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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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Stephen R - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This has been my first SUVs and after lookng at several this one suited my needs in terms of having a good amount of space and not spending the money for an Escalade or Navigator. It is a very comftorable ride and isnt as bad on gas as some other larger SUVs. I am a little dissapointed in the overall handling for highway driving and I think they could improve the 3rd row seating.

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  Mostly Happy So Far - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Jim F. - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The buying experience was excellent compared to five new purchases in the past from other dealerships. The Endeavor has met all of our expectations with the exception of mileage. The ride is excellent.

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  DONT BUY IT!!!! - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By RichardK84 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  In March of 03 I bought a new Eclipse GTS coupe. After the fact, I come to find that the delership screwed me on my purchase order and incresed my intrest rate by over 2 points. This is a common practice however the rate I was quoted then got the 2 point hold tacked on after the contract negotiation. As far as the vehicle is concerned, the doors consistently sag I have had them adjusted 3 times, the service engine light continually comes on even though I have it maintained my Mitsus service schedule. The vehicle is a horrible choice considering Ive had it 5 months and it is worth LESS THAN 50% of what I payed for it. If you are intrigued by this vehicle think twice.

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  Mirage review - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rasid - August 5 - 11:33 pm

  I have had this car for over 4 years. It has always been reliable to me, getting about 30-35 mpg, even with aftermarket wheels that weigh about 3x more than the stock ones. The 5 speed manual shifts very smoothly and has some get up and go to it, and handles corners fairly well. The stock sound system is decent enough to the average driver. The interior cloth pattern is unique, but nothing special. The back seats are better suited for small children as they are compact. The instrument panel is easy to read, but most mirages dont come with a tachometer. Over all it is a reliable, fun, and has a great fuel economy.

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  Ralliart Experence - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Bob - August 4 - 4:36 pm

  I have had this car since June of 09 and drove for about 13,000 miles B 4 selling it. I do think it is important to give a review after having a car for awhile to get to know it. The Ralliart for the money was a good car. Built like a tank, quick, agile, and had good looks. It felt like you were driving around in a shell, road noise permeated the cabin, stock tires were very poor. The car improved greatly when they were replaced with Toyo T1Rs. Handling and road noise were greatly reduced. Good car for the money but needs some refinements. Happy with it overall.

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  great car for price - 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By sherri - July 31 - 2:00 am

  grest little car, good for city driving as well as highway. cute design teenagers love it

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  Headache-free Car - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By donald72 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  This car is very reliable. Its drive- and-go, worry-free. No breakdowns going almost 2 years now, factoring in reasonable maintenance. Power is not so good, wont make you grin on green lights. When it comes to uphill climbs its hearty torque shows, thats where it more than makes up for its inadequate horsepower. Ergo: slow on flat roads but nimble on uphill climbs. The car is rigidly built. Thats why it weighs around 400 lbs. more than your Corolla or Civic due to more metals used.

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  Red Beauty - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By richgroh - July 21 - 10:07 pm

  This was my first car and have owned it for over 3 years.Bought it at 104k and it i now at 145k. Only problem ive had so far was the a/c compressor went out at 110k but you have to expect things to break with this many miles. I has been totaled 3 times and still runs like a champ. Besides routine maintenance and the a/c compressor it has been very reliable so far. I am a delivery driver and my other job is a long commute so alot of those miles were hard on it and i also have a pretty heavy foot. I average around 22mpg which is good considering my lead foot and it is alot of stop and go traffic on long island plus it is also an automatic.

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  mitsubishi 98 eclispse RS - 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By jay bird - July 21 - 10:00 am

  good reliable car, keep the oil change going, spark plugs go out real fast when it gets old, turning angle is not good

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  Mixed bag - 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By PTS - July 15 - 2:10 am

  I bought mine in 2003. I was torn between the Eclipse GT and the Acura RSX Type S. I chose the Eclipse because money was an issue as I was fresh out of college and Mitsubishi was offering zero payments for a year and a lower APR than Acura thereafter. Plus the RSX was in its first run while this model of Eclipse was in its second. I figured Mitsubishi would have worked out some kinks by the second generation of that model. Overall I have been pretty pleased by the performance and mechanical build of the engine and drivetrain. I have issues however with the shoddy plastic quality of the dash, doors, trunk lining, etc. The interior is a synch to scratch with keys, luggage & other cargo.