It got 40 mpg on the highway then. This car amazed local mechanics in that it has NO oil leaks, everything still works and all I have done is routine maintenance. In 2012, I had to put new struts all around and outer tie rod ends on both sides, other than that it has been routine maintenance. I plan to drive it until it is out of service. Then Ill probably buy another Mitsubishi to replace it.

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  Everything you need - 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Greg - May 21 - 6:46 am

  You really cant find a better car for the price. Ive seen some complaints about power which confuses me. I have a 5 speed manual and I have TONS of power. You just need to learn your car so you know when to shift. Its also very agile at HIGH speeds and slows down quickly too. I drive quite a bit finding a car thats comfortable is hard since Im 63" and 285 lbs. For me at least its one of the more comfortable cars in its class that Ive sat in. I actually like the interior as well. Its simple. I dont need a car thatll shave for me while I drive.

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  135,000 miles and LOVE this car! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By posm - May 20 - 10:26 am

  This car is the best Ive ever owned and would definitely buy another Endeavor. Excellent reliability, great to drive, OK mileage. I smile every time I get into this car.

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  Fun to drive, great on gas, looks good!! - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Ninjafish158 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a really fun car to drive. Looks really nice and fun to modify. The engine has some kick after massaged a bit with intake and exhaust. The interior is great, has a cockpit like feel. The shelves...I mean seats in the back have very little practicality. Three passengers means you will be hugging the steering wheel. Decent trunk space for such a tiny car. Handles well but horrible in snow. Spectacular gas mileage especially on the highway. On my drive home from school I can go 250 miles on a little more than half tank. Have had couple problems here and there. Nothing too expensive to fix though. Overall a fun car to drive and looks great.

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  Paint problems - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By bruce - May 19 - 1:53 am

  While I am generally happy with the 2008 Outlander with regards to performance and comfort, I am very unhappy about the paint on the exterior. This car is not even 6 months old and it looks like every kid in the neighborhood has been throwing rocks at it. There also is a body shape design flaw that allows road debris to sand blast the front of the rear wheel fender. Mitsubishi has disappointed me with their attitude of "too bad, so sad" when I bring the subject of paint durability up with them. I would not buy another Mitsubishi because of this.

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  I Love my Sporty Galant! - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Meeksups - May 18 - 5:06 pm

  I got my 2002 red Mitsubishi Galant ES used for $9,999 with just under 15,000 miles on it back in 2003. I fell in love with the side profile and spoiler. This is my second car (my first was a 1990 Mazda MX-6). I would say most of these reviews are accurate. This is an excellent used car to buy. The only problem Ive encountered required a new front oxygen sensor. Otherwise its mechanically sound. Despite my inexperience with cars, I feel this car handles very well. The acceleration is pretty decent too. I cant wait to throw some moderately flashy 18" rims on it to make it really stand out. As far as the inside is concerned, yes the back seat is a little cramped, but its fine with me because Im the driver..hehe.