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!! - 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
  By joeye - July 15 - 4:40 am

  I was looking at a compact car...Found Lancer. Wow its great...ride is good and steering feel is great as well. It has everything I want from leather to heated seats. Honestly... I can say that Mitsub has very good reliability. Please dont hesitate and buy this. It is a true under dog in its class.

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  Diamante LS - 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By BRANDEN - July 14 - 1:23 pm

  This car has been a blessing for me! Cold A/C and very comfortable to sit in! Just have a few complaints. Fuel economy is terrible, especially in the city, and showing signs of rust and paint is starting to peel on the hood! All and all this cars performance is awesome. Transmission doesnt seem to shift at the right time especially when you punch it right off the line! Using Full Synthetic Motor Oil has increased horsepower greatly and be sure to run only premium fuel in these cars to help get the most out of your gas tank!

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  Suspension worry - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By davebeat - July 12 - 4:56 pm

  I have owned the vehicle for only 6 weeks, but have subjected it to all manner of tests and scrutiny. It has only done 106,000 kilometers, looks immaculate inside and out, is very comfortable, handles well and is perfect in every respect bar one -- suspension (or shocks). No one can find anything wrong, yet while very smooth on good roads, smallish bumps and accompanying road noise suggest very rigid suspension. Is this a characteristic?

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  Great used car over100K - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By The 3g Man - July 11 - 9:10 pm

  2003 Mitsubishi eclipse Gt, v6, Sportronic shifter. Great Exterior look, except the fake vents in the front.v6 engine good power for automatic shifty, not good for turbo boosting.Alloy wheels great touch and clean. Inside, Cheap plastic interior (which is good If you ever need to replace it). I like it. No leg room for people over 511. Very small in the back, good for newborns- preteens and adults, no. Seats are very comfortable for long driving. Gas mileage is good, 22 ct/27 Hw. $30 to fill. Slow start@shifting through 1st gear but gets better at 2nd. Expensive 6 cyl tuneup ($550). Timing belt+labor $640. Maintenance regular. Premium gas only. Mits is having a recall, dont get black.

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  Fun, Luxury Car - 2000 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By fulby - July 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new in 2000 for my wife. I love to drive it, and do at every opportunity! The only problem has been excessive road noise. Weve had the tires replaced (30,000 miles), but it didnt help. This is a champagne car on a beer budget. Given the choice, I would buy the Diamante LS again.

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  Fun and Reliable Commuter - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By MitsuMufti - July 11 - 10:00 am

  I drove just about every other car in its class (including the far more powerful sports sedans) and was not planning on buying the Lancer. After test-driving the O-Z Rally, however, I was sold. The power was decent, but the ride was incredible. Great handling, comfortable seats and a feel for the road trumped all the reviews I read. I didnt count on the reliability, though. 10 months and 20,000 miles later Ive had no problems. Definitely consider the O-Z.

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  Almost 7 years and going strong - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Rick - July 7 - 6:16 am

  We bought this car as a dealer demo in late 01 with about 5,000 miles on it. We have really enjoyed every year we owned it. Im over 6 feet tall and fit comfortably. We now have about 85,000 and have no plans on getting rid of it. We have not had any major problems- just regular maintenance. The work done so far is: at 80,000, we replaced the motor mounts and now it runs as smooth as it did when new. At about 70,000, we replaced the radiator and some hoses. We had to replace the brake pads a few times but that pretty much was it. The A/C in the AZ 120 summers. The auto trans is great. Even in the AZ heat, the convertible top is still in great shape. The new Eagle tires are great.

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  For some reason... we love this thing. - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Shifty - July 7 - 5:03 am

  Its a lumbering, slow, hulking SUV - therefore, its everything I should hate to see sitting in my driveway. As die-hard VW owners for many years, we never quite understood the SUV thing but always liked the Monteros we saw on the road. When our second child came along we wanted a vehicle that could carry our entire family plus luggage and/or friends, but it still had to be fun (read: capable off-road). Suddenly the SUV made sense and we bought a Montero. Its been a great truck and we plan on keeping it for years to come.

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  My First Car, It Rocks - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By My first car!! rocks - July 6 - 1:16 am

  I bought this car like 2 weeks ago. I ahve not had any problems with it so far. It has a sporty exterior but a so so interior. I agree with the fact that there is very little room for the backseat. Its acceleration is kinda poor. I compared it with the Honda Accord that my friend has. It is in the same class and everything. Perhaps I expect too much from my Galant. Overall its a very good USED car. The value of this car went down like crazy regardless you buy it new or used. It comes with keyless entry, etc. I love this car. I am gonna hold on to it and Ill buy another Galant later on. Mitsubishi rocks!!! Of course, I wouldnt buy a new one.

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  The truth - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Marc - July 5 - 3:53 pm

  Owned car since nov. 06/1500 miles was one trip. Owned Mitsubishi before so stayed with brand (no problems). Had hesitation problems but service bulletin cured that. On road trip car is outstanding just sit back and put on Cruise and front wheel drive (28 mpg) around town not impressed with mpg or noisy motor, like all available features (best bang for buck). I have had no problems with this vehicle at all, what you see and hear when you purchase is what you get. I was rearended at 40 mph (car stops on a dime) and lower tailgate still opened, car took impact really well. My main pet peeve is the interior fit and finish are starting to look sloppy/lazy. Where`s that quality Mitsubishi?