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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  Love it! - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By mpantalo - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Im pleased with the vehicle and know several others who have Montero Sports and delight in them, with no reliability problems. The vehicle handles great, and I came to it from a Miata which has some of the best handling on the road.

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  Very Sporty Wagon - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By GeoN - October 1 - 6:50 am

  Wanted manual trans but only automatic was available. Turned out it is a great auto trans, always seems to be in the right gear and shifts smooth. Car is great for carrying bicycles with roof rack because its low enough to put them up without a step ladder. Lots of room for sports stuff inside, too. Accessory soft cargo liner saves the interior & looks good. Motor is surprisingly powerful and seats hold you in place for spirited driving. Could use better fuel mileage: avg 20 in town. Open road trip mileage OK at high 20s. It is the best combo of fun to drive and practical livability I could find.

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  I love this car - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By mrmspyder - September 30 - 10:56 pm

  I traded in a 2000 Firebird Formula on a 2008 Lancer GTS. I was shocked at how great the performance was on the GTS. The CVT takes some getting used to, but with the paddle shifters Im able to manuever in traffic fairly easily. The car feels faster than the specs lead you to believe. The technology of this car is amazing. I got the optional DVD navigation system with the 30 GB hard drive. Im able to store 100 CDs on the hard drive which is very nice. I love the fuel economy too. Ive been averaging 26 mpg and using regular gas, so Im saving a ton of money compared to my firebird. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking for a sporty practical car.

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  Love this car - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By sephiroth1386 - September 29 - 4:46 am

  Ive had this car for about a year now, and Ive never had ANY problems with it. Not even the paint chipping problems that some have had. The only reason Id trade this car in, is for either the Ralliart version or Evo X.

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  Superior Endeavor - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By kmak - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my Montero Sport for an Endeavor, and I love it. Mitsubishi actually took a lot of the popular features from several different SUVs on the market and combined them into one great vehicle. Would definitely suggest this to those who drive long distances. This comfortable ride has a great sound system, 4 power outlets, and plently of front cabin cargo area. A wonderful value for the money.

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  You can feel the power - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Lovely Car - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I have been driven this car for 3 months I realy love it you can feel the power under the hood and the body style I think is the best for the sport car same class with this

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  Much Happier on 93 Octane (or higher)! - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By GM - September 27 - 1:20 am

  I love my little Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback. I have owned a few budget sports cars (Mazda Miata, Dodge Daytona Shelby Turbo, Honda Civic S...) and I would say this car is as fun as the lot of them. Well maybe the Miata was a little more fun. The Lancer Sportback has the acceleration of my Turbo Shelby and the nimbleness of my Civic S...with a lot more room.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Azza - September 24 - 9:10 pm

  This car is actually used as an all- rounder and it must be said that its an Australian version of the CH Lancer LS, its our family car come weekend & the commuter during the week. Each day of the working week the car travels at least 130 km or around 82 miles each way to work and back, over 800 miles a week! The car is flawless in its reliability, performance and features. Its great to look at & has plenty of personality like its predecessor (a CE Lancer which we traded after a problem free 5 years and 200,000 miles / 320,000 km). We travel fairly large distances every year and appreciate the equipment, reliability & refinement that is found in these vehicles!

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  Great driving - 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By xe2ac - September 22 - 5:40 pm

  After doing a careful driving tests with competing brands (Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Xterra). The best driving experience was with the Mitsubishi model I decided for this vehicle because I rarely drive on dirt roads and needed more cubic space than the Toyota. The CRV and Xterra are driven by a lot of women and the Outlander has a more muscular view. Problem on my city is the large amount of speed bumps and a lot of rugged asphalt which the suspension filters out very well.

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  Love our Limited - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By lemonjeep2 - September 21 - 10:00 am

  This is a dynamite vehicle. Very comfortable and enjoyable to drive. We test drove lots and lots of cars and did some research, but the choice was easy. This vehicle just felt much better from the drivers seat. It handles well, has great AC and stereo, and the seating is comfortable. The rear cargo area has a fair amount of room. I was concerned about the dash after looking at photos, but is is really attractive when you see it in person. I previously had a Mitsubishi truck that I beat up for over 200,000 miles and it never broke down, so I hope this one runs as well. So far our mileage has been good, around 20 mpg for mixed use.