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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  Great, Fun to Drive & Reliable Ralliart - 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By bambamp3 - September 4 - 2:00 pm

  I purchased this car used, as I had a limited budget. The dealer was selling it below kbb value and the carfax was clean, so I wanted to see why. I test-drove it and didnt want to let it go. Everything was clean inside, and was in excellent working condition. The car is very strong, you wont even notice that youre doing 70-80 already unless you look at the speedometer. The shifter is sweet! Short throw and a perfect match to the engine. I also liked the exhaust note. The former owner of the car customized the sound system of the car, so that was an added bonus too. I am planning on keeping this car until its at least 10 years old already. I am totally happy with this car!

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  Fun Commuter - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By //Scrypt - September 3 - 2:00 am

  The OZ Rally may look like its Rally cousin, but is more distant than its appearance and name may suggest. If you are expecting a sports car, look elsewhere. If you are looking for an economical commuter that looks good and is fun to drive, this is your car! Its quiet, roomy, smooth, predictable, and comfortable.

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  Love My Mitsubishi - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Denae - September 1 - 6:06 pm

  This is the best car I have owned. It runs sreat, has a nice ride, is very sporty, and gets up and goes! This car is a nice piece of work from Mitsubishi!

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  Wish I Had It Back - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Rodney - August 30 - 4:40 pm

  I purchased the Mitsubishi Montero Limited. The interior was very quiet and the ride was the smootest I have seen, except the Lexus LX 470 but at $30,000 with the price difference I chose the Monterro. I never regreted it. I recently replaced it with a 2004 Ford Freestar. It is a good van but it is no Montero. My wife and I really enjoyed it and plan to purchase a new one in the near future.

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Josh - August 30 - 2:43 pm

  The Galant is a very under-rated sedan. It handles great, even with the 4 cyl. has plenty of power when needed and can get great gas mileage. It handles very well and looks awesome. It is very unique, not many people drive them. Despite its EPA rating being lower than other sedans, I still manage to get 25-26 mpg by driving it in town. The Galant is an awesome car. Even after two and a half years it feels new. The resale value isnt very good, but that does mean a used one would be a lot cheaper than a new one and still a great ride.

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  The Best Truck For The Money!!!! - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By True Owner - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Great Truck, should be ranked better. This is the kind of people who dont know how to examine all aspects of thier vehicles.

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  Good bargain! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By litakhing - August 28 - 2:00 am

  The Outlander has surprising amount of control and stability for such a budget-priced entry. I love the manual "Sportronic" shift mode. It makes the Outlander more fun to drive. Nothing inside appears cluttered, but everything seems just right. The instrument panel is simple with a center-mounted analog clock above the comfort and sound system controls. Overall, the new Outlander seems a standout in a field that includes the established likes of Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

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  Great compact SUV and great value! - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By cooljw - August 26 - 8:00 am

  I considered all the other compact SUVs out there including the RAV4 and CR-V before choosing the Outlander. The Outlander definitely has the others beat on price, styling and overall utility. Plus it’s a great value and costs thousands less than a comparably equipped RAV4 or CR-V. The 4 cylinder is plenty of power for me and I can use the paddle shifters to quickly downshift if I need to. The handling is very good with excellent cornering. It’s nice to drive a good looking car that you don’t see on the road often – I get plenty of admiring looks from people.

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  Great SUV - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By hansp1 - August 25 - 1:56 am

  Ive had this SUV for two weeks and cant say enough good things about it! There is a lot of bang for the buck here! What you get for your dollar is not to be believed! I had a Subaru Outlander that I loved and was quite honestly looking at a new one when I decided to check this car out. It was really no contest!

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  this diamond is a girls best friend - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By LEElee - August 23 - 10:00 am

  vehicle fun to drive, classy. no lets not leave this diamond behind.