2023 Mitsubishi Mirage

Overview

There aren’t very many vehicles left with MSRPs below $20,000, let alone ones that offer a 10-year warranty. Fortunately for buyers on the hunt for bargain-priced transportation, Mitsubishi offers the subcompact Mirage, which starts under $18,000. In addition to its price tag and lengthy warranty coverage, the little Japanese hatchback also offers more cargo room than one might expect as well as exceptional fuel economy. The EPA rates it at 36 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway. While its small three-cylinder engine excels at fuel efficiency, we found it nearly absent of power, buzzingly unrefined, and painfully poky. Aside from these four attributes—price, warranty, fuel economy, and surprising cargo room—the Mirage isn’t able to satisfy any of your higher-level wants in terms of amenities or driving fun. It’s not a bad car, just a simple one.

What’s New for 2023?

The most notable change to the Mirage for the 2023 model year is the deletion of the five-speed manual transmission. The move means a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is now standard on every Mirage. The only other change is the addition of a black roof option, which is only available on select trim levels.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

If you’re considering the Mirage, we’re guessing your intention is to make a car purchase that doesn’t put too large a dent in your pocketbook. With this in mind, we’d recommend sticking with the base ES model as spending more on a costlier trim puts the Mirage in contention with a host of better choices.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

All Mitsubishi Mirage hatchbacks come with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that generates a minuscule 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. That’s significantly less urge than you’ll get with rivals such as the Nissan Versa (122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet). Every Mirage is equipped with a standard CVT, and power is sent to the front wheels. When driven on city streets and highways, the Mirage exhibits lackluster acceleration. Heavy throttle inputs are required just to keep up with traffic, and the engine gets raucous when pushed—which is most of the time the car is running.

More on the Mirage Hatchback

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

According to the EPA, the Mitsubishi Mirage achieves fuel economy of 36 mpg city and 43 mpg highway. These numbers are extremely impressive, and they make the Mirage a more fuel-efficient choice than the Nissan Versa (up to 32/40 mpg). For more information about the Mirage’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

There are a few subcompacts that offer reasonably upscale cabins, but the Mirage isn’t one of them. Although the design is rudimentary and there are lots of hard plastics in evidence, the car’s interior is pleasant enough given its price range. The front row offers comfortable accommodations, but rear-seat legroom is tight. There’s a generous amount of cargo capacity on board. With all seats in place, the Mirage provides 17 cubic feet of cargo space. With the standard 60/40-split folding rear seats lowered, cargo space expands to 47 cubic feet. These figures make the Mirage a roomier choice than the Spark, which provides 11 cubic feet of cargo space behind its second row and 27 cubic feet behind the first.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity is standard on the Mirage, and this allows for hands-free phone calls. A four-speaker audio system, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all standard. For those seeking a more premium setup, a Rockford Fosgate sound system is offered as an upgrade.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Mirage comes standard with automated emergency braking, and the top-spec SE comes with lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam headlamps, but more advanced driver-assistance features are missing from the options list. For more information about the Mirage’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Available lane-departure warning Available automatic high-beams

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mitsubishi offers one of the best warranties in the business, tying the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent with its 10-year coverage. The Mirage’s coverage leaves warranties by rivals like the Nissan Versa in the dust.

Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles No complimentary maintenance

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

BASE PRICES: ES, $13,830;
SE, $15,630;
GT, $17,330

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 12-valve inline-3, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 73 cu in, 1193 cc
Power: 78 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 74 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed manual, continuously variable automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 96.5 in
Length: 149.4 in
Width: 65.6 in Height: 59.4 in
Passenger volume: 86 cu ft
Cargo volume: 17 cu ft
Curb weight: 2050-2100 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):

Zero to 60 mph: 10.6-10.9 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 17.5-18.3 sec

Top speed: 100-105 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA combined/city/highway driving: 36-39/33-37/41-43 mpg

More Features and Specs