With a starting sum of $13,795, the Mirage hatchback costs $575 more than its closest competitor: the Chevrolet Spark. Combine this with the car’s overboosted and numb electric-assist steering, small front disc brakes and antiquated rear drum brakes that connect to a mushy left pedal, and the limited grip from the 15-inch Yokohoma all-season rubber, and the Mirage feels as though it actively works to bore its driver. That said, the Mitsubishi’s lateral dynamics stray far from fun, and the body leans wearily due to soft spring rates that afford an impressively comfortable ride on Miami’s poorly paved roads. Thanks to its lithe 2,128-pound curb weight, the Mirage feels light on its proverbial feet barreling through turns. Once up to highway speed, though, a chorus of wind noise replaces the three-cylinder engine’s wheezy whine. With no faux shifts from the CVT, the engine’s weary drone permeates the cabin.
MIRAGE MITSUBISHI MANUAL
(Mitsubishi offers a five-speed manual gearbox in the lower-spec ES and RF trims.) Power peaks at 6,000 RPM, while the engine’s 74 lb-ft of torque comes online at 4,000 RPM, and the transmission often holds the engine at high revs to make the most of its limited grunt. Making matters worse is the LE’s standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) that exacerbates the engine’s uncouth qualities. With 78 horsepower from its buzzy 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, the Mirage is predictably slow and requires a heavy right foot to get it up to speed. Take a glance at the spec sheet and you’ll understand why. The Mitsubishi Mirage really scores naught for its performance and handling. Even the 10.6-inch longer Rio hatch fails to make a case against the Mirage, as the Kia’s 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space with its rear seatback folded is down more than 14 cubes to the Mitsubishi. Still, this is not a space made for long road trips and full-size adults are better off fighting for the front seat.Ĭargo room also impresses, and the Mirage’s 17.1 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 47.0 cubes with the 60/40-split rear-seatback folded crushes the Spark’s 11.1 and 27.2 cubic feet of available space. With 34.2 inches of legroom, the Mitsubishi betters the equally small Chevrolet Spark and the noticeably larger Kia Rio hatchback by 1.2 and 0.7 inches, respectively. Given the Mirage’s small size, the car’s rear bench seat offers more room than expected. It’s a feature that’s left off of the lower-spec ES and RF trims. At least the LE trim offers a driver’s seat armrest. Rubbing additional salt into the wound is a steering column that tilts but does not telescope, which results in a driving position that’s either uncomfortably close to the pedals or too far away from the steering wheel. However, for every triumph, there’s a loss, and things such as door lock tabs that do without easily identifiable markings, as well as middling material and build quality, counter the positives of the Mirage’s cabin.Ĭomfort is not the Mirage’s forte, and the hatchback’s mushy front seats lack the support necessary for long-distance driving. Kudos, though, to Mitsubishi for designing an ergonomically friendly center stack with high-mounted infotainment and HVAC controls. Sure, the LE-specific red accents around the outer HVAC vents and the center console sprinkle some spice into the mix, but for the most part, the Mirage’s insides are as plain as tofu.
Same goes for the interior, which lacks any real style. At least the new-for-2019 LE trim’s black-painted exterior mirror caps and 15-inch wheels add a small bit of personality to this largely forgettable design. That said, the Mirage isn’t ugly it’s just bland.
Take off the Mitsubishi badges, and this hatch can pass for a product by any number of automakers. In fact, you might go so far to call the Mirage generic.
Unlike the chicly styled Mini, though, the Mitsubishi looks more mundane. At 149.4 inches long and 59.4 inches tall, it’s 1.7 inches stubbier and 3.7 inches shorter than a Mini Hardtop.
There’s an undeniable cuteness to the Mitsubishi Mirage.
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