Introduced for the 1971 model year, this nameplate was Chrysler’s early answer to the growing U.S. subcompact market and was sold through Dodge as a captive import from Mitsubishi. The first versions were closely tied to Mitsubishi’s smaller Japanese-market cars, giving the brand an economical, fuel-conscious offering at a time when Dodge’s lineup was otherwise dominated by larger domestic models. Over time, the car evolved through several distinct eras while staying true to the same basic mission: affordable compact transportation with simple, practical packaging.
The earliest cars were rear-wheel-drive designs, but the nameplate is best remembered for its later front-wheel-drive generations, which brought the car in line with the increasingly important small-car segment of the late 1970s and 1980s. Body styles varied widely across the run, including sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, wagons and related van/wagon derivatives, and the model often served as Dodge’s entry-level import alternative. That flexibility helped the badge survive longer than many of its contemporaries and made it a familiar sight for buyers looking for an inexpensive commuter or first car.
By the early 1990s, the car had become one of the final long-running Chrysler-era Mitsubishi-based compacts sold under the Dodge banner. Production ended after the 1994 model year, with the Dodge/Plymouth Neon arriving as the next-generation small-car replacement. Today, the nameplate is remembered as an important example of the Japanese-American partnership era that helped fill gaps in Dodge’s showroom during the fuel-economy era and beyond.