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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  24 mpg - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By jjtj - September 2 - 7:10 am

  Purchased car w/64,000 miles.Miles are now 285,000. "I" get 19 mpg in the Mountains and 24 mpg on the highway. Drives soft and very little noise.I did have a problem w/a squeaking out of the front car that Mitsubishi refunded me for. Drives great in the snow. So, good that the one and only time that I did get stuck,the person who helped me out told me that I should put the car on 4 wheel drive. I thought it was on all the time.

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  freddy - 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Arturito - August 29 - 10:00 am

  Its a fun ride. You feel the difference in speed and control compared to other vehicles. Everyone will enjoy this car.

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  owner - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By jimhoward - August 29 - 10:00 am

  The best Galant yet

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  I Love MY Car!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By carcrzee14 - August 29 - 10:00 am

  I love my car soooo much>>> it handles awesome and i have fun driving it! Its peppy and it has enough pickup 2 use for everyday driving in the city.

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  Affordable fun! - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Ssikpiyelnats - August 26 - 2:23 pm

  Ive had the 08 Lancer ES with the sun and sound package for a year now. Ive found it extremely enjoyable. I added a K+N air filter, and an axle back Flowmaster 40 series exhaust, and noticed a performance increase and MPG increase immediately. The sound system is great, gives a nice rounded sound without being overbearing. The transmission is smooth, and the car can be tossed around with relative ease. I love the interior design, theres beauty in simplicity. Everything is integrated into the dash, making it flow wonderfully. The only complaint I have is that after a year, the padding used on the rear dash to deaden rattles has worn out, causing vibrations with the music. Annoying.

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  Dont buy one - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By tank driver - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I hate this car!Ive had front end problems,brakes replaced,and it rides like a small rusty tank.Save your money and buy a Toyota.

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  Not Just For The Dogs - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Denise` - August 26 - 2:00 am

  After looking to replace my Ford Explorer with another I just wasnt sold. Having three large dogs was a consideration as was having to drive clients. Unlike my previous SUVs I can fold down the seats to create the dog barrier; no more of those bulky fences, and the dogs can be closer to front seat passengers. The interior is classy and has drawn many a compliment, even from a pal whod recently purchased the Benz SUV. Handles like a dream in rain and snow; I ski so its been put to the test. We haul our motorcycle trailer with it and it doesnt slow us down a bit. Oh, did I mention the extra large sunroof...

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  the silver bullet - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Mark Flynn - August 26 - 2:00 am

  The bang for the buck with this car is unbeatable. You get a 3.0 lt V6 and a unique eye catching design for 20Gs. When i drive my car to home after workI forget about my daily stress and have some fun.

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  Great Little SUV - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By mommytoo - August 24 - 11:20 pm

  We found this while looking at the RAV- 4, but I knew nothing about it, so I looked up the rating-review. I went back to the dealership and test drove it, expecting it to be noisy and have a rough ride (consumer reports) - I was pleasantly surprised! It handles great, fun to drive, not that noisy (less than Honda)and a pleasant ride. It a great all around CUV package that met my needs better than CR-v, RAV-4,Santa Fe, or Murano. Yes, you can have a slightly smoother, quieter ride with a better interior quality in the Acura RDX/MDX or X35, for $20K more. You can have better audio in the Murano for $10K more. You can have great accel in RAV-4 for $10k more with few creature comforts.

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  Poor Paint Job - 2007 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Help - August 24 - 5:13 pm

  I bought this car in Oct. 2007 just before the winter. I noticed what looked like salt in front of the rear tires. When spring came and i washed the car, i noticed it was actually paint that was missing. The dealership contacted mitsubishi and submitted photos. They said it was due to "road wear" so they would not repaint my car even though it was only 6 months old. Shouldnt they use paint on their cars that can stand up to road wear? I have filed a complaint with the review board but havent heard back yet. When i see another Galant in a parking lot, i always look and there is the same problem to some degree in the same place. I havent owned the car for a year and it is rusting