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 My New SUV - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Morgan Dickey - February 11 - 10:59 pm

  Traded in my Mitsubishi Mirage (2015) for the Outlander ES Feb 19. Fell in love with it immediately. The step up in brakes and steering alone was awesome. The Mirage brakes were horrible, the steering fair. Sure there are better brakes and steering out there, but for a big SUV its pretty nice. Have driven a Ford Fusion (rental), it does feel similar, at least to me. The blue tooth is great in it. First Cruise control for me. Really like it. The seats are comfortable. Could maybe use an extra adjustment on the seat, but it does feel comfortable. The biggest complaint is the big headrests on the third row seats, do block the rear view a little, but they are removable, so not a huge deal.The radio stereo is the basic brand, but its a huge step up from the Mirages stereo. The Mirage you had to play your mp3 music at nearly full volume. The Outlander at twenty four the music is pretty loud. So far only really drove it back and forth from work, but so far Im loving every moment. This is no where near the top vehicle on the road, but it is a value SUV. The Mirage wasnt a bad vehicle either. The biggest downside probably would be the gas mileage. From the Mirage I got around 37 MPG regularly, never less than that from fill up to fill up. Looking now at a possible 26 MPG area. I would recommend this SUV to people looking for a nice vehicle for family driving or light hauling. The towing capacity is pretty light on this vehicle. Its listed at only fifteen hundred pounds. The Continuously Variable Transmission is fine on the ES model. You can punch it and go with little effort.

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  Sleeper SUV - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Ronald - February 10 - 4:33 pm

  I have had absolutely no problems with my 2005 Endeavor LS AWD. It has plenty of power and is comfortable. It looks sporty and overall build quality is very good. It handles very well and is a fairly quiet ride. It has not missed a beat and other than scheduled maintenace it has operated flawlessly. The AWD system is inferior to my Subaru. The stock tires may be part of the problem. I will install new snow tires and see if traction improves.

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  Love it so Much !! Bying Another ! - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Kapil - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought a Lmtd. 2001 & love everything about it. Now we need another vehicle & are going for a used 2002 Montero. The BEST VALUE in the SUV Market. #.1 Reliable #2. Excellent Exterior Designing ! #3. Roomy inside & comfortable ! #4. Dashboard #5. You fall in LOVE with Montero !! Has been very reilable / stable / solid on sharp turns etc....!!!!!!!!

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  Litl Rally Red ES - 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By authurdent - February 8 - 7:34 pm

  After buying an Outlander XLS a year back, we bought my mother-in-law a Lancer ES, same Rally Red - same black interior (less leather) and same sunroof. After some 20 years of Mitsu reliability, we figured an 82 year-old woman deserved a new reliable car with a bit of pizazz. Sure, the ES is no barn-burner, but the 16" alloys handle well around curves, and theres plenty of gadgetry to keep mom busy till the end of her days! While I like the height of the Outlander, the Lancer does inspire more confidence around the corners. Of course fuel economy is a big plus. We we use to 35+ with our old Mirage. The V6 Outlander is lousy for mpg, but the Lancer ES is a champ!

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  Very Satisfied - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jack - February 7 - 8:20 pm

  Ive received nothing but compliments about exterior and interior. Its perfect for me and my daughter. Would rather it had a little more power but its more than sufficient. Handling is great, and gas mileage around town is just about 20, not bad for an suv. Have not used the flip up seats, but have comfortably sat 5. Rear seat belts are difficult to latch for an adult (narrow positioning). So far I love this vehicle. Mine was loaded with everything but a rear dvd player, all the toys are well worth it.

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  Cheap, Reliable % Good looks - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Mitsubishi ES - February 6 - 6:06 pm

  I got the car with 40k miles for about 7500 usd and so far i think this is the best car that i could have gotten for that price. Its been super reliable, I have not had any major repairs done to the car other than maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc. I would definitely buy another galant. My galant has 120K miles currently and it still works perfect. This is the perfect car for commuting. Nothing will beat it.

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  RUNS GREAT for a 9 year old car - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By ls - February 6 - 5:10 pm

  I got the 2000 Galant in 2003 with 30,000 miles. Since then I now have a total of 153,000 and the car runs great. The only consistent maintenance I have done is oil changes, replace tires and brakes when needed. I recently replaced the alternator this past winter and did the timing belts at the recommended 75,000 miles. I am pushing to reach that 200,000 miles mark!!!

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  Redesigned Outlander - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By gene guy - February 5 - 8:33 pm

  Since buying the newly redesigned Outlander LS we have been extremely pleased with its styling, driveability, and quality. Many of the features that are present in this "small SUV" give the impression of a vehicle that cost more than it actually did. Its good stability on the highway and an excellent braking system lend themselves to a feeling of a secure, stable platform and ride. We really enjoy this vehicle. And one final thing, the low profile drop down rear gate really helps when you are trying to load things into the back cargo area.

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  So-so - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By illuzions - February 4 - 10:00 am

  "Decent" car with nice styling. Tons of complaints about how great it looks, and thats why I bought it. Didnt realize though that this 4 cylinder has no motivation at all, the tranny takes forever to downshift sometimes, and passing people is a joke. It does cruise nicely at 85-95 mph but getting there can be frustrating. The interior is comfortable but there are quite a few obnoxious rattles (dash, passenger door/window, glovebox....) Breaks are also mediocre

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Chinna - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Liked the seating Position and comfort. Traded in 2000 Honda Accord. I found this one very peppy around town and even highways.I felt this is better than Accord in driving and handling.