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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  Great for the money - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By jeffmiller32 - September 20 - 3:23 pm

  I bought this car brand new. It drives great. I have put over 40,000 miles on it in the last 3 years and have not had any issues with it. I have done regular oil changes, and I recently changed the pads, other than that it runs great. We take it on road trips quite often, we can fit four 6 tall guys comfortably. Although there is zero room for luggage because I have to 10" subs and two amps back there. Sometimes the ride is rough, but right after I got it, I put 18"s on it. It handles great, but on older freeways and roads it is a bit bumpy. The interior design is practical,gas milage is adaquate. It is a great car for the money. The styling is modern. Great value for the money.

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  This is a great car - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant
  By SarahHenberger - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I really like this car, I think it was well worth picking this car over several others. Its a good price, for a great car!

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  Not your cookie cutter small SUV - 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By CW - September 15 - 11:06 am

  It came down to the Outlander and RAV4. The Outlander looks a lot better, has a lot more technology and a superior warranty and provided more for the money. We really like the car and would highly recommend to anyone. If we had it to do all over we would buy the Outlander again.

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  Diamonte - 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By contact - September 15 - 2:00 am

  This is my first sporty car and for the moment I like it. I have a 2002 Lexus 430 for the long trips andse the Diamonte for commuting 20 miles to work over country roads.

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  Quality- ES 16" Wheels - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By colorado_speedway - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Solid ride, firm steering, excellent driver position, perfect braking and smooth exceleration that adapts to how you want to drive. I feel safe around SUVs and semis on Denvers expressways at speeds in excess of 70mph. Run around town in 3rd gear to be quick. And white with dark tint exterior looks gets some respect. One gripe: seal them door handles in the cabin (:

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  A very pleasant car - 2008 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Prfct Teeth - September 10 - 1:23 pm

  I have not put many miles on this car....yet. Its a very nice drive and I cant wait to take it on a few trips. The inside is very comfortable and quiet. The bright blue LED dash is awesome at night. The engine doesnt have a ton of HP, but the torque easily makes up for that. The engine hauls this suv around with ease, but with just so-so (17 avg) gas mileage. Overall, this suv does not disappoint at all.

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  1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By infinity8x3 - September 9 - 11:06 pm

  So far Ive had this car for a couple months and havent had too many problems. I bought it used and it did have a few kinks. One was the radiator fan went out and it overheated in a parking lot and then a couple weeks latter a hose blew and was spraying coolant all over the inside of the engine. Other than that, I have had no problems allthough the head gasket looks new. Paid $4k and dont regret it at all.

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  Very Nice SUV - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Asa Honey - September 9 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. Rides nice and high and handles very well. Very comfortable and very nice interior. Absolutly huge sunroof. A complete monster in the tough Maine snow.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By hot_karl - September 9 - 2:28 am

  After owning 3 Camaros I decided it was time to try something different so I went ahead and bought an Eclipse GT. I owned the car for 6 years and drove it hard all year round, did numerous cross country trips with it and had very few problems. It may not have been the fastest car out there but it was still very fun to drive. The handling felt great and the V6 sounded awesome when you revved it past 3000 rpm. Gas mileage hovered around 28-30 on my trips which consisted mostly of highway driving. I sold it about a year ago after I let a friend of mine drive it and he burnt up the clutch. Now Im trying to find another car that was just as great as my Eclipse was.

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  2006 Endeavor LS AWD - 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Dale - September 3 - 1:00 pm

  This is my first SUV, and so far, I am very happy with it. The ride is ultra smooth, it handles well in snow (Im in Denver), and has a "sleek" look to it. Also, the gas mileage is decent as Im averaging 19/24 mpg. The only thing I wish was different was it had somewhat more horsepower (it has 225), as its acceleration is somewhat slow. Then again, with high gas prices, I would rather opt for the better gas mileage. All in all, the Endeavor is a solid buy.