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 like it - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Georgia Girl - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I"m relatively new to the design as my last Galant was a 94 and ultimately was crashed and totalled due to someone rear-ended me. The 94 sort of folded around me as the car hit me from behind and pushed me into a cement barrier. I was not injured. But the 03 has many of the same features as my old Galant and handles even better. The steering is tight and it handles like a larger car and not the mid-size that it is. The engine has got a lot of pep for a 4- cyl. in my opinion and the new Steel Blue is just gorgeous. The a/c blows ice cold air and the gets good reception although the rear speakers dont seem to be of high quality.

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  Nice pickup truck - 2008 Mitsubishi Raider
  By raul - August 4 - 7:56 pm

  The ride is very smooth and quiet. For the price I paid I am very happy, I really like this little truck.

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  Easy ar to own - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By AHG - July 27 - 10:00 am

  After 60K miles this car continues to be trouble free. I have replaced rotors myself at 30K and OEM tires after 58K. I have yet to take it to a dealer except for an alloy fuel cover that dealer replaced when it corroded. This car is under rated. Im 62" and I have headroom and legroom. It handles well, runs smooth and still looks new.

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  Really fun car - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By tony - July 24 - 9:00 pm

  I bought mine in 02 pre-driven with 12k miles. Right now I have 95k. No problemos at all, except regular: brakes, rotors etc. fun to drive, nice design, good power. It was really worth it every penny. Only downside huge price reduction and poor mileage.

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  2004 Lancer Ralliart - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Tenasi - July 21 - 2:00 am

  With the upgrade in the performance levels of the Lancer, the Ralliart version is very nice. The engine power is significantly upgraded with impressive take off speeds, and the tuned suspension makes the handling incredible. With the 5 speed manual transmission, suddenly you are racing every other vehicle on the road. And taking off from a red light is now fun!

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  Eclipse Owner - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Eclipse owner - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car for almost three years, and until now I have had no problems whatsoever. However, recently I found that there was a problem with the ignition switch that is prevalent in all Eclipses. When it goes bad, the clock, radio, and air conditioning will sometimes not work. If I had not purchased my extended warranty, it would have cost $282 to have fixed. Other than this, I have loved my car.

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  Dont drive to work - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By A - July 7 - 9:40 pm

  From the day I bought the car, I just liked it, not loved it. I didnt buy it for the gas mileage, so I wasnt expecting good mileage. The power was fun (manual makes it better), but I notice all the other things like the blind spot, rough ride and road noise. To top it off, when I took the car in for a shimmy while braking, I was told that it is normal for the rotors to have to be resurfaced every 10,000 miles. So have fun with the car, just dont use the brakes.

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  Zippity do dah - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Purchasinggirl - July 5 - 1:03 am

  I love this car! I have had people stop and take pictures of it with their cell phones. I am always being stopped and asked if thats the new Eclipse. The interior lights are great. The down side is that it is hard to backup because of the rear visibility. There is basically no back seat and it is difficult for tall people to fit in the front. I would have liked to have automatic door locks which is not an option. I feel safer knowing my doors have locked for me when I put the car in park. Lets not forget the stereo rocks!

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  Great Truck - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By mitsuman - July 3 - 4:46 am

  This is a great truck for me. I only wish it had a better payload ability. It doesnt like anything over 500 lbs in the back. Looks tough, but bottoms out easy. Gas mileage is 18.5 in city! and 22 highway. Always has very even tire wear. Tracks like a train.

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  Save money on gas with this Mirage - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Gary - July 2 - 12:53 am

  This car was made in Japan and came with 94% parts made in Japan also. For 5 years, it gave me no trouble at all. I just drove to dealership to buy a little bottle of touch-up paint. Its average gas mileage has been 31 mpg in local driving (with the air on most of the time during the summer),. I am not sure about the highway mileage, but it must be better. The only thing I dont like is that its not equiped with cruise control. It makes my leg sour over long trips.