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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  I love my Eclipse - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Jezababy - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive always wanted an Eclipse. I fell in love with the body style from 1997, and I like the new body style just as much. I treated myself to a brand new GTS as soon as I graduated college this year, and I love it!

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  Vroom with a VRX - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Frank S. - August 16 - 3:50 am

  This car has been a dream. Lots of power when you need it and a nice sporty feel and sound. Speaking of sound the audio/radio is a great system. There has been no mechanical issues other than oil, brakes and tires. The tires on mine have only about 2,000 miles on them and they are top quality. I had automatic start installed which is nice in bad weather. We no longer need another vehicle so Im parting with it.

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  Its Worth It! - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By unknown - August 14 - 9:13 pm

  This car gets outstanding mpg ( miles per gallon) for its year and Mitsubishi put in the awd 5spd turbo engine which lets the car punish the pavement. Also, because its a awd car, its a bit easier to drive during winter time because it gets better traction when all the wheels move instead of a 2wd car. This car is reliable, fast, sharp looking, and fuel efficient. This car has all the consumer needs and wants!!!

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  Dissatisfied - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By 2003 Lancer - August 14 - 7:03 pm

  Ive had my 03 Lancer for 5 years now, and I only have 40,600 miles on it. Just recently the Horn-Pad assembly stopped working, is malfunctioning. Because it is connected with the airbags and steering component, I have to get the entire component replaced, which has cost me over $1200. Another unfortunate thing is that the part is not made in the U.S. The part had to be placed on backorder from Japan - not too happy about that!

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  i love it - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By john - August 14 - 4:00 am

  First I felt love by the look, but soon Ive realized its performance. I wish we could buy this car in Europe. One of the best looking car I have ever seen. More luxurious than the price tag would tell you.

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  My Mitsubishi Galant ES V6 - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Naz Berumen - August 12 - 10:06 pm

  My car has not given me any trouble, it;s been very reliable and very durable. The only inconveniace was had to tighten fan belt once. Other than that slight problem, the car is well put together and fun to drive.

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  Why Dont You Back Your Vehicle? - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Vaughn - August 12 - 3:10 pm

  This vehicle could be one of the greatest vehicles put on the road, except when problems arise no one is willing to look into the problem while the vehicle is still under warranty, God forbid they will have to pay for something thats wrong with it. My vehicle has had a break problem since the day I drove it home. I have to do a break job on the front every 15,000 to 18,000 miles. When I take it in for a brake job, they tell me it is because of the way I drive, but as soon as the warranty was up and I would have to pay for all the repairs, they found almost a thousand dollars worth of repairs to do. This was with a Mitsubishi dealer and not the dealership I leased the vehicle from.

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  We Luv It - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By argentum - August 11 - 11:16 am

  OK. So Car and Driver and Motor Trend hate this car. Consumer Reports didnt care much for it either. This fifty year old couple read the positive consumer reviews here and at CU, threw caution to the wind after test driving one, and bought it. Well, whats not to like? Aside from good looks, the Eclipse runs and rides just fine. Its way smoother and quieter than the Acura RSX-S that we just finished leasing. The five speed stick is a breeze, the ride is composed and handling is surprisingly tight. I prefer the good low end torque to high revving horsepower. Get the upgraded Rockford- Fosgate sound system. It blows away the Acura Bose.

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  This is a great car! - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Susan Wasyk - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I was looking at the Honda Pilot, but this offered me the same, but at a better price. The interior is very roomy, especially for those with long legs, the sound system is great and is very comfortable driving, especially on long trips. I would recommend this car to everyone.

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  Just three letters.........G T S! - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By John - August 10 - 12:16 pm

  I have found the comparison of amenities to car price for the GTS to be the best out of sedans. However, I have been plagued by problems since I purchased it. I only hope Mitsubishi can fix them since the car is great all- around.