How many different Mitsubishi models are there?

Mitsubishi's lineup spans 81 models across their entire history. You've got everything from compact city cars like the i and eK Active to serious off-roaders like the Pajero iO and Outlander. Their sedan range includes the Lancer Ralliart and Mirage, while SUVs dominate their modern strategy. That's a lot of ground covered.

When was Mitsubishi founded?

Mitsubishi started in 1917 as an automotive division of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries conglomerate. They weren't some scrappy startup — they were backed by one of Japan's biggest industrial powers. That foundation shaped everything. Early on, they built trucks and buses. Cars came later. By the 1960s, they were serious contenders.

What's Mitsubishi's signature technology?

All-wheel drive systems, honestly. Mitsubishi perfected AWD before most competitors took it seriously. Their MIVEC variable valve timing and turbocharging tech gave them rally dominance. But if you want one signature thing? It's the Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system. Precision handling. That's their DNA.

Does Mitsubishi make electric vehicles?

Yes, but they're not leading the EV charge like Tesla or traditional automakers. The i-MiEV was their early electric attempt — decent for its time, limited range. They're slower to embrace full electrification than competitors. Their focus lately is plug-in hybrids. Practical? Sure. Exciting? Not really.

What's Mitsubishi's most popular model?

The Outlander, hands down. It's their modern workhorse — affordable SUV that does everything competently. Before that? The Lancer dominated for decades, especially the Ralliart version. But today's market wants SUVs, and the Outlander delivers. Reliable, practical, not fancy. That's what sells.

Mitsubishi – Technical Data & Specifications

Power from

Acceleration from

Year from

Price from

Mitsubishi

Founded

1917-07-09

Founder

Yataro Iwasaki

Country of origin

Japan

Headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

Group

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Models in the Catalog

Annual production

~1.2 million vehicles

A zaibatsu. That's what Mitsubishi was when it started in 1917 — a sprawling industrial conglomerate with fingers in everything from banking to mining to shipbuilding. The automotive division? Just one small piece of a massive empire. But here's the thing: they approached car-making the same way they approached everything else — with obsessive engineering precision and zero tolerance for shortcuts. Founded in Tokyo by the Iwasaki family, Mitsubishi Motors didn't actually split off as its own entity until much later. The company built trucks first. Military vehicles during wartime. Then, when the dust settled after 1945, they had to rebuild from rubble like everyone else in Japan.

What separated Mitsubishi from Honda or Toyota early on? They never chased volume the way others did. Instead, they built performance machines and practical workhorses with equal obsession. The Lancer Ralliart became a rallying legend. The Starion challenged Porsche 944s in the 1980s. And the Pajero iO proved they understood off-road capability at a level most competitors couldn't match. They pioneered MIVEC variable valve timing. Developed early hybrid systems. Pushed all-wheel-drive technology that influenced the entire industry. Eighty-one models in our catalog spanning seven decades — that's not accident. That's deliberation.

Today's lineup reflects that split personality perfectly. Browse their sedans and you'll find practical, honest transportation. Check the SUVs and the engineering gets serious. The electric lineup shows they're serious about the future too. Underrated? Absolutely. But that's Mitsubishi — they'd rather build great cars than shout about building them.

All Mitsubishi Models

History

Mitsubishi started in 1917 as an aircraft manufacturer. Founder Yataro Iwasaki built the company on a simple principle: precision engineering, no shortcuts. Tokyo was the birthplace of what would become one of Japan's industrial giants. Why aircraft first? Because that's where the money and innovation were. The company proved itself immediately by designing Japan's first successful fighter plane — the A6M Zero became legendary in World War II. But that's getting ahead of ourselves.

After the war, everything collapsed. Occupation forces dismantled the company. The factories were seized, the reputation was toxic, and Yataro's vision seemed dead. Mitsubishi regrouped in 1950 when restrictions lifted, starting with marine engines and industrial machinery. Sound humble? It was survival. The 500 arrived in 1960 — a tiny 500cc car that proved Mitsubishi could build automobiles, not just engines. Nobody expected much. It sold anyway. The company was learning to walk again in a completely different industry.

Then came the Lancer Ralliart. Changed everything. Starting in 1973, this compact sedan became Mitsubishi's calling card in international rallying — absolutely dominant through the 1970s and beyond. The company went from rebuilding scraps to winning world championships. That victory bred confidence. It bred innovation. By the 1980s, Mitsubishi wasn't just competing anymore — they were defining what Japanese cars could do. The Starion turbocharged coupe launched in 1982, bringing aggressive styling and genuine performance to buyers who couldn't afford Porsche. Here's the thing: they made people believe Japanese engineering could match European sports cars. That single model shifted the entire market's perception.

The 1990s brought SUV dominance. The Pajero iO and Outlander became household names across continents. Mitsubishi understood something competitors missed: buyers wanted practicality wrapped in adventure. The Delica D:3 redefined what a family van could be. Meanwhile, the Mirage kept budget buyers happy with no-nonsense reliability. Expansion wasn't reckless — it was strategic. Each model filled a specific gap. Each one worked.

Modern Mitsubishi faces the same question every automaker does: electric or extinct? The company's electric lineup shows they're taking it seriously. From aircraft to rally champions to SUV kings to EV makers — that's quite a journey. Not every company survives that many reinventions. Mitsubishi did.

The Mitsubishi Story Isn't Over

Mitsubishi built an empire on doing things differently — whether it was conquering deserts with the Pajero, or reinventing what a compact car could be. They've stumbled. They've recovered. They've made brilliant decisions and head-scratching ones, which honestly makes them more interesting than most brands. With 81 models spanning everything from practical sedans to serious SUVs to emerging electric vehicles, there's more to come. The question isn't whether Mitsubishi matters — it's what they'll do next.

Mitsubishi Model Categories

Sedans & Sportbacks

From compact 500, Aspire, Attrage, Carisma, Debonair, Diamante – elegant design with cutting-edge technology.

View all sedans →

SUVs & Crossovers

Versatile SUV family: ASX, Airtrek, Challenger, Eclipse Cross, Endeavor, Jeep J. All with optional all-wheel drive.

View all SUVs →

Sports Cars & Coupes

Sporty icons: 3000 GT, Eclipse, FTO, GTO, Galant, Lancer. High-performance models for maximum driving pleasure.

View all sports cars →

Electric Vehicles

Future of mobility: Minicab, i-MiEV with up to 600 km range.

View all electric cars →

Technical overview of Mitsubishi models

Segment	Models	Performance	Drive	Features
Segment Minivan	Models Delica, Delica D:3, Delica D:5, Freeca, Grandis, L300, L400, Savrin, Space Gear	Performance 58 - 185 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD, FWD	Features -
Segment Van	Models L300	Performance 70 - 115 PS	Drive RWD, 4x4	Features -
Segment Mini 5 doors	Models Colt, Dingo, Minica, Toppo, i, i-MiEV	Performance 33 - 163 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD, FWD	Features -
Segment Compact van	Models Chariot, Delica D:2, Dion, RVR, Space Runner, Space Star, Space Wagon, Toppo	Performance 50 - 250 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD	Features -
Segment Microvan	Models Bravo, Delica D:2, Minicab, Town Box, eK Active, eK Classy, eK Custom, eK Space, eK Sport, eK Wagon	Performance 41 - 91 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD, RWD	Features -
Segment Sedan	Models Aspire, Attrage, Carisma, Debonair, Diamante, Dignity, Emeraude, Eterna, Galant, Galant Fortis, Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Lancer Ralliart, Mirage, Proudia, Sapporo, Sigma, Tredia	Performance 54 - 333 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4, RWD	Features -
Segment Hatchback 3 door	Models Cordia, Lancer, Mirage, Starion	Performance 67 - 180 PS	Drive RWD, FWD, 4x4	Features -
Segment Suv 5 doors	Models ASX, Airtrek, Challenger, Eclipse Cross, Endeavor, Montero, Montero Sport, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Pinin, Pajero Sport, Pajero iO, RVR, Xpander	Performance 84 - 288 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD, FWD	Features -
Segment Sedan 2 doors	Models 500	Performance 21 PS	Drive RWD	Features -
Segment Estate 5 door	Models Colt, Diamante, Galant, Lancer, Lancer Cargo, Lancer Evolution, Lancer Ralliart, Legnum, Libero, Sigma	Performance 58 - 280 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4, RWD	Features -
Segment Hatchback 5 door	Models Carisma, Eterna, Galant, Galant Fortis, Lancer, Lancer Ralliart, Mirage, Space Star	Performance 60 - 241 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD	Features -
Segment Mini 3 doors	Models Celeste, Colt, Minica, Pistachio, Toppo	Performance 31 - 160 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD, RWD	Features -
Segment Suv 3 doors	Models Jeep J, Montero, Pajero, Pajero Junior, Pajero Mini, Pajero Pinin, Pajero iO	Performance 52 - 288 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD	Features -
Segment Liftback	Models Mirage	Performance 84 PS	Drive FWD	Features -
Segment Coupe	Models 3000 GT, Eclipse, FTO, GTO, Galant, Lancer, Mirage, Sapporo	Performance 70 - 324 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4, RWD	Features -
Segment Cabrio	Models 3000 GT, Colt, Eclipse	Performance 109 - 320 PS	Drive FWD	Features -
Segment Sedan hardtop	Models Eterna	Performance 76 - 160 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4	Features -
Segment Targa	Models RVR	Performance 160 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD	Features -
Segment Suv cabriolet	Models Pajero	Performance 84 - 150 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD	Features -
Segment Pickup single cab	Models L200, Raider, Triton	Performance 65 - 145 PS	Drive RWD, 4x4	Features -
Segment Pickup double cab	Models L200, Raider, Strada, Triton	Performance 68 - 210 PS	Drive RWD, 4x4	Features -
Segment Pickup 1.5 cab	Models L200	Performance 75 - 181 PS	Drive 4x4, RWD	Features -

Frequently asked questions about Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi's got 81 models in their catalog — spanning decades of production. Yep, that's a lot. You'll find everything from the tiny i and eK Active for city driving to serious machines like the Outlander and Pajero iO. Their sedan lineup includes the Lancer Ralliart and Mirage, while their SUV range is where they've focused lately. That's serious coverage.

Mitsubishi Motors launched in 1917 — but here's the thing, they weren't starting from nothing. They spun out of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of Japan's massive zaibatsu conglomerates. That kind of backing matters. They started with trucks and buses, not passenger cars. Smart move, honestly. By the 1960s, they'd built enough expertise to take on the passenger car market seriously. The Lancer line eventually became their calling card. Over a century later, they're still going. Not bad for a company that could've disappeared during Japan's post-war collapse.

All-wheel drive. That's it. That's the signature. Mitsubishi didn't invent AWD, but they perfected it when everyone else was skeptical. Their Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system — found on the Outlander and other models — actively distributes torque to individual wheels for precision handling that's genuinely impressive. Add their MIVEC variable valve timing and turbocharging expertise, and you've got a company that knows performance. The Lancer Ralliart proved it on stages worldwide. That's not marketing fluff — that's real engineering DNA.

They do, but don't expect them to dominate the EV market. Mitsubishi's been cautious with electrification — the i-MiEV was their early shot, and it was decent for the era but limited. These days, they're leaning into plug-in hybrids rather than full electric. Check their electric lineup if you're interested. The strategy makes sense for their market positioning — they're targeting practical buyers, not early adopters chasing cutting-edge specs. Honest approach, even if it's not flashy.

The Outlander is their current juggernaut. It's everything Mitsubishi does well — affordable, practical, reliable. Not glamorous, but it works. Globally, it's their volume leader by a huge margin. Before the SUV boom took over, the Lancer Ralliart was the star — especially in rally circles and enthusiast circles. That car had personality. The Mirage also moves serious numbers in budget-conscious markets. But if you're asking what keeps Mitsubishi profitable today? It's the Outlander. Safe bet every time.

Last updated

2026-02-22

Source

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (official), Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Wikipedia, National Police Agency of Japan - Vehicle Registration Division, Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)

All technical data is taken from official manufacturer specifications and is regularly updated.