The Surprising Secret Shared Between the Mitsubishi Evo and the Dodge Journey

Mitsubishi has an interesting history with the Evo (all that EVO VI stuff), and the Journey has a lot in common with that car (steering wheel, seats, etc). But today the companies are separate, so what’s going on with them? When Mitsubishi announced the Evo -VI, it introduced a new trim level: Limited. This trim comes with a bunch of features, but the most noteworthy is its price: $6,400. The Limited was a big deal—not only was it the most expensive trim, but it was also the most expensive car in the Evo lineup by quite some margin. Which is to say, it was a big deal.

Mitsubishi is one of those Japanese brands synonymous with quality engineering, design and engineering. They build some of the most exciting race cars in the world yet they are also responsible for some of the most boring cars you will ever see in the showroom. However, this is not the case for its Japanese competitors.

There’s a lot of talk about the Mitsubishi Evo being the spiritual successor to the Dodge Journey. Some say the Evo is the best performance sedan on the market; others say it’s the most powerful. Some call it the most advanced, others the quickest. Most of what we know about the Evo, we know because of the Journey.

The legendary Mitsubishi Evo is a polarizing piece of automotive history. The car has its characteristic weaknesses, but its fans are loyal to it. What does this sporty sedan have in common with a clunky SUV? Much more than it seems.

Mitsubishi has changed the game with the Lancer Evolution

word-image-12002 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images The first Mitsubishi Evolution hit the road in 1992. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Evo was fast. This car was known as a 303 hp lightning bolt. It was fun to ride and easy to push the limits. The Evos won the World Rally Championship from 1996 to 1999. American enthusiasts dreamed of the Evo model, which was not available in the American market until 2003. That same year, the car was featured in the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious, further cementing its legendary status. When buyers who had idealized the Evo in the 1990s began to disengage from the fast but hard and brutal car, sales plummeted. The market has adapted and is moving away from the fast and exciting car. It was a race car, not a family sedan.

Diamond-Star Motors was a historic joint venture

Mitsubishi and Chrysler entered into a business relationship in 1970, which resulted in the creation of Diamond-Star Motors. Under this name, the two car manufacturers jointly developed the GS platform. Four different brands of Cr have built models on this platform. Of all the cars that share a cabin, none is as different as the Mitsubishi Evolution and the Dodge Journey. One is a cheap SUV you can rent, and the other is a racing legend with an incredible pickup truck. Despite their opposites, both vehicles share the same GS platform. The Evo was compared to the STI with its communicative handling and quality all-wheel drive. The Dodge Journey is the most affordable SUV on the market. The Jeep Patriot and Compass are built on the GS platform, as are the Dodge Avenger, some Peugeots and some Citroens. Among all these models, the Mitsubishi Evolution stands out.

If the Mitsubishi Evo is fast and furious, the Dodge Journey is slow and complacent

word-image-4056 Dodge Journey SUV | Dodge Dodge stopped production of the Journey in 2024 after demand for the fuel-efficient SUV dropped. This seven-seater was extremely underpowered with a 172-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that Car and Driver called obsolete. The interior lacked quality materials. It has been criticized for looking like cheap plastic. If the Journey lacked refinement, it more than made up for it in practicality. The configurable interior was useful for carrying different loads. There is plenty of storage space in the second row and in the passenger seat trunk. The 2024 Dodge Journey starts at $25,170 and is available in two trim levels: SE Value and Crossroad. The Dodge Journey was seen by many drivers as a glorified minivan. The cheap interior, uncomfortable ride and slow acceleration gave a feeling of inferior quality. He differs as much as possible from the playful Evo, but there are many similarities in his structure. This platform is a striking reminder of how versatile the possibilities of design are. APPROPRIATE: 2015 Mitsubishi Evo Final Edition Review: The long goodbye

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