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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  Out Everything ;) - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By marcjho - April 23 - 9:13 pm

  Im very happy with my purchase, and for the price paid it stands alone. Im a tall person (65) and I have plenty of room to spare. Its a very smooth and comfortable ride. I took it on a 3 hour road trip over labor day weekend and its pleasure to drive, especially with the upgraded stereo system. :)

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  Chris Montros Sport - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Chris Parker - April 23 - 5:13 am

  Over all I have not had any major repairs on this SUV. I use it for Scuba Diving. It alway has dive gear in it. Its a great truck for camping. I average around 22 mpg.

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  I love my Mitsubishi outlander - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By ronda - April 22 - 10:50 pm

  I love my Mitsubishi outlander. I love driving it how it handles and the room it has. Wish had a tow hook on front I have no problem in the winter and we get a lot of snow and I notice I see more mistibishi outlanders on the road. I have had only 3 problems and got parts.

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  Found my tuner - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By godfather6385 - April 21 - 11:36 pm

  The car has excellent acceleration for a 4 cylinder. The suspension is stiff but yet smooth. There is plenty of room in the trunk for many items. The back seat is a bit cramped, but there is plenty of room up front.

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  Im in LOVE! - 2012 Mitsubishi I-MiEV
  By believe - April 18 - 4:52 pm

  I can hardly believe how well this vehicle handles! My wife and I made the purchase in Virginia and drove it to Eastern Pennsylvania (our home). We drove through some wicked storms and a ton of traffic around DC and Baltimore and all I can say is this car is a dream to drive. We were able to stop at dealers (Nissan) for FREE charges on the way home. Our cost $0!! 169 miles for free!!! Ill be using it for work and our average cost will be around $2.51 per 100 miles or $12.55 for 500 miles of driving. You cant beat that! If I fill it up over night, the cost goes even lower.

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  Mitzubishi Rocks!!!! - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By lynzee - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE my car. I love driving it and turning heads. I love the short shifter and the pick up of this car. I decided that I wanted an Eclipse because I knew that they were dependable. My boyfriend had a 1995 Eclipse which he had for 3 years and loved. He only sold it because he needed a truck for work. When he sold it, it had 180.000 miles on it and never had any problems. Only regular matinence. I have put 20,000 miles on my car in just 7 months. Have had NO problems with it and I love driving it long distance to work and back. Reliable, head turning car, with great gas milage, what more could you ask for?

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  My - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Michelle Freeman - April 17 - 10:00 am

  This is a good looking car on the inside and out. I am impressed with the smooth and strong acceleration of the 4 cylinder in the ES model. Many friends of mine think it looks like a Cadillac CTS in the rear. I think it looks like a refined Altima. I have been very satisfied with it so far but I have only had it for 2 weeks. My mother has a 2003 Galant ES model and I really like mine better especially the roominess of it. I am nearly 510 and weigh 280 and my mate is 57 and weighs 320 and we are both very comfortable in the front and back of this car.

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  Superb compact sedan - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Tamra - April 14 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the best small compact sedans out there. It has enough power and torque to not be a dog on the road but still maintain great gas mileage. It is very comfortable and handles the road well, especially in turns.

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  Great car - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By bgirl - April 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 03 Eclipse GS in august of 2002, and i love it. It is sooo much fun to drive, and i get lots of looks while on the road. I would recommend it to anyone, and it is one of the best cars I have ever owned.

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  Great Car - 2001 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By LELE - April 12 - 12:23 am

  I just purchased a new 2002 Diamante. My wife has a 1994 Diamante also. I love both cars. Build quality is excellent, I agree that the transmission should be a bit more responsive (my previous car was a 2000 Pontiac GranPrix GT - GMs trannys just have no equal when it comes to response) but at the same time this is not a performance sedan, its a luxury car. MPG should be a bit better, 21-29 should be the norm in this class. My GP averaged 23 mpg with a bigger engine and heavier car.