Mitsubishi models

Mitsubishi Motors became its own company in 1970, spun out of the sprawling Mitsubishi industrial group that traces back to the 1870s. Based in Tokyo, it carried the heavy-industry DNA of its parent into cars built to take abuse rather than to pamper.

That shows up most in the off-roaders. The Pajero won the Dakar Rally more times than any other vehicle, and the Triton pickup and Outlander built a reputation for toughness in hard conditions. Mitsubishi was also an early mover on plug-in hybrids, with the Outlander PHEV arriving while most rivals were still arguing about whether buyers wanted them.

In Southeast Asia and other emerging markets, that durable, no-nonsense character is exactly the point. The Xpander has become a genuine bestseller as an affordable seven-seater for families, and the Triton and Pajero Sport hold up on rough roads. Mitsubishi is no longer chasing the whole market, and its range is narrower than it once was. But for buyers who want practical, hard-wearing vehicles at a fair price, it knows its lane and stays in it.