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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  Best Car Ever - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Kyle - September 26 - 3:36 pm

  Ive had my Endeavor for 4+ years and have very few complaints. I get 18- 19mpg around town and 22-23 on the hwy. It pulls our popup camper like its not even there. You will not find a mid-sized crossover with as much cargo space as the Endeavor. Ive had just two problems, both at 75K. The window mechanism (they call it the regulator) failed on the drivers window ($250 to fix) and the ck engine light came on ($600 for O2 sensor and new plugs).

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  Nice Car - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By dcedte - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I have a 2001 Eclipse GT with Sportronic (automatic) transmission. I bought the car new, and now have nearly 53,000 miles on it. The car has been completely reliable thus far. I average about 25+ MPG. Power is good and smooth. Handling is excellent, and still comfortable. The car looks great. I enjoy the "auto- stick" style transmission very much. I compared the Eclipse GT, Accord V6 Coupe, and the Celica GTS when car shopping. My second choice was the Accord, but I liked the Eclipse appearance, handling, and engine performance better. The Accord seemed to have a better quality interior.

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  Less Money, Great Value - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Pinto - September 19 - 6:20 am

  This is my fourth year of driving this car. I bought it used at 58k miles and have been very positively surprised by its reliability. Now I have 117k miles on it and still nothing to worry about. So far, I have only changed the normal wears and tears, otherwise, really nothing else. A very reliable car. My wifes dodge grand caravan was a big money guzzler, quite unreliable. This car can go another ten years, but its time for another Mitsubishi - may be a Mitsubishi Endeavor. A friend of mine recommended Mitsubishi and I am positively surprised. They are not as popular as Toyota , and for this reason - pretty cheap. However, they may out-perform the popular brands. Less Money,Great value.

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  pjs galant 2001 - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By pj - September 17 - 5:43 am

  We bought this car new, very reliable It has 185000 mi on it. I have changed the oil every 3000 mi and Ive tuned it up twice. I love it, it runs like brand new. ALL original parts and no rattles. I do not plan to get rid of it any time soon. Im going to see how many miles I can get out of it.

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  Now you See Me, Now You Dont (Mirage) - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Ivory - September 14 - 12:43 am

  The best quality of this car is how little fuel it uses. My car has not had any real mechanical problems. Just wear and tear issues only. I love the car! I wish it had a bit more horse power though (91hp only).

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  Review of 2005 Outlander - 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Julie - September 4 - 8:56 am

  I am currently a little unhappy with the vehicle and the service. I am having an issue with an odor when the air conditioning is on. The dealer said it is condensation that is becoming moldy. They did not offer much help except to change the cabin filter, for a fee. It seems like this is a warranty issue. I havent had the vehicle for a year, why would the air conditioning be leaking and getting moldy? The odor is bad, especially on rainy days. I wish I knew if others had this problem. I am a little frustrated, its gross! Thats my big complaint.

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  Eclipse RS - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Holls - September 4 - 7:10 am

  This is the first and only car I have ever owned; weve been through a lot together. (It took a few years for me to finally stop scraping the front end, for example.) I was admittedly pretty hard on it the first year or 2, so the work done is even more remarkable considering that. Ive had to get a new fuel pump, radiator hose, timing chain, and brake pads. Its still fun to drive although the pick up has declined, and it seems like some piece of plastic falls off the interior all the time. The paint job hasnt proven hardy, either, and rain occasionally leaks through the hatch opening. Its hard for older people to sit down, but once they do its pretty comfortable.

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  Im Happy - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By bec76234 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I am very excited about this vehicle. You get the comfort of a car with the option of an SUV.

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  Car is now 6 years old, and my 1st year - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By dadddydanny2 - September 1 - 7:03 am

  I have had this car for a year now, and this is just an update from the last review. I basically know this car in and out now! All I can say is that it is an O.K. car. You can expect the least in this car as far as performance and handling, but at its age, it drives slick and smooth. The body seems weak, but the look of the body has an old school feel as far as classic cars like the regal and classic caprice. The last issue that I had to deal with owning this car was the jamming of the heater door (to where the car had no heat). Prior was the A/C leakage, and a common issue is interior noise, and the brakes are always squealing. Overall, the price is what you are paying for.

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  So far, so great - 2005 Mitsubishi Montero
  By sawlman - August 31 - 1:43 pm

  The Pilot, Expedition Ltd, Sequoia and Lexus LX were our first choices. The Mitsubishi wasnt even a consideration...until we tried it. It looks great inside and out. It drives wonderfully on street and highway (have not taken it offorading where it has received most of its accolades from 4x4 magazines and intl. races). It handles well: acceleration, cornering, braking. Gas mileage is avg (14city/19hwy). Price is low. If you are looking for a mid to large luxury SUV this is worth at least a test drive. Price is very negotiable right now with SUV sales plummetting because of gas prices and Mitsubishi isnt doing well compared to other car makers. Shoot considerably below invoice.