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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  Great deal for its cost!!! - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jnpchad - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for a short time but it is truly fun to drive. Its a smooth ride and very comfortable to sit in and drive. For the cost of this car you really get more than what you pay for. Prior to this car I had a Ford Expedition which I LOVED....I am just as happy with this car with the exception of the 4 cyl. engine...I am use to a V8 so this is quite a difference. But overall, I am very happy about the quality and comfort of this vehicle for its cost.

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  Best car for the money - 2003 Mitsubishi Galant
  By gt7318d - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased the car last weekend, and am loving it so much. I have so much fun with the V6 engine. The car is on the go with just a tap on the gas pedal. It drives like a dream. The car is very quiet. The stereo sounds good. The seats are comfortable and spacious. Plus, I was treated very well in Carmax. With the $2500 cash incentive, it is about $5000 less than a comparible Camry, and even more compared to Accord. It is the best you can get for the money.

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  2001 Montero Sport XS - 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By grapesmuggler - September 23 - 3:53 pm

  It sounds like people have had a lot of issues with their Montero Sports...I have not. I am now up to 170,000 miles and have only done standard maintenace repairs. It has been an extremely reliable vehicle.

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  Suprised and Pleased - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By Mark - September 19 - 2:16 pm

  My wife and I were searching for a sporty car that gets decent gas milage at an affordable price. The 07 Eclipse fits the bill very nicely. We love the "new" body styling. It had always been my dream to own a Porsche 911 someday. But lets face it, the average person will never be able to afford that. You can get a similar look for 1/4 of the price with the new Eclipse. The performance of the 4-cylinder engine is really suprising. It has plenty of power for the average driver. We took it for a 150 miles trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway this past weekend, and it ran and handled like a dream. I am 6 3" and weigh 220 at 52 yrs old. I can get in and out of the car with no problems.

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  Smooth to drive, really a sport feeling. - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By Jon Pogi - September 13 - 11:56 am

  I got this last Nov and when I got it there is a small dent and the dealer was aware about it and verbally they told me that they will fix it and even give me a loaner car. Now they are giving me a hard time to have it fixed and the 6 CD is missing not even there. The specs on the paper, 6CD/MP3 is the deck w/ navigation.

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  What a ride - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By What a ride - September 12 - 11:13 pm

  When I started looking for a new car I wasnt sure what I wanted. I drove the corolla, the sentra, and this little baby. I knew that I wanted a strippo to get the price down and I was blown away with this car. Its relatively quiet, it has a fair amount of power and never feels slow on its feet. The thing that sold the car for me was the ride. Its never choppy and I could relate it more to a big car then anything else in its class. The clutch and the transmission is very smooth and easy to operate and to me feels like a manual transmission should. Being that I do live in the midwest I did have to pay the extra money for the A/C which was well worth it. Give it shot.

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  Whats Up with the "Pros" - 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  By JohnAZ - September 12 - 11:03 pm

  I dont understand the poor reviews of this vehicle by the so-called experts. I drove several cars (Mustangs (2), Miatas (2), Honda Civic Si, RX-8, Solstice, Corvettes (2)). While this car is no Corvette (frankly the Corvettes were too much car for me), it is a lot of fun to drive. In fact, given legal speed limits, I would say it allows one to jump on the gas and still remain at reasonable speeds, i.e., you can actually utilize what the car offers. And, I liked it much better than the Honda Civic Si - which all the "experts" rave about. If youre looking for a reasonably priced car, and dont plan on limiting your driving to pushing the car to the max on an oval, its worth trying.

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  Mitsu got it right! - 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
  By koolcisco - September 10 - 7:46 am

  Test drove the Mazda 3, Civic Ex and the lancer by far the Lancer was a funner ride and beats the others in styling and buck for the money. I bought the Lancer Es Manual Tech and Appearance pkg it was just funner than the CVT even with those cool paddle shifters. So far the cars been great sure we all want more power but for the money I think its pretty peppy of course low end torque could get more work but satisfied overall. Cant wait for all the upgrades since its the same engine as the Evo yay!

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  Excellent - 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
  By VICKI - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Drives very well-I just love this SUV!

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  Mitsubishi Endeavor - 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor
  By Ed Curtsinger - September 8 - 10:00 am

  The only two pitfalls are with the use of premium gas, and when you try to ride with the rear windows down, at a speed above 35-40, strong vibration like wind sound which is annoying, makes it almost impossible to enjoy the ride. Other than that, WE LOVE THIS VEHICLE!