10 Iconic Mitsubishis in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Mitsubishi is celebrating an important milestone this year: a century of building cars. And through sheer longevity if nothing else, this iconic carmaker is bound to have built some great ones over its 100-year history. It’s quite tough to narrow down the list to just 10, but someone’s got to do it. So without further ado, here are the 10 most iconic Mitsubishis ever sold in the Philippines.

1. Lancer “Box-Type”

No list of iconic Mitsubishis is complete without the seemingly immortal 1980-87 Lancer. Known by Filipinos as the “Box-Type” because of its square and angular shape, the clean and elegant design, plush ride, and choice of 1.4 or 1.6-liter engines, made it an instant hit. It also successfully cemented Mitsubishi’s reputation for building bulletproof cars. Today, it’s widely regarded as a classic and is a favorite among restorers and tuners alike.

2. Montero Sport

While the first-generation made-in-Japan Montero Sport lived under the shadow of its more illustrious Pajero sibling, the next two much more affordable Thailand-made generations brought acclaim and accolade to the three-diamond brand. It took the market by storm with its unmistakable sporty style, excellent driving dynamics, comfortable ride, and unbeatable value for money. It successfully ruled the fast-growing PPV (Pickup-based Passenger Vehicle) segment for a time. Today, the third-generation Montero Sport continues the tradition started by its predecessor not just by offering a unique style, but by packing a clean diesel engine, a segment exclusive 8-speed automatic, one of the most advanced 4WD systems available and MIVEC Clean Diesel, a world’s first.

3. Adventure

Born when Asian Utility Vehicles or AUVs were known more as beasts of burden, the Adventure rewrote the rules by offering a wide selection that encompassed everything from a simple workhorse to a well-appointed luxury family vehicle. Mitsubishi even offered a choice between a gasoline and diesel, automatic and manual transmission. In short, there was an Adventure for everyone. Although Mitsubishi has trimmed the line-up considerably today, it remains a strong seller particularly those looking for a no-nonsense family or light-duty passenger vehicle. Adventure was the model that made MMPC no. 1 automaker in 1998 beating chief rival Toyota.

4. L300

The L300 should be in the record books for being the longest running commercially available vehicle in the Philippines. It’s a modern-day classic that embodies the axiom: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” First introduced in the 1980s, the L300 first served Filipino families becoming the de facto “hatid-sundo” van for school kids. Then, it transformed itself into becoming the backbone of many SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) thanks to a variety of body styles available. Today, it’s one of three models being produced by Mitsubishi (together with the Mirage and Adventure) at its sprawling Santa Rosa, Laguna assembly plant.

5. Pajero

The original automotive status symbol, the Mitsubishi Pajero has been the go-to-SUV for the upwardly mobile. Though it’s more known globally for its uncompromising, go-anywhere capability (and Dakar Rally heritage), the Pajero made a name locally for being one of the first, if not the first luxury SUV. As each generation passed, it became more capable, more luxurious, and more advanced. No vehicle could conquer the jungle, concrete or otherwise as effortlessly as the Pajero.

6. L200/Strada

From its original alphanumeric nomenclature to its current nameplate of “Strada,” Mitsubishi’s pickup truck has captured the hearts and minds of Filipinos by being equal parts stylish, equal parts rugged. Apart from being fitted with a gutsy diesel motor and some of the world’s most advanced and best-performing 4WD systems, the Strada successfully rode the wave as it transformed itself from a purely utility vehicle to a lifestyle plaything.

7. Mirage

A nameplate that can be traced back to the early 1980s, this feisty hatchback brought in big numbers for Mitsubishi when it was reintroduced as their subcompact offering in November 2012. It quickly became one of the bestselling cars in the Philippines thanks to its efficient design and great value-for-money features. It also managed to scoop up numerous awards including being awarded as the Car of the Year – Philippines during its maiden year. Together with its sedan sibling, the Mirage G4 (introduced a year later), it continually redefined the small car segment and brought Mitsubishi to a younger set of new car buyers.

8. Lancer “Pizza Pie”

The second Lancer to appear in this list, the mid-1990’s Lancer is lovingly referred to by its nickname: “Pizza Pie” thanks to its triangular taillights. Fighting for compact car supremacy at the time, the Lancer brought a lot of technology to the masses such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and even a manu-matic gearbox. It also brought along with it a muscular engine, all-around independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. It was all the more iconic because it spawned a wickedly fast and equally outrageous turbocharged, all-wheel drive variant sold in small quantities locally: the Lancer Evolution.

9. Galant

As the first locally produced Mitsubishi model, the Colt Galant (as it’s known then) definitely deserves a spot in this list. As time when on, it produced other truly memorable models throughout its nine-generation history peaking with the sixth generation Galant GTi in the 1990s. It was that era’s sports sedan, packing a performance 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve motor that’s essentially an Evo motor sans turbo in an unapologetically eye-catching body style. Its successor, the curvy and rounded “Rayban” Galant (so-called because of its conjoined tail lamp) also introduced a free-revving 2.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine.

10. Eclipse

Named not just for the astronomical event, but also after an unbeaten 18th century English racehorse, the Eclipse was the stuff schoolboy dreams are made of. Though it sold in small numbers locally, the curvaceous, turbocharged coupe lit a fire in every budding car nut with its appearance in the original Fast and Furious film. Soon, everyone who had Brian O’ Connor (Paul Walker’s character) as their spirit animal wanted one with scissor doors, tribal graphics overlayed, and neon lights showing off the undercarriage.