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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  best ever - 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By pmg - January 30 - 7:23 pm

  Handles like a car, and has all the comfort of a luxury vehicle. Love the visibility. A pleasure to drive, and the AWD is 100% reliable in any weather.

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  Underrated in My Book - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Marc - January 28 - 7:13 pm

  I have had my Outlander for three days. Im an auto fanatic and very particular. I wanted a crossover for good gas mileage and handling. Nothing else out there gives you the features in terms of safety, comfort, technology, and styling that you will find in the Outlander. Dont get the "Its a Toyota, or Honda" name sell you. The material quality is not a 10, but seriously feel its competitors and its on par, but with a MUCH better execution. Its quite and comfortable. Its like driving a lifted car. It provides sporty performance with great gas mileage. The warranty is another factor to consider. I traded in a Jeep Liberty and couldnt be happier. Dont be scared about first year model, its been out in Japan for a couple of years.

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  go fast mitsu - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By green mitsubishi - January 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car back in 2000, brand new, with 46 miles on it. i drive it everywhere. the only major problems ive had were the stock tires (eagle ls), they were terrible, and wore out within 20000 miles. the car gets up and goes without hesitation. i have no problems passing people or hitting on- ramps. great stock cd player

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  Great SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Arthur Fotopoulos - January 28 - 10:00 am

  Went in to get my car serviced (oil change, tire rotation etc) while waiting I asked the salesperson if I could test drive the Pearl White Endeavor. Of course he said yes and all it took for me was to drive and and fall in love with it. The auto I was getting service had just over 18,000 miles on it. 4 days after the test drive, I went back in to purchase the Endeavor.

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  best value in this category - 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  By Doug - January 28 - 4:44 am

  This is my 2nd Mitsu. I put 50k + on a 2014 Lancer and never had an issue. Great car. This Outlander Sport is fun to drive, unbelievably reliable and great utility. This is a very competitive segment and this Outlander Sport is very competitive. The value is terrific. We have owned for 3 months and put almost 9k miles on it. Very comfortable on long drives. Looks great too. Mitsub may not be real popular in the US but ubiquitous everywhere else. Definitely check this one out. Plus the dealer in Raleigh is fantastic. After 8 months of ownership we are still very pleased with our purchase. No unscheduled maintenance or issues. Im seeing more and more of these Outlander Sports on the road so the word must be spreading. 1 year update - Still like this car. Runs great, still comfortable. Gas mileage is still good. no issues.

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  Glad I Found This Car! - 2006 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Anna L - January 28 - 2:53 am

  I bought my car after trading in my horrific 05 Toyota Highlander. I was sure I was going to buy either a Ford Fusion or Honda Accord (never another Toyota). There happened to be a Mitsubishi dealer next to the Honda dealer, so I stopped in. I immediately fell in love with the looks of the Galant SE. I test drove it and also loved the comfort, handling, acceleration, and quality/design of the interior. Its very sporty compared to the Accord, and is every bit as good in quality. Also, its union made in the US by the UAW. This is important to our family. This car has top notch safety and reliability records, and the longest warranty in the market. The Fusions made in Mexico and wasnt as nice.

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  Very Satisfied - Great for Price - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By northsidefan - January 27 - 4:50 pm

  For the little extra money, it was worth upgrading to the SE model. The only feature that I wanted and was not included was a power moonroof. Otherwise, I am very happy with the purchase.

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  Best of Three Eclipses Ive Owned - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Mitsuwomn - January 27 - 10:50 am

  Looks like a future car both interior and exterior. The V6 engine is quite powerful & the car handles great. It is much tighter than the 3g version. Its my every day driver and it makes my commute fun!

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  Mitsubishi has raised the bar - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By LuvMyOutlander - January 24 - 12:03 pm

  When I started shopping for a new car this fall, I never in a million years thought I would buy a Mitsubishi SUV. BUT... I did and I love it. Mitsubishi has raised the bar! This vehicle blows away anything else under $30,000. I wanted an Acura RDX, but couldnt swing the price. This truck gives me most of the features, almost the same performance and size at $10,000 less. I first read about about the new Outlander in InsideLine. I waited for a dealer to get one and then drove it. I loved it! I loved the features, the looks, the interior, everything! For a die-hard Honda/Acura guy like myself, the fact that I bought one, should tell you just how good it is.

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  Comfortable midsize SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By tosha - January 23 - 10:00 am

  I have not own my vehicle for long, but this week has been very exciting. I love that this SUV is not to big. It is comfortable enough for my family and I.