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 family wagon - 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By spyklee - June 27 - 10:00 am

  i have owned my sport for about 1.5 years. 3.0L V6 auto trans. this is a good family veh. easy to get daughter in car seat, lots of space in cargo area, vehicle looks great. easy to manuver in tight city areas (UK). driving pos. is great. love those mirrors (big). upgrade to better shock, stereo is lame, more power is needed for city, on hwy going up hills the sport takesem like a champ. fuel eco. is soso 21hwy. no major problems except changing front brakes, the whole assembly,(pads & rotors) at about 52000 mils. good roadtrip veh/grocery getter. if you find a used one make sure driveshaft seals were done, it was some sort of serv. bulliton.

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  Fun to drive if you like slow cars - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Andy - June 24 - 12:43 pm

  Ever get behind the wheel of a 99 GTP? No? Okay then you dont know where Im coming from. This car is fun to drive yet unresponsive if you didnt break it in right. Great car, Id recommend it to anyone. Reliability is top notch!

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  Rated a Consumer Reports best buy. - 2000 Mitsubishi Galant
  By GBC - June 21 - 2:16 am

  I purchased my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant in 2004 for $2400 (repossession). At the time it had 100,000 miles exact. Six years later I still have the car and the mileage is just over 243,000. The 2.4 Liter motor is bulletproof in my opinion and the transmission follows close suit. Aside from the necessary preventive maintenance I have had no major mechanical issues with the car. I call this one a good investment.

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  Good car, only for gas mileage - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By laukc7085 - June 19 - 11:46 pm

  this car has been a pain in my rear since i got it. I am going to school to be an automotive tech and i can tell you that this car breaks a lot and is hard to work on. the engine is crammed under the hood so there is no room to work. Ive only had the car for about 2 months now and i really hate it. ive had to replace a belt, had a bearing go bad, i have an oil leak from somewhere, an anti freeze leak, my release bearing in the clutch is going bad, had an electrical short, and just other things that irritate me

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  Worth every penny - 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Jhwk - June 12 - 11:13 pm

  Lancer bought brand new from a dealer. Ive had it for 4 years and the car is worth every penny I paid for it. Very economical, high clearance (yes, you can park close to the curb and not break the bumper!), decent trunk for the size, quality build vehicle. What I dont like is noise at high speeds and not the best MPs in its class(probably because of high clearance) - I was averaging 28/31 (EPA 28/34), tight pedal compartment, long working diapason of the clutch.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Mitsubishi Raider
  By Disappointed - June 9 - 3:43 pm

  I had always been an avid proponent of Nissan but thought this looked like a good deal. And it was for the first 2 years or so. Then it was one mechanical problem after another. First was the cam sensor. Replaced it twice. Then the catalytic converter broke and had to replace it. Then it wouldnt go into reverse and replaced the rear torque converter and other things. Then the front pump seal went. Thats when I called it quits. The worst part about it was I loved everything else about the truck. Even with the full warranty coverage I was tried of taking it in for repairs that took a minimum of 3 days and being left carless. So traded it in for a used Toyota 4runner.

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  Unreliable Transmission - 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Santha Perian - June 9 - 1:16 pm

  I bought this car brand new on 2001 valentines day. Drove 80K and sold it in 2007. Positive: fun to drive, stylish, V6 is really powerful. Negative: after 10K miles the heat wont work immediately (take 30 mins. This is bad during winter, especially living in NY), transmission problem after 75K (Costs $1200-$3500 depending upon the type of mechanic and new/old part used), there are minor electrical problems, mainly the headlight wont work every 6 months. The power steering takes larger curve. I could never make a smooth U turn in the last 7 years - it was always broken U turn.

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  Near-luxury - 2001 Mitsubishi Diamante
  By Steve Kowalski - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive had many Mitsubishi products, from Eclipse Spider to Galant; I thought Id step up to their idea of a luxury auto. Overall, I have not been disappointed, but there are some small things that would have gone a long way to filling in my ideal of a true luxury vehicle.

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  Nice Truck - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By joeveto - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I really like this truck. For what it is, fuel economy isnt bad. I get 18 city / 22 highway. The thing tows great. I tow both my Vettes and my smaller cars, through the hills of PA, with no issues at all. The truck looks really good. The styling is spot on. Surprisingly, I get as many compliments on this truck, as I do my cars. This truck is like an old shirt, faithful dog, good friend. I like it a lot, and I recommend it.

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  I love my Lancer! - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By lisnun - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Lancer in February of 2002. The reason for my low mileage is because I only drive it to and from work and occasionaly elsewhere. I love everything about it, except the fact that it is only a 2 cylinder. The "pickup" could be better only because it is very slow while going up hills. I have to get up to 45mph to get to 40 mph! That is the only thing I can say that I am not happy with. As far as everything else goes, I think it is an excellant car for me!!