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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  Good SUV+ - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By XAVIX - December 23 - 8:43 pm

  I definitely recommend this car to anyone my baby has 112,000 still going strong, the only bad thing is the space if you are big its not very spacious, this is the best SUV for trips and snow

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  nice all around suv - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By bronco - December 19 - 7:03 am

  suprisingly a pretty quiet and smooth ride around town. the steering is a bit sloppy on the freeway but not terrible. the looks are a 10. my wife loves it and feels very safe. we purchased the base es model with an upgrade option. the seats are firm but comfy, adn the stadium type seating in the rear is a nice touch. when all is said and done, we are really happy about our purchase.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Cheu - December 19 - 4:13 am

  Ive had my Endeavor for about 3 years now, bought it used at 48K and it now has 78K. I did alot of research before I bought it and test drove alot of SUVs before choosing it. All around its a dependable SUV, no real problems with it, aside from the paint starting to chip on the roof racks and the extra noise you get when all the windows and sunroof are open. Its a very under rated SUV, I would have given it better ratings if not for Mitsubishis horrible customer service. If you can tolerate the already mentioned horrible customer service, I would recommend buying an Endeavor.

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  Nice little cruiser - 2009 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Jetman - December 15 - 9:23 pm

  Overall the outer styling is top notch. The interior is nice but leaves room for improvement. The plastics are cheap and that cheapness is everywhere. The plastic scratches very very easily. My car has 4000 miles and looks like it has 50,000. It has only one 12 V adapter. Cup holders are way to far back, seat heater buttons are in a horrible location. The car runs and drives great with the 4cyl motor. This motor does take a bit to rev up but then the power kicks in. By no means is this car fast from the stop, if you want that get that Raliart model. I have already had the turn signal break and the rubber on the brake pedal fall off ( warranty items). The gas mileage is not that great in town.

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  Cant Beat it for the Price - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Sid - December 15 - 4:10 pm

  Compared to the Honda Accord or Toyota Camary in performance, style, quality it it is neck to neck. I think it is just a personal preference as to which one appeals to individual. But when you talk price there is no comparison, The Mitsubishi Galant is $2k to $2.5k less than the Accord or Camary. If you trade frequently, you might consider an Accor or Camary. But if you are one to keep your vehicle awhile, then the Mitshbishi Galant is a top choice.

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  Opinion after 100,000 miles - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Dena - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Although this car has been reliable and comfortable, I do have some serious complaints with the quality of the parts used on the car that are not related to the actual running of the car. Ive had two interior door handles break off, hubcaps are constantly falling off, and the gas cover broke off. When I first got this car a friend of mine liked my car and got one within 6 months of my purchase. She had the same three problems. This is part of the reason she already sold hers. There is also an annoying rattle when I drive over 65mph. It seems to be coming from the glove box. Ive taken it to the dealership and they cant figure out what to do to stop it.

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  Outlander 2.4 2009 - 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By eelly - December 12 - 2:06 am

  I bought the outlander after test driving rav4 and crv. I like the outlander looks and its price of course, unlike rav which I believe is overpriced. Honda crv is better in acceleration, Rav4 is more car like when you drive. Outlander is heavier, but more stability in curve although a bit slow during start but can be faster if you use the techtronic options. Overall its worth the money compared to Rav4 and CRV. Forget about resale value - just enjoy driving it... no regrets.

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  An adequate car for a very good price - 1999 Mitsubishi Galant
  By martymac - December 12 - 2:00 am

  The 99s came with bad tires, which I hope have been replaced. This is my second Galant. My first was an 89, which I drove for 180,000. Now, that was an amazing car. If you can find a low mileage 89 -91, buy it. I doubt if this one will make that, but I am sure it will hit the century mark All in all, considering that it is at least 2,000 less than the Camry and Accord, I Would recommend it. My dealership is a service oriented one, so shop around, but if you are in the NYC northern surburbs, Yorktown Mitsubishi is worth a visit.

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  For the money spent, Im satisfied. - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By SteveO - December 6 - 6:40 pm

  I bought a GS model and though I do have a couple minor complaints Im pretty well satisfied. I wanted a Celica but couldnt fit in one comfortably. The Eclipse is very comfy and easy on the back for anyone sitting in the front. Definitely not a 4 seater. Avoid 4 adult occupancy at all costs. The acceleration leaves something to be desired but is decent for a 4 cylinder. For the price I found this to be real good buy, styling and comfort were big for me and this car met those easily. I dont know why everyone rips on the interior. I personally like it. Beware of the blindspots! The rear left one can be quite a problem during the busy morning commute.

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  Very Surprised... - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By honda kid - December 1 - 10:00 am

  After a lot of research and test driving, we narrowed our search down to the Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Endeavor and Toyota Highlander. We thought the Endeavor had a better ride than the rest of the bunch. The Pilot has a third seat, but, we did not think it would be a smart idea to put our kids in the third seat for safety reasons. The Highlander was a nice SUV but the style was a little outdated. We were able to buy the Endeavor a few dollars below invoice, finance it for 5 yrs at 0% and get 7 yr free roadside assistance. In fact, they are still offering this until Sept 03. Go here and click on Summer Clearance. http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMSA/jsp/index.jsp#