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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  fun car - 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By baron - April 5 - 10:00 am

  car has alot of options for the money. handles very well. Nice wheel package, nice to have full size spare.

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  GOooo Monty - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By dukiedog - April 5 - 10:00 am

  this monty is a joy to drive around town or long tours. Were looking forward to along trip off road. Fit, finish and pricing by Mitsubishi is superb.

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  my truck - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By kiko69 - April 5 - 10:00 am

  good ride ,great family car,so far no problem , wish if give me more power when accelerating

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  Smooth - 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Fred - April 5 - 9:53 am

  Fits better in garage and being oversized, I fit more comfortably in Outlander SEL AWD 2017 than FORD Explorer or Mazda CX9 that I had before.

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  Good car but fuel economy problem - 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Jen - April 3 - 8:30 pm

  That car is very nice, smooth to drive, and perfect for young people. It is fun to drive anywhere and show off the color yellow.

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  Not Bad, But Not Great Either - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By shoeie - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for about 4 years now and have 51K on it. It is just mediocre. Fuel efficiency is poor, I have never gotten better than 28mpg, even with conservative driving. The lower price is attractive (as compared to a Honda or Toyota), but once you have owned it for a while you start noticing all the little corners that were cut to bring that price down. Not a bad car, but for $2K more you could get a Honda or Toyota and have a great car.

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  Great Small SUV! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By elrayoex - March 31 - 10:00 am

  This is a peppy, fun to drive SUV. The power moon roof is innovative and has never even offered to leak. For the money I dont hink there is a better mid-size SUV on the market! Perfect for college student or professional alike, you cant go wrong with the Oulander.

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  Applause - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By pamela - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Driving this vehicle on trips is a dream. Comfort and ease of handling make traffic easier to survive and range is awesome. The lack of blind spots make driving less stressful. The special touches (extra small front windows next to windshield, extra hip and shoulder room, comfortable back seats) make one feel vert luxurious at a reasonable price.

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  The Little SUV That Could! - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Montero Limited 4 WD - March 30 - 5:33 pm

  We bought our Mitsubishi Montero Sport new, and it was love at first sight! Its my prissy looking SUV with a work horse engine. I routinely run up and down the Sierra Nevadas to Tahoe and it takes on anything thrown at it. It feels rock solid in the worst snow and ice conditons due to a well made 4WD. It keeps its blissful cool in the warmest summers with its fleible climate control. The huge sunroof lets the stars in at night. I hauled 6 (SIX!) middle school boys in a carpool for 3 years, with 2 in the jump seat. Now that is head room. The dual linkage allows you to control gearshifting making small work of big grades(and V8s!). It fits surfboards to kayaks, kids, dogs and parrots, this SUV thrives under family demands.

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  Its Different - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By sshadel - March 30 - 5:17 pm

  Pros: looks nice, Fairly good Mileage Many cons: When excellerating from stop , can not do it smoothly. You have to push harder on the gas peddle and then the front wheel hop takes over and you are all over the road. Front wheels spin out all the time when starting from stop. Told this is normal with Outlander. I have gone thru 2 sets of tires now (Rotate every 6000 miles to try to save them), but 3rd set is needed and only have 70000 miles on Outlander. (Last SUV Santa Fe had 70000 miles on 1st set of tires). I can’t let my 17 year old drive it because of the wheel hop. Also radio is nuts. You turn on and 5 to 10 seconds later it comes on. You go from AM to FM or Vice versa, it takes 5 to 10 secondes to change over. (Was also told that is normal). As you ease into a turn and begin to accelerate the steering wheel will not begin to return by itself you have to pull it back and sometimes jerk it back . (Also told this is normal) . Will have to get rid of shortly to get soemthing My 17 yr old can drive. He has no problem with our other cars just this one. (told it was normal)= Dealer