The Best Mitsubishi Station Wagons
Mitsubishi doesn’t currently produce station wagons, but they had three previously—the Diamante, Galant, and Lancer Sportback.
Written by Andrea Barrett
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
As of 2022, Mitsubishi no longer produces any station wagons, but the carmaker once did. The best Mitsubishi station wagons of yesteryear include the Diamante, Galant, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart, which were manufactured from 1993 to 2004.
Japanese cars have a longstanding tradition of being well-made and insanely reliable—and Mitsubishis are no different. With more than 100 years of automotive innovation under its belt, Mitsubishi Motors has produced compact cars, sedans, crossover SUVs, midsize SUVs, and station wagons.
The company has always been known for its groundbreaking performance technologies, and it created a few station wagons with great versatility, functionality, and the classic wagon feature—ample cargo space.
While the carmaker hopped off the station wagon train a couple decades ago, you can get all the Mitsubishi station wagon facts you need to know here from
Jerry
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Does Mitsubishi still make a station wagon?
No, Mitsubishi stopped production of station wagons in 2004, with the Lancer Sportback Ralliart rounding out the era of extended rooflines and additional cargo space. The automaker also produced two models before the Lancer—the
Mitsubishi Diamante
and Mitsubishi Galant
, which were discontinued in 1995 and 2003, respectively.While you may not be able to jump behind the wheel of a new Mitsubishi wagon, you may still get lucky and find a used version.
What’s the difference between a station wagon and a hatchback?
When it comes to vehicle body styles, there’s a lot of confusion between two similar styles: the station wagon and the hatchback. Key differences between the two bodies put them each in a class of their own.
Here are some of the defining differences between a station wagon and a hatchback:
- Longer body
- Longer passenger or cargo space
- D-pillar (generally included)
- Extended roofline (straight line the entire length of the vehicle)
- More cargo space
- Three sets of windows
But of course, there are similarities, too. Both styles have a two-box design: one area for passengers and one for cargo with rear door access. They also have flexible cargo capacity and a more comfortable platform than a truck frame.
For anyone looking to maximize cargo and passenger space, a station wagon wins against the hatchback, as hatchbacks lose the additional trunk space by prioritizing style over practicality. The hatchback's design sees the roofline dip immediately after the rear passenger doors, thereby reducing the cargo space in the trunk.
But because the wagon's D-pillar is pushed back, the vehicle is longer and creates a sharper rear slope that allows for more cargo space. And if you’re lucky, specific wagon models even come with a third row of seats!
Who needs a minivan when you can have a wagon?
MORE: The top 10 best station wagons
The best Mitsubishi station wagons of all time
Mitsubishi Diamante Station Wagon
Production years: 1993 to 1995
Price range: $436 to $1,221
Cargo volume: Up to 72.1 cubic feet
Worst year: N/A
The Mitsubishi Diamante wasn’t always a wagon—it started in 1992 as a sedan and became available in a wagon the following year. Customers had minimal choices when it came to features, because the first-generation Diamante was imported from Japan and Australia to the United States.
All Diamantes came with an automatic transmission and 3.0L V6 engine. However, base trims used the SOHC 6G72 engine with 175 horsepower, while the upgraded LS model used the DOHC engine with a more mighty 202 horsepower, taking the Diamante from 0 to 60 mph in just 9.2 seconds.
Both trim levels of the Diamante came with a good selection of standard features, but to upgrade to features like cruise control, alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a sunroof, and ABS braking meant upgrading to the LS model. The second-generation Diamante saw only a single upgrade from the previous generation—smoother, more refined tail lamps and a modern steering wheel.
Mitsubishi Galant Station Wagon
Production years: 1997 to 2003
Price range: N/A
Cargo volume: Up to 49.4 cubic feet
Worst year: 1999
Mitsubishi dropped its hatchback in 1997 to introduce the eighth-generation Galant Station Wagon. While the Galant had previously been available in only a sedan or hatchback, increasing demand for family vehicles led Mitsubishi to produce the last of its midsize-segment vehicles.
The Galant had an aggressive appearance for a humble, family-friendly station wagon with narrow headlights, corner-mounted signals, anda wrap-around front bumper.
In the front, the Galant featured a shark-nose design, sporting a trapezoidal grille with chromed trim. The Galant also had raked-forward rear windows behind the C-pillars—a classic feature of the wagon—along with a tilted tailgate.
The Galant comfortably seated five with ample cargo space behind the second row of seats. When the rear bench collapsed, there was a whopping 49.4 cubic feet of storage.
Under the hood, the Galant featured a gas-powered engine with anywhere from 136 horsepower to 163 horsepower, and select markets also had access to a turbo-diesel version with 90 horsepower.
Lancer Sportback Ralliart
Production years: 2004
Price range: N/A
Cargo volume: Up to 60.7 cubic feet
Worst year: N/A
If you were lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a new limited-production Lancer Sportback Ralliart, you’re one of only a few hundred. The first-generation Lancer was on the market for just four years and was always advertised as Mitsubishi’s most-competitive compact car (even though the Evolution was the most desirable performance car).
But most people weren’t aware that the Lancer offered something even better—a sport wagon rendition, which might have been the best-looking wagon available at the time.
The
Lancer Ralliart
was one of the available trims on the Lancer Sportback wagon and was more popular than the other trim. It was powered by a turbocharged 1.8L GDI engine with 162 horsepower—just two horses more than the base trim—and a stiffer suspension that lowered the car to improve handling. More than its solid lineup of features, the Mitsubishi Ralliart just looked cool. It sported a super boxy shape that meant ample room for passengers and cargo, tall taillights that extended from the rear bumper to the roof, and unique colors that made it stand out from any other vehicle on the road.
But one thing made the Lancer Sportback Ralliart flop—the four-speed automatic engine. With a car as cool as it was, it should’ve rocked a five-speed manual, which no other wagon had. Because of this, just two years after its introduction, the Ralliart slipped away, never to return to Mitsubishi’s lineup.
How to save money on Mitsubishi insurance
Although Mitsubishi’s station wagons didn’t stick around for long, they offered good performance and excellent versatility for the price. When you can find cheap
car insurance
to go along with your wagon, you can make the most out of your dime. As the No.1-rated car insurance app,
Jerry
scans over 50 top insurers to find you the best deal. Whether you’re behind the wheel of the newest Mitsubishi crossover or the old-school Ralliart, shopping for insurance with Jerry guarantees you the best rate and the most savings. Sign up in less than 45 seconds to browse through a list of customized quotes. Once you find the right one, one of our experts will walk you through the sign-up process and help you cancel your existing policy. Jerry users save an average of $800+ on car insurance a year.
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