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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  DONT BELIEVE THE EXPERTS ! - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By JCLZEKE@AOL.COM - April 3 - 9:52 am

  This is my third Mitsubishi. 1991 Galant, 2003 Outlander we still own with 210,000 miles and this 2015 Sport GT. Ive owned it for 4 months, 4000 miles and We LOVE it! Ive owned Honda, Toyota, Nissan truck and Chevys. All good cars and trucks, but Mitsubishi NEVER gets the credit it deserves for a Japanese vehicle of Superior quality and lower price than its better advertised competitors. These are Wonderful vehicles, precision built and designed. Available in the U.S. at lower prices for who knows why? lack of advertising... Take advantage of these deals and get a Well designed, quality built Japanese vehicle for a great price! They run FOREVER with just proper maintenance, the exterior stays beautiful with minimum maintenance. how many times Ive said to my son "OH U washed the Outlander (03)? His answer "NO it rained"... it looked Great. I Love our new 2015 Outlander Sport, the Rochford Fosgate Sound system is Awesome. Performance with the 2.4L is great, mileage is about 25-26 around town. Took her out in unplowed 14 of snow in 4WD LOCK No problem at all. Heated seats, mirrors, adjustable drivers seat, steering column... 4WD, glass roof, back up camera, much, much more for 20 something K? Plus 10 year/100,000 warranty. I love it! All I can say is give it a chance? Dont listen to the ""so called Expert reviews?

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  Amazing Car - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Brian - April 2 - 12:26 am

  I have wanted a Mitsubishi for a few years now. I am in college and I had an 04 Mazda3. We had so many problems with it, it was time to get rid of it. I saw the new Lancer and I fell in love with it. I am a red guy, so I saw the commercials with the Rally Red Metallic paint job and I fell in love with the car. I needed the Sun and Sound Package for sure. The navigation was a little too expensive for me, but the car is great without it. Within a week of looking at them, I bought one. I have the only Rally Red Metallic GTS CVT with the Sun and sound package that was available in the state. It was very hard to find, but the salesman did a great job at getting it for me.

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  2005 Endeavor - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Mike - March 31 - 4:36 pm

  All around great vehicle. Great in snow (AWD). Very repsonsive and sporty, but also absorbs the bumps in the road very well. I would buy this vehicle again.

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  Lancer Ralliart Review - 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Lace - March 30 - 11:10 pm

  This is a very fun to drive car. It handles well, even in the rain. I always get compliments on my ride.

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  Good Value, Nice Ride - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By SF Paul - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This Outlander made an immediate impression on me and my wife. The first thing that stood out was the fit and finish of the interior. Nothing about this car feels or looks cheap. Looking at the front end it has a more aggressive appearance, but the rear end doesnt seem to match. The performance is good for a four- banger. Its nimble on the curves, and 160 horses come in handy when passing or getting on the freeway. On smooth surfaces the road noise is nominal and youd swear you were driving a six. Engine noise is nicely buffered too. Im averaging around 22 mpg with plenty of city driving. The mpg drops if you use the Sportronic shifter.

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  Great SUV!! Best Exterior Design! - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By John G - March 29 - 3:30 pm

  I love my Montero XLS! Unbeatable exterior design and its attractive and practical on the inside too. Engine is powerful for a 3.8L V6 and the self-select 4WD has 4 settings for different driving conditions. Very comfortable and solid ride. Awesome sounds system and 3rd row seat. Good value versus the competition. I chose the Montero over the Pilot and 4Runner because of its styling, true 4WD feature and overall quality and value for money.

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  Stealth Cruiser - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By X-Honda guy - March 28 - 9:46 pm

  Youll have a grin on your face and people will wonder why... I bought a new 2004 Galant LS (MSRP $21,992) for less than a Corolla or Civic, I recieved Customer/Loyalty rebates of $5,000 plus another $2,200 from the dealer delivered LS for $14,800. ReSale is a non-issue now. Its not a boring ride, its fast, handles well in corners. It loves snow and mountain roads. It has an attitude lurking under that mild mannered exterior. Gets good mileage (23+) and not a penny from me for maintanence (Free!). Pearl red paint is Candy apple in the sun. For giggles just place your right foot all the way down transforming your Ho Hum commute into an amusement park ride. Wheee!

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  Best Buy Out There - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By GranDan - March 28 - 8:03 pm

  The Mitsubishi Outlander is the best car that I have ever owned in 36 years of car ownership. Its dependable, fuel efficient, has a comfotable ride, and sporty style. Change the oil...fill it with gas...and enjoy. My Outlander has not had any problems in 31,000 miles.

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  Pedigree... - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By DakarFan - March 28 - 10:00 am

  How many SUVs can really claim the Paris-Dakar title. In the 2002 season alone, BMW X5; Mercedes ML-320, 430, 500; Land Cruiser etc. did not even come close. Top 6 positions were Monteros/Pajeros. The rest of the world knows what Im talkin about. The Aussies named it the best SUV in 2001, and they know their "outback". Around town its drives better than the 97 LS I used to own. Yes, it does need more power for its weight. So, I changed the cat-back exhaust and intake system. Now, I eat Ford Explorers alive! Now, if I could only get a hold on Ralliart suspensions....

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  Best compact suv - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By Valerie - March 28 - 6:22 am

  I had a 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander but wanted a smaller suv with 4wd option. I looked at Honda HRV, Mazda CX5, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage and none even compare to the Outlander Sport. My requirements are good stereo and satellite radio. You have to buy top of the line trims with the others to get this. The SE trim also has push button entry which is a great safety feature and means no searching for keys. The chrome on the front makes it look expensive. The AC is very cold which is awesome because we are having record high temps this summer. Lets not forget the 5 year warranty and roadside assistance (which I never used on my last one). Please ignore the "expert" reviews and look at consumer reviews for past years.