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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  New Fun - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By sam ash - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Feels the quality of the truck. Great customer service at the dealership and after sales follow up. Very comfortable my wife and kids like the interior sound level and road noise low they all fall a sleep. Love the styling.Love the 3rd row seat that is hidden. lot more cargo space than any other suv. will give more feed back as i drive it more.

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  Not a mere show piece. - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Reggie - January 21 - 9:40 am

  A solid off and on road vehicle. Bought it primarily for off road and touring. Ample seating and cargo. Take it to San Gabriel OHV, CA and Hungry Valley SVRA, CA (Gorman), up Los Angeles National Forest roads when it snows. Have taken it from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree N Park via the Berdoo Trail. Its a XLS A4WD and the rest. Majestically conquers terrain, climbs effortlessly, fords above knee deep, traverses narrow passes, handles well over snow and ice, amply protected underbelly and axles over boulders especially submerged ones, coasts effortlessly @ 85 mph on freeways and gives 18 mpg combined. Add to it killer looks. The last Mits with a body on frame construction.

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  Very New Owner - 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By madison1965 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  So far, this car is great. I just bought it yesterday, and when I took it out for a spin late last night, I noticed quite a few heads turning to take a second look. Mitsubishi offered such a great incentive to buy, I couldnt resist, not to mention The awesome warranty!

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  Worth the dollar - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Flavio Medeiros - January 18 - 9:23 pm

  This is a very nice car for the city, highways and not much for off road. Its very nice to drive and has a low gas consumption (20 - 21 mpg) driving in the city. It is worth to have it.

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  Great rig - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By SteveBB - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Needs a little more power but awsome otherwise

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  Love my Endeavor - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By captain766 - January 16 - 12:56 am

  I purchased my Endeavor used 3 years ago and have absolutely loved it everyday since. The seats are very roomy which makes for a comfortable ride on long trips. The cargo area is incredibly spacious. The only thing that I could see Mitsubishi doing to improve the car is adding a third row seat. But, for me, it works perfect as is. The gas mileage is about what a person should expect for a vehicle this size (I avg. 18, but have gotten 23) and is comparable to what my friends get in their Escapes, Pilots, and Muranos. The manual says it likes >91 octane fuel, but I run 90 octane (which is the cheap stuff in Nebraska) ethanol and it performs great. It is a little sluggish with 89 octane.

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  Coming from a new Civic.... - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By GypsyBlu - January 15 - 2:33 pm

  I checked this Lancer out, I had an old one and then a new Civic coupe EX fully loaded. The electric blue is amazing, it was the very first thing that made me want to look at the car. With the keys in hand I took a 50 mile test drive. The handling of the car was great, almost like my BMW. It is heavy and stays on the road. The sound system is awesome along with the bluetooth, all the info screens and the FAST key - love that I no longer need a key. The car does use a bit more fuel then my Civic, but the handling is well worth it.

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  2007 Mitsubishi Outlander - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Johnny Appleseed - January 15 - 1:56 pm

  The V6 engine is strong, but hard acceleration off the line results in heavy torque steer coupled with tires (Yokohama) that do not provide enough traction for the amount of power this vehicle delivers. Ride is silky smooth, but a bit loud by todays standards. Steering column controls are good as well as climate controls, but radio controls are too small. As deeply inset as the speedometer and odometer are, they still have glare when sunny. Seating is comfortable, but cloth is thin and feels cheap. The 2nd row seatbacks are a bit low for adults, but they recline and move fore and aft for added comfort. Front and rear armrests are too short even for average size adults.

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  GTZ Owner - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Sug6ar - January 15 - 3:20 am

  Yes I agree that the Camry is nice and so is the Altima, thats if you want to pay too much and lack a sense of style....but as a GTZ owner, I cant get enough compliments. So what if its a BMW knock off, at least I paid half the cost. Since Ive owned it, driving has become fun again and I always feel safe driving it. It may not have been your first choice...but its #1 with me.

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  Eclipse - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By kenny7118 - January 14 - 5:53 pm

  Love the car. Needs more power. Too much in insurance.