2018 Mitsubishi Mirage Road Test and Review

Mitsubishi began building cars in 1917. The Japanese automaker says its name is a combination of the words mitsu, which means three, and hishi, which means water chestnut. In English it translates to three diamonds, hence the company’s three-diamond logo. In America, Mitsubishi began selling cars in the 1980s and is best known for its since-discontinued turbocharged all-wheel drive Eclipse sports car and Lancer Evolution sports sedan, which became popular with tuner car enthusiasts. Paul Walker even drove a heavily modified and very green Eclipse in the first Fast and the Furious movie and an Evo in the second installment of the franchise, solidifying their place in the world’s car culture.

But the core of Mitsu’s business has always been affordable and fuel-efficient small cars like the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage. The brand’s smallest and least expensive model, the Mirage is available as a four-door hatchback or a four-door sedan. It competes with cars from all over the world, including the Chevrolet Spark, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio, and Nissan Versa.

Built in Thailand, the 2018 Mirage is available in a handful of trim levels. The least expensive is the ES hatchback with a five-speed manual transmission. It costs $14,280, including a destination fee of $885. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is available for $1,200. The hatchback is also offered in SE and GT trim levels. These get the CVT standard, with prices topping out just over $17,000.

Mitsubishi calls the Mirage sedan the Mirage G4. It looks to be the same size as the hatchback in photos, but it’s actually significantly larger, with a 4-inch longer wheelbase and 20 inches of total additional length. The G4 ES with the five-speed manual starts at $15,280. The top-of-the-line G4 SE model, like our test vehicle, costs just over $18,000. The CVT automatic is optional on the ES and standard on the SE. Other desirable standard equipment on our G4 SE test vehicle included heated front seats, keyless entry, push-button start, automatic climate control, and alloy wheels.

All Mirages are powered by a tiny 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with double overhead cams and variable valve timing. The engine produces only 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque. That makes the Mirage the least powerful car available in the United States. Most motorcycles have more horsepower than the Mirage and it’s outmuscled by every other car in its class, nearly all of which have over 100 hp. The smooth CVT transmission does what it can with the limited power. This car would certainly be more fun to drive with the standard five-speed manual, but it’s still not going to win any drag races. The Mirage G4 accelerates to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds and it takes nearly 20 seconds to run the quarter mile. That makes it one of the slowest cars you can buy. By comparison, a Toyota Prius is a Dodge Demon.

All Mirages are also front-wheel drive, which is the norm in this class. Mitsubishi does not offer all-wheel drive on the Mirage, and there isn’t a hybrid or electric version either. Buyers looking for an electrified subcompact should shop the Toyota Prius c hybrid.

Trading mph for mpg, Mitsubishi’s smallest and least expensive car is also the brand’s most fuel-efficient model. The Mirage hatchback with the standard five-speed manual transmission is rated at 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. With the CVT automatic, mileage ratings jump to 37 mpg city and 43 mpg highway, which makes it the most fuel-efficient version of this subcompact. The G4 sedan with the five-speed is rated at 33 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, which improves to 35 mpg city and 41 mpg highway with the CVT. I recorded 33 mpg in mixed driving that included plenty of full-throttle acceleration. When you only have 78 hp to work with you need to use them all.

Although those numbers are strong for the subcompact class, some of the Mitsubishi’s competition can match those ratings while offering superior power.

So unlike the Paul Walker’s souped-up Eclipse, the Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t fast or furious, but it is comfortable and easy to drive. The small sedan is effortless around town, with a smooth ride, responsive steering, and a relatively quiet interior. Parking is also a snap thanks to the car's small footprint and tight turning circle. We were also pleasantly surprised at how well it cruises on the highway. The Mirage has a more substantial feel than we expected, and it’ll hum along at 75 mph happily all day.

Not so surprising was the Mitsu’s lack of merging or passing power. Flooring the throttle to get around a big semi is just an exercise in wishful thinking, especially with few passengers and a full trunk. Although the Mirage’s suspension does provide enough agility to satisfy most drivers, those looking for a sporty driving experience in this class should check out the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit.

Although the Mitsubishi Mirage has been around since 2015 in hatchback form, the Mirage G4 sedan debuted just last year. For 2018, both models get a fair list of improvements that enhance their comfort, convenience, safety, and value.

Mitsubishi has improved the Mirage’s infotainment system by making a new 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming standard on base ES trims. It has also relocated the USB port on the center console, and it has made the steering wheel's audio and Bluetooth switches standard on both models. A rearview camera is also now standard on both models, while an adjustable armrest has been added to the driver's seat of the SE, GT, and G4 SE models. Mitsu has also added 15-inch alloy wheels to G4 ES Smartphone package, and the G4 has a new standard trunk pass-through to carry longer items.

Much like its exterior, the interior of the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is more about function than form. The dashboard is simple, and the layout of the controls is clean and uncluttered. The knobs to control the audio system are a bit small, but the 7-inch touchscreen is large and well-placed. Like Bentley and Porsche, Mitsu chose to put the engine start button on the left of the steering wheel.

You sit tall and upright in the Mirage. Visibility is outstanding, and the seats in our test vehicle were comfortable. The Mirage felt solid, and all the knobs and buttons function with precision. Our test vehicle’s thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gated shifter would be at home in a sports sedan. I also appreciated the chrome trim and door handles, which added a little upscale flair. However, the armrest on the driver’s door is hard plastic, which will rub your elbow raw during a long drive.

Cargo space is also surprisingly abundant. The sedan’s trunk offers 12 cubic feet, which is about average for the class and more than enough for a couple of golf bags. Behind its rear seats, the hatchback offers 17.2 cubic feet — a bit more than you get in Honda Fit but less than you’ll find in a Hyundai Accent. If more is needed, every Mirage hatchback comes with a split-folding rear seat. Dropping it down, which is an easy operation, and the hatchback’s cargo volume explodes to 47 cubic feet. Surprisingly, the Mirage G4 does not offer a fold-down rear seat to expand its trunk space.

Interior storage inside the Mirage is also sufficient. Although there isn’t a center console bin, the door pockets are just large enough to be useful, and they include bottle holders for your Swell. There are also two front-seat cupholders and three in the back.

Although the Mirage hatchback offers more cargo room, the sedan’s much larger rear seat makes it more passenger-friendly. Both models seat five, but the increase in legroom allowed by the sedan’s longer wheelbase is significant. Still, sitting in the middle of the backseat for an extended period could get cramped. Parents with younger kids will appreciate the Mirage’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors. But you should check first to make sure your reverse-facing child seat fits without any interference from the front seatbacks.   

In crash testing, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage has received an overall safety rating of four stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many cars in this class, like the Honda Fit, earned five stars.

Between the two Mirage models, the hatchback wins the beauty contest. It’s just better proportioned and looks a little sportier than the sedan. Neither design stirs the soul, but visual spender isn’t exactly easy to find in the subcompact class. The small chrome trim on the Mirage’s front fenders doesn’t help. They look like Mitsu’s designers shop at Pep Boys.

We should also mention Mitsubishi’s warranty, which is one of the longest in the business. It covers much of the vehicle for five years or 60,000 miles, and it covers the vehicle’s powertrain components for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Every Mirage also comes with five years of roadside assistance. Overall, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage offers comfort, high fuel economy, and family-friendly functionality. For buyers on an extremely tight budget, it could be the right choice in the very competitive subcompact class.