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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  Satisfied Customer - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By MugsyfromFL - March 21 - 10:00 am

  We have owned our Galant for approximately a year and are completely satisfied with it. It is fun to drive and has been reliable.

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  Real Review - 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Will Deal - March 19 - 6:42 am

  I purchased the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL trim with the SAWC. Its a 4 cyl, and that part of the deal makes the vehicle light on performance. Its got this grind when taking off from a dead stop if youre on the gas, and in my honest opinion its just slow. The vehicle does offer a lot of bang for the buck, but not in the performance department. It is a stylish vehicle and i like that. The tech is outstanding! Youd pay a lot more cash for many of the standard options that come with the vehicle. If I had to do it over again I would not buy the 4 cly, Id get the V6 hands down which is about 4-5G more. That may have come down some since I purchased mine back in December 2016. Oh, the paint is another problem. You will get paint chips when you first hit the road. I have the cosmic blue and the paint chipping stands out like a soar thumb. I plan to buy the hood protector, but Mitsubishi could have done a much better job with the paint coat, at least for the hood area. Trust me that issue really ticks me off. Like others have commented it is a very nice vehicle for the money, but look around before you buy this vehicle. I would recommend the vehicle to anyone is looking for nice standards, reasonable cost, outstanding warranty and a great stereo system this car gets five stars in those categories. Mostly everything else is about middle of the road, and performance is not great.

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  Love Everything About It! - 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Relieved Its Over! - March 18 - 3:10 pm

  Really glad we went this vehicle. The HID headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and bluetooth is really cool. But the best part is the Fosgate stereo and the sporty feel/power. Got 29 mpg on the way home from the dealership. It was 100 miles city/hwy.

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  Excellent Truck - 2006 Mitsubishi Montero
  By seminole_67 - March 18 - 9:13 am

  I wanted one of these when they changed the body style in 2000. I now have the last Black Limited in my area. It is by far a great vehicle. Comfy, roomy, leather, heated seats, moonroof, all a plus. It has excellent quality, no issues what-so-ever to date. I get many complements on my truck, as many people havent had the pleasure to have seen the Montero Limited. Coming from a 1998 Expedition, this was big change for me. I had looked at the Toureag, H3, and Aspen, this is the one I came away with. I am truly happy. Would buy another one.

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  Great Understated Car - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By bsant - March 17 - 10:20 am

  On a long trip or short hop the 2007 Eclipse is just pure fun. I lose few stereo wars with its Fosgate 650W stereo and no off the line acceleration. It is almost on par with the 2006 Mustang GT, which is faster than their previous GT. I also looked at the Nissan 300Z and Mazda RX-8. They are overpriced for what you get. The 2006 Stang GT is also overpriced when you compare it to the Eclipses features side by side and plus everyone has one. This car is also a real "head turner." I have been on eleven hour straight drives up steep mountain passes and flat praries, the car is just a pleasure to be in and has amazing power when you need it to pass. It is worry free. I also garden and can haul a couple of 1.7 cu ft dirt bags and many plants in one go. What a great Car! Also, it eats BMW 3-Series off the line easily.

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  Nice ride - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By midcapwarrior - March 16 - 3:13 pm

  Would like better fuel economy. Overall a pleasant drive and good buy for the money.

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  A vehicle to pass down the family - 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By danman117 - March 16 - 5:55 am

  I cant say enough about my outlander. I absolutely love it. Ive put 50K miles on it, done regular maintenance and it drives great!!! This car is truly a bang for your buck and SERIOUSLY underated! On paper it may seem slow, but you must learn how to drive it properly, it will do 0-60 in 7 secs and handles amazingly due to S-AWC. All my friends compliment me on how cool my car is. We use it to cart around the family, commuting, and road trips, its perfect for almost anything. The ride is smooth and comfy, the brakes and steering are great because they give good feedback. MPG is right there with the EPA, 18/25. Car is technologically packed!! The Nav system is worth it when you dig through it

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  Happy with our first SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By good2135 - March 14 - 9:50 pm

  We bought our Endeavor used with 24,000 miles on it and have been pretty happy. We had one issue with the electrical system in the front driver side door - the wiring harness had to be replaced - about $250. No other problems. We really like this vehicle, it is our workhorse. The only quirks are that groceries in the back will fly around, no matter how slow you drive; and if you have the back window(s) down, you have to have a front window down as well or their is a very weird, unpleasant cabin pressure issue. We love the AWD living through Minnesota winters. We would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a fun, comfortable, affordable SUV.

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  awesome sleeper car - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By mikal69 - March 13 - 6:06 pm

  only had my Outie for a few months, but she has been great, you get a lot of quality for the used price, liked it better than the typical Toyotas and Hondas, and better build quality than pretty much everything else in its range, its no BMW or Mercades though. sporty ride and steering, and perfect for those of us 6ft plus. lots of room. Love that the back seats recline and adjust, so that the person sitting behind me isnt cramped. overall, a really really nice Suburban Utility Vehicle, just wouldnt trust it off-road.

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  02 GS, automanual, sun and sound - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By kdavis - March 12 - 10:00 am

  This car cant make up its mind if it wants to be sporty or comfortable.