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 car - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By indiana sucks - October 30 - 10:00 am

  retail value sucks, great car

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  Do not buy any new mitsubishis - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By st966z5d - October 30 - 10:00 am

  dont do what I did, buy a brand new mitsubishi with a low finance rate. afterwards i find out that the car that cost me 23k brand new is now worth 11- 13 k the following year! you lose half of what its is worth. its a big scam, dont buy new, buy used! :(

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  Sleeper In a Busy Market!! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By dfrenchbk - October 30 - 10:00 am

  After alot of research, I had settled on the Honda CRV - but decided to drive the Outlander anyway because of the great finance deals. I never went back to Honda - the Outlander looks great (especially in silver) and drove very well. The seats are excellent, the interior was very well though out and overall the car was just what I wanted for long (500 mile commutes with kids) and driving around town. Also a great vehicle for cyclists - getting a roof rack on the top soon! Overall, a great value compared to the higher priced competitors - check it out.

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  2001 5-spd GT....gotta love it!!! - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Pamela63 - October 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Eclipse for just over two years now and wouldnt trade it for anything. It is sporty , dependable AND fun. No problems whatsoever with this car. Test drove about every other sportscar in its comparable price range before deciding on the Eclipse. Nothing else came close. Smooth handling/ride, no shimmy, no shakes.

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  1st Mitsubishi, 1st 4-cylinder...wont be my last - 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By ldriver - October 30 - 3:25 am

  With only a few thousand miles on the Outlander so far, Im extremely happy with the purchase. Based on professional tests, user reviews, historical reliability, and my own test drives, the Outlander was my by far my favorite. It looks tougher than the soccer mom CR-V and costs much less than the RAV4. The warranty is excellent but hopefully I wont have to use it. The Outlander rides smooth and quiet. With the 4 cylinder Im getting about 25 MPG around the city. I was worried about buying my first 4 cylinder but it does great on the highway and uphill. It is slow off the line but the 6 speed trans makes up for it when passing and climbing.

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  Good engine, poor interior - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By Alex - October 28 - 5:16 am

  This car has a smooth, powerful 4-cyl engine tucked inside a body of average quality. It runs quietly, great acceleration and quick handling, with plenty of power for nimble highway and city driving. The frame is moderately stiff, and the ride can feel a little rough at higher speeds. The exterior design is cool, looking almost like a Volvo wagon from the rear. However, the paint job is horrible, easily scuffing and flaking after the slightest scratch on the bumpers or quarter panels. The console and dashboard designs are logical, with controls well spaced and easy to access, but the function of the cheap plastic controls is terrible, as is the design of the windshield defrost vent.

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  Nice, HighTech SUV for a great price - 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By southbaydriver - October 28 - 12:49 am

  I got a loaded SE AWD. The car is great. It does take a little while to get used to the way the CVT behaves. Once I got over that, I really like the car. Comfortable, quiet and the interior is very elegant in a minimalistic way. The sound system (Rockford Fosgate) is the best Ive seen. The bluetooh integration with my phone is great. Not only it handles phone calls but it also plays the music from my smartphone automatically. I just get in the car and it remembers all of the settings. I am very happy with the car

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  10 years and running strong - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By 01montero01 - October 27 - 9:23 pm

  My family bought our 01 Montero used in 02 w/12k mi. My parents used it as a daily driver from 02-05. The bought a Pacifica in 05 and the truck stayed parked in the driveway for over a year. In 06 I turned 16 and got the truck as my first car.Ive gone from 46k mi to 143k mi in 6 yr. The only issues I had,the rear heater pipes explode and dump all the raidiators contents onto the road. this can only happen 2 times bc new part is thicker. At 16 with no mechanical experience I replaced the broken pipes for the total of 17$ for both pipes. Also routine fixes for cars over 100k mi, Alternator & Timing belt and oil pump. Overall, very reliable fun 4x4 ok on gas 16 mpg avg. Love my MITSU

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  Great Car dont overlook it - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By cs - October 26 - 1:13 am

  So I drive a ton, and I mean a ton 25k per year. This car is a daily commuter for me. Why do I love it? The car is just has everything I need. Killer stereo, great seat comfort, easy to drive, even the stock tires have worn well. Easy and affordable to maintain and it takes 87 gas with no issue. I get 25 mph in my daily L.A. fwy/traffic commute which is pretty good. Great NAV sys, as well as a hard drive that records my cds automatically. Environmental stats, and a calendar that reminds me of birthdays. Heated seats, solid control, good ac, wipers work well, brakes are solid. For what you get this car is clearly the best value in the crossover SUV market. Take a look, you wont be sorry.

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  Bad Paint Job - 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Chinpaint - October 25 - 5:16 pm

  Overall the car is a good car. It looks good and handles good. I have had no problems with either the engine or drive train. My three negatives, one because of space available between the seat, roof and steering wheel it can be a little difficult for driver to enter. Second engineering design has turn signal blocked by steering wheel.(move light or change steering wheel design). Last this summer two bad paint spots appeared. One between sun roof and back window, the second between trunk and rear window.