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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  Glad I Found This Car! - 2006 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Anna L - January 28 - 2:53 am

  I bought my car after trading in my horrific 05 Toyota Highlander. I was sure I was going to buy either a Ford Fusion or Honda Accord (never another Toyota). There happened to be a Mitsubishi dealer next to the Honda dealer, so I stopped in. I immediately fell in love with the looks of the Galant SE. I test drove it and also loved the comfort, handling, acceleration, and quality/design of the interior. Its very sporty compared to the Accord, and is every bit as good in quality. Also, its union made in the US by the UAW. This is important to our family. This car has top notch safety and reliability records, and the longest warranty in the market. The Fusions made in Mexico and wasnt as nice.

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  Very Satisfied - Great for Price - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By northsidefan - January 27 - 4:50 pm

  For the little extra money, it was worth upgrading to the SE model. The only feature that I wanted and was not included was a power moonroof. Otherwise, I am very happy with the purchase.

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  Best of Three Eclipses Ive Owned - 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Mitsuwomn - January 27 - 10:50 am

  Looks like a future car both interior and exterior. The V6 engine is quite powerful & the car handles great. It is much tighter than the 3g version. Its my every day driver and it makes my commute fun!

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  Galants are great! - 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Kay - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Since the purchase of my 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, I have had absolutely no major problems with it. I make sure it has its regular check- ups, and it has been good to me. My husband loves the power behind this vehicle. Looks are definitely deceiving! Its quiet, easy to maintain, and sporty. I have been searching for a family car, but havent found one that can match my Galant. I would have to go greatly out of my price range to get something in comparison.

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  Pretty good car - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Just4God - January 25 - 11:46 pm

  Over all this is a good car. I drove it for a little over 3 years when I traded it in for something larger. Very dependable.

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  Outlandish - 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By T.CAGLE - January 25 - 1:26 am

  I have only owned my 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander for a month, but I have been thrilled with it. It has quite a bit of pep and handles really well. I have been fairly pleased with the gas mileage. I am not disappointed with buying the vehicle I would recommend the Outlander to anyone looking to buy a small SUV. And it just looks tough!

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  Not a comfortable CAR - 2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Erica - January 24 - 11:33 pm

  Well, My husband traded my honda accord in for an Endeavor. They told me at the dealership that they will transfer my Sirius Radio into my new endeavor. They installed it only to find out that All I can hear it Static. Apparently they dont make a part that goes into the back of the radio to stop the interference with the radio. So I was pretty mad about that! Then I kept hearing the radio changing volumes, Like it was go in and out? It would drive me crazy. Next, I cant even keep a bottle of water in the cup holder without it flying all over the place. Its uncomfortable to drive. I just dont like it. Im sorry for all you endeavor lovers out there.

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  Mitsubishi has raised the bar - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By LuvMyOutlander - January 24 - 12:03 pm

  When I started shopping for a new car this fall, I never in a million years thought I would buy a Mitsubishi SUV. BUT... I did and I love it. Mitsubishi has raised the bar! This vehicle blows away anything else under $30,000. I wanted an Acura RDX, but couldnt swing the price. This truck gives me most of the features, almost the same performance and size at $10,000 less. I first read about about the new Outlander in InsideLine. I waited for a dealer to get one and then drove it. I loved it! I loved the features, the looks, the interior, everything! For a die-hard Honda/Acura guy like myself, the fact that I bought one, should tell you just how good it is.

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  2015 Mirage ES - 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By aschreffler75 - January 23 - 11:29 pm

  I have gotten 48 MPG as long as I stay at 55 mph or less. Dont use cruise control at freeway speeds 65+ mph or up mild to steep hills. The CVT transmission is like a slipping clutch and cruise control is not designed to handle this. It will reach RPMs over 4500 and kill your gas mileage instantly. The transmission itself can not handle 65+ mph. The gas mileage has been as low as 30 MPG at speeds of 65 mph. I should have bout the 5 speed. The Mirage is everything the Geo Metro should have been except that horrible CVT transmission. I dont know what kind of highways they test mileage on but even a level road at 65+ will not get you even in the 40s with or without cruise control.

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  Mitsi Outlander is a good choice! - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By suvluvr72 - January 23 - 10:00 am

  We intended on purchasing a Ford Escape. The salesman said we couldnt afford it, even w/2 trade-ins. We were disappointed. We liked & checked out the Honda CRV & Nissan Xterra. We took the Outlander for a 24hr test drive. It actually feet like a 6cyl! The exterior is similar to the Lexus RX300. I got used to the interior, not much to look at. We liked the Pontiac Vibes interior better, but it sounded like a wind-up toy. The Outlander has a nice amount of space. You dont see too many on the road. Purchased for $21,000 & 5,000 miles + warranties.