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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  One Fun SUV - 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Mitsu fan - December 1 - 8:13 am

  I bought this truck when my cute old Mitsubishi Mirage coupe got totalled in an accident in 2005. I was a Mitsubishi fan due to the fact that I never had a single issue with my 1997 Mirage for eight years, and this vehicle has reinforced my liking of Mitsubishi. My wife drives a Honda-CRV, and the Outlander definitely feels roomier in comparison when I drive (I am 6 feet tall). Add to that the 5 year/60000 mile warranty and an unbelievable price when I bought it (about $6,000 below sticker) and I was sold immediately.

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  I like my Galant - 2009 Mitsubishi Galant
  By Julie - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I really like my 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. I have been driving it for a little over a month, and have no complaints. It had 29,000 miles on it when I bought, and now has 31,000 miles on it. I was driving a 1986 Lincoln town car, so it is a new experience. Other than feeling every little bump on the road, compared to the smooth ride of the Lincoln, it is a dream. The pick-up (acceleration) getting on the freeway is great, even before its completely warmed up. The rear window defogger works pretty fast. The defrost works good, and the air-conditioning will freeze you out of there. The stereo system is good, with a nice cd player and radio, and the handling is good. I wouldnt trade it.

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  Drive if you Crave Attention - 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By Michael1234 - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Great Car, Drives Good, Performs Well, and Gets Lots of Attention

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  King of the Road - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero
  By Golf - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Exceptional vehicle. Trouble free with 109,000 miles. Never changed the tires. I can,t believe how great this vehicle is. I keep the oil change and it keeps on gettin. No electrical issues. No turn overs here and i really put it to the test.

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  SHARP LOOKING CAR - 2002 Mitsubishi Galant
  By FRANK LANZA - November 26 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS MY FIRST GALANT,THE 4CYL IS FAST,SHOULD HAVE MOVE THE CUP HOLDERS.

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  Drive this car. - 2004 Mitsubishi Galant
  By EBW - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Excellent. Had the car five days and I love it. Great road feel, lots of interior room, strong 4 cylinder, very smooth automatic, tight build quality, attractive and "user friendly" controls, map lights, keyless entry, power everything, adjustable driver seat height, four wheel disk brakes. Spacious and comfortable back seats with cupholder armrests. Great sound system, "Ice Blue" dash lighting very easy on the eyes and contrasts well with orange indicators. The people at Kevin Day Mitsubishi were great, low pressure, friendly, and professional.

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  Best SUV on the road - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By marie - November 22 - 12:03 pm

  I purchased the Monterro Sport ES in 2004 and have been very impressed approaching 40,000 miles. For an SUV of this size, the fuel economy cant be beat. 20 MPG is what I have been averaging after I put 8,000 miles on it. The a/c is ice cold, engine is reliable, rides quite, and is also has a rugged feel. Well worth the money!

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  Great Value, best used SUV around!! - 2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By bobcat57 - November 19 - 5:59 pm

  Just purchased it, much better deal than 2007 Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. Rapid depreciation in firts three years but holds up welll after. Top notch reliability, comfort and build quality.

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  Mitsubishi Lancer O-Z Rally - 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By steve-o - November 19 - 4:46 pm

  This car has great handling, fun to drive. I beat the heck out of this thing, taking hard bumps, flying over train tracks, fast turns, and it takes it all in stride. The intererior is great. With a little wax the paint still looks amazing. It gets good gas mileage, so far not a single problem.

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  Great Vehicle for the Price - 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Love It - November 16 - 2:23 pm

  We have had our Outlander about three months now and love it. My husband comes home with a smile on his face after driving around in his Outlander all day. We looked at the RAV4 - too expensive with the V6, the CR-V - didnt have enough power, and the Jeep Compass - just not what we were looking for.