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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  Good deal - 2007 Mitsubishi Raider
  By lajestut - April 16 - 8:46 pm

  Just bought the truck. Was looking for value, and found it in this truck. Original MSRP was $29.5K, but I bought mine for $13.2K, with only 21,000 miles on the odo. Lucky to have found this one. Used Dakotas are selling for more. I guess not too many are aware of this truck. If youre in the market for a Dakota, definitely look at the Mitsu. Its the same truck underneath. By the way, checking the internet is the way to go. My truck was stickered on the lot for $17.9K.

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  Quite Pleased - 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By JS Love - April 15 - 2:26 am

  Best all around crossover/SUV Ive had (priors: Jeep Cherokee, Mazda Tribute, Hyundai SantaFe). Poor low end torque & city gas mileage. Good highway gas mileage; outside size/interior room ratio; responsive & tight handling. Excessive tire & wind noise on Highway. Good & plentiful electronics are intuitive and well thought out; steep learning curve to use efficiently. Same for 2nd & 3rd row seat positioners. Hard to see instruments & Nav in bright sunlight. Lots of front glove box/misc & rear storage space. Great warranty; no problems in 8 mos of ownership. Used paddle shift once in 8 mos. Overall Impression: Utilitarian yet fun to drive, super value for money. Would buy another one!

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  Good car, but... - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By former owner - April 13 - 5:16 pm

  I had this car from 2003 and just traded it in this past weekend. Overall, it is a very reliable car. I never had any major problems with it. While driving it, I got rear-ended twice. I also lost control of the vehicle once while attempting to avoid a driver on a cell phone and was hit on the passenger side. I consistently walked away without a scratch and relatively minor property damage. That being said, if you can afford it, I would go for a new car or one made in the last couple years. While this is a good, reliable car for its age, the safety features which are standard cars today are SO much better than they were in 2003. (Curtain airbags, stability control, etc.).

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  Excellent Value - 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By MSSS - April 12 - 11:33 am

  For 26000 this car delivers excellent value. This is the second LS I have owned in a row and it delivers trouble free performance. I experienced no mechanical or upkeep issues at all on my 2001 LS which had 82000 miles when I traded it for my new 2004.

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  Loving my Outlander - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By LissaAnn - April 12 - 8:36 am

  I had never considered a Mitsubishi until I was looking online at Edmunds and read the other reviews on the Outlander. I wanted a crossover but did not like the CR-V despite the fact that ive owned 3 Hondas before this vehicle. I love my Mitsubishi Outlander SE FWD. I have just over 1,100 miles on it already and we love it!

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  Very Fast Car - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Ronnie and Clyde - April 11 - 5:03 pm

  Do not down shift at 80 mph from 6th to 3rd gear and expect the clutch to last, from a technicians perspective. Also, from a technicians perspective this is a great car to own and drive. Im certified to work on all types of vehicles and this is the one I choose for my wife to drive based on its fun, ease to drive, and reliability.

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  Almost Bulletproof - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By du8y4 - April 10 - 12:41 am

  I bought my 2003 Galant 2.4ES in 2005 with 54,000 miles on it for $8900 because it was all I could afford at the time and Im anti-Honda. Good gas mileage, snappy for a 4cyl. After delivering Pizzas full time for several years and going on multiple trips to Yellowstone, it now has 235,000 on it. The only thing major was replacing the timing belt at just over 200,000. I will say also that it can get up the the 120mph that the speedometer says itll go. (it just takes a while)

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  I love my car - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By naxboy - April 9 - 8:33 am

  This is the best car that I have ever driven. I love it all the way.

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  Worth Every Penny! - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By stucek - April 8 - 9:22 am

  I bought my car in June of 2005 and have loved every minute of it. Love the sporty look and have not had but 3 problems (regular wear & tear) with it. In the last 6.5 years, I have put 111,000 miles on it and spent under $800 getting all repairs done. Not bad considering I am always on the road. Would recommend this car to anyone. Great for singles, couples, families or even hauling animals around like me (4 dogs and 2 cats).

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  Fun To Drive, But... - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Sarah - April 6 - 8:06 pm

  Well Ive had my 07 Eclipse GS for about three months now so I think I have a good enough feel for the pros and cons to rate this car and give it a review. First of all the car looks GREAT. The design on the exterior is so innovative and curvy. The interior is a beautiful blue color at night thanks to the little blue LED lights inside the dash. However, the plastic on the doors and other parts of the interior IS CHEAP. I barely knick the door and theres a scratch. I cant have anyone sit in the back if there wearing heels because I am afraid they might scratch the plastic. I really hate the fear of scratching my plastic every time I take a ride, but over all the car is nice.