Before the first Mitsubishis appeared on U.S. highways in 1982, the Japanese automaker had already been supplying its subcompact Colts to Dodge and Plymouth for a decade. Prior to that, the Japanese conglomerate's long history included ships, aircraft, scooters, trikes, some passenger cars in the 1960s, and some licensed Kaisers and Jeeps.
Mitsubishi has tended to position itself as a value-oriented brand. In the '70s and '80s, this meant simple, lightweight econoboxes similar to what was being produced by Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda. Through the '90s, a number of successful sports cars infused the brand with some measure of performance cache. Today, Mitsubishis offer reliable, comfortable, nicely equipped, sporty cars at comparatively low price points.
Three cars were imported in 1982: the Tredia sedan, the Cordia coupe, and the turbocharged Starion sports car. All three models would be retired in... View more 1990, though the Starion today enjoys the support of Japanese nostalgic enthusiasts today. A re-badged Starion called the Chrysler Conquest was also available.
Mitsubishi offers three SUVs: The crossover Outlander (available in the U.S. since 2005), the Outlander Sport, and the mid-sized, off-road-capable Endeavor. The Outlander Sport is the entry-level SUV, at $18,495 (available with all-wheel drive for $22,995). Mitsubishi has focused on fuel efficiency as the prime selling point for all its SUVs, as opposed to highlighting the off-road legacy of its long-running Montero. In addition to being a commercial success, the Montero has also been a success in competition, having won the Paris-Dakar Rally more times than any other in its class. Outside the U.S., the Montero remains in production, known as the Pajero.
The Mitsubishi Galant is now in its ninth generation, since beginning production in Japan in 1969. Americans were introduced to the Galant name in 1987, though the model itself had previously been imported as a Colt. The Galant earned Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year award for 1989. Originally a subcompact, the car has grown in size and features, and is now classified as a mid-sized. Since 2004, Galants have been produced at Mitsubishi's plant in Normal, Illinois.
The Eclipse sports car, produced since 1990, is Mitsubishi's only coupe. It is also available as a convertible "Spyder".
The 3000gt was an important bullet point in the Mitsubishi high-performance timeline, produced 1990 to 2001. Performance features included four-wheel steering, full-time four-wheel drive, and adjustable suspension, and automatically adjusting spoilers.
Another long-running Mitsubishi is the Lancer, in production since 1973. The sporty compact is the entry-level car, available as a four-door sedan or five-door "Sportback" wagon. The performance-tuned and -equipped version called the Lancer Evolution has a reputation as a street and rally racer and is Mitsubishi's most expensive model at $33,995. The Evolution (or "Evo", as it is also known) has been available in the U.S. since 2003. View less
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a four-person sports car sold as a coupe or Spyder convertible. It has front engine placement and front-wheel drive. The Eclipse is one of the last survivors in the inexpensive sports...
The Mitsubishi Endeavor is a mid-size crossover sold only as a five-door SUV. It has a front engine design with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive. Although Mitsubishi had high hopes for the crossover,...
The Galant is one of Mitsubishi's longest- and best-selling vehicles in its lineup since its introduction to the market in 1969. In its 42-year history the Galant has evolved generation after generation,...
The Mitsubishi Lancer is a compact car sold as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. The Lancer pairs front engine placement with front-wheel or four-wheel drive. Keeping with the Lancer's...
For more than a decade, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been meeting and exceeding driver expectations. The nimble compact crossover SUV manages to fit a whole lot of storage space into a deftly sleek package....
