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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  New to me, LOVE IT - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By SarahM - June 3 - 4:06 am

  I just got this SUV after my old station wagon topped the 230,000 mile mark. I was looking for three things: Japanese make, four wheel drive, and lots of cargo room. This car was available for the right price in my area, and only had 55,000 miles on it and one previous owner. It has now become my favorite car ever. It looks great, performs well, and my brother, a professional mechanic, said that it is in amazing shape for a vehicle of its age. It is probably underpowered for towing, but thats not what I wanted it for. It has about the same pickup as my old 4 cylinder Outback, but with the increased size of the car and the 6 cylinder standard, Id say thats pretty good.

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  2009 Eclipse V6 GT - 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Kenneth - June 2 - 3:36 pm

  Runs smooth, good price with great power. 20 average MPG is reasonable with its horse power. The 650W audio w/ subwoofer is really amazing! Good audio. The truck is hard to close. Have to bang it real hard.

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  eclipse gt - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By alex195 - June 2 - 2:16 am

  Ive had my eclipse for 3 months now and its been a bast to drive! Bought it used with 130 000km on it. Painted the front center black, fake diffuser black to make it look real, and the roof too, and put ralliart badges on. Had no problems with the engine, however... the cheap sh*t door handles did break and even the new ones make that bending plastic quealing noise, the cheap plastic key also broke, and so did the cheap plastic a/c control. But thats why it costs so little, you do get a great 3.8L v6 that could use a little more power if your used to driving high hp vehicles, but if your not its more then enough. It always pulls in any gear with no hesitation but road noise is horrendous!!

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  lancer driving experience - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By shari - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I found my lancer to be a very fast driving car, it kind of handles like a sports car. It turns corners quickly, you only need a soft touch on the steering wheel...these points I like,however there is alot of noise thats seemingly coming from the inside of the dashboard, a rattatling(just as if, the car has a bad chest cold)of sorts. The sound really drives me crazy, I took it back, 2 weeks after I got it, I thought something was wrong, however the repair clerks said something about the cooling system or something makes a shaking sound. Anyway,thats the only problem as of yet I have to say.

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  gret ride for the money - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Ten Jam - June 1 - 10:00 am

  very happy with the dollar value great styling inside and out feels sturdy when cornering like the saftey features love to go 4 wheeling in this thing

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  Better than I thought - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Fer - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Very good fuel economy. Easy to drive and comes with a powerfull enough engine. Transmission is very smooth. Its a little bit noisy at high speed. Comes with many options. Excellent financing options plus a 3 year bumper to bumper.

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  RELIABLE - 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Mitsu - May 14 - 10:00 am

  The best thing about this car is its reliability. Overall I have been happy with since Ive had it almost seven years and I feel as though its been good to me. This is a pretty simple car that gets the job done and doesnt give you any problems, which is all I was looking for.

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  Outlander 2007 - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Mother of Twins - May 11 - 12:50 pm

  Its fun to drive. Handles very well in curves, even in really sharp curves. It accelerates quick and it is fast for a small SUV. It has a lot of cup holders. It has more than one storage compartment, not only the regular glove box. The seat hugs so you cant slide when turning. It is a fun SUV to drive and cool looking.

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  Solid Basic Transportation with Benefits - 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By kflan2phx - May 8 - 6:04 am

  Bought this crossover in lieu of a Ford Focus looking for a cheap commuter car that could haul what I wanted to inside, including 8 ft 2x4s. Drove it for a year in Ohio weather, then headed across country to Arizona. ** Have loaded it significantly and it continues to handle well. ** Tires have lasted well, no alignment issues. Engine and transmission are smooth (not boisterous) and run out of steam around 65 - could really used a sixth gear. Generally use PHX highways around 70mph. No maintenance issues - oil changes is all Ive done other than one visit for a recall adjustment by the dealer that was free and painless. ** I bought the package shelf and cargo area liner at discounts via Mitsubishi and the original dealer, they are worth getting. Did not get protection for the door sills or hatch sill, should have done that, quite a few touchups needed. Seats are comfortable. AC works in AZ. No snow traction issues in Ohio. ** Technology rating is low due to not much here, but what is works - bluetooth, etc.

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  Good Car, but Kinda Boring! - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By E-Bar - May 5 - 12:10 am

  Ive had nothing but luck with my Lancer OZ, however after three years I am kinda bored with it. It gets great gas mileage (27-33 mpg) and has had no mechanical problems. It does eat tires and front brakes, I dont drive out of control or use heavy breaks. I live in the country and dont do a lot of stop and go driving. I wish that I had more room to haul things and passenger room. I am 510", however having somewhat tall people in my car is a problem. For a good little commuter this is a perfect car. For someone looking to start a life and a family you may want to keep looking.