Mitsubishi had a goal of 7000 units in 2014 for the Mirage. They surpassed that goal last month, June 2014. They are on track to more than double their goal. I personally liked it when I test drove it. Good cheap durable transportation.
It vibrates because it's a 3 cylinder. 3 cylinders are inherently imbalanced. So yes all 3 cylinders will vibrate more than not. The motor mount in this car is really thick....You can see they are trying to keep it steady. I drove one. I thought it accelerated like a small 4 cylinder. Took bumps kinda hard though.
I somehow managed to find myself at this review yet again. I would honestly enjoy having this car. If I had it in black and left it stock, it would work. Yes, cars with tons of horsepower are fun to drive, but there's just something about extremely under powered cars with a stick shift that are far the most fun. My 1.6L accent from 2011 w a 5-speed was by far the most fun car I've had. Probably why the MX-5 is at the top for most. Great handling car but slightly under powered. Perfect combo.
On the light steering and soft suspension: People in Asia tend to love that. Also the roads are not always on good standards outside Europe or USA. As a European, I know I am a minority over here. But I love superlight steering and very soft suspension. I still regret selling my hydropneumatic Citroëns.... So, I bought mysel a Mirage (or Space Star in continental Europe) CVT. It is all a matter of taste. Question is, does it feel comfy and does it negotiate (too) fast turns safely in all conditions. That is what a tester should be judging he car on. By the way, the 2015 model has stiffer suspension and has better noise insulation. Steering feel is still the same, though, zero.
Excellent review! What I am thinking is that this car has a character all it's own, even if it has flaws and peculiarities. It may be its charm that wins people over more than substance.
I just want to point out to you that Mitsubishi makes money selling industrial and commercial equipment. They only started making cars as a "Pet Project" and to quote the CEO, "will continue to do so as long as they don't lose too much money in the process"... P.S. I bought a 2015 Mirage DE as a business vehicle for local driving. I think it's a great little car. I upped the wheels to from 14x4.5" to 15x6.5" and the tires from 165/65 R14 to 185/55 R15. I went with aggressive summer tires and it handles much better. I ordered an Ultra Racing- Rear Sway/anti-roll bar, and it's getting installed by Xmas!
+Graham Jefferson Since this post I have installed the Rear lower bar, the front upper strut brace and the lower front 4 point chassis brace. The Wider (and better) tires alone with the rear sway bar made the most difference. I also installed ceramic front brake pads. 20k miles later the car is doing great.
Great review! This gentleman is a joy to watch. I’m gonna have to go along with him on the eyelashes though. Yes, ok, they’re fine for... someone? But NOT me. Great little car, even with all the quirks.
"At highway speeds you're constantly correcting this thing". THAT! I test drove a brand new 2017 and highway speeds faster than 60MPH was maddening! CONSTANT steering corrections to keep it going straight. The car oscillated left / right / left / right continuously. It's an absolute deal breaker. Outside of that, I actually loved it.
Its basically a street legal go kart that is in dire need of a supercharger and/or turbocharger, drop 1-2 inches height, stiffen suspension, strut tower and chassis braces, ceramic brakes with drill and cross slot rotors, and could perform neck and neck with a Fiat 500 Arbath cause that fiat is 2515lb (stock) while the mirage is only 1922lb (stock)
Really could have used a proper rear suspension, but there's more empty space than engine under the hood, so one could add as many turbochargers as desired. Personally, I think I'll focus on the rear suspension for MY pink mirage.
Price goes up. Fuel economy goes down. Cost of repairs and maintenance goes up. Buy one of those cars if those things are not of great importance. Me? I want those things and am willing to compromise.
I just purchased the exact car as pictured. Even coming from a 7th gen Accord/Inspire, I actually don't find the handling poor at all. Obviously it's a narrow car with a comfortable ride, but even delivering pizzas, I find that in spite of the body roll, the car grips very well at least in dry conditions. This may also be due to the Bridgestone Potenzas that come standard, as I was running discount Kelly tires on my Accord. Overall very good car, albeit cheap. You buy a $1300 car, don't expect an AMG Mercedes. Mine is worth every penny of the 8G I payed for it used and then some.
Yes it's slow. But it's faster than several cars I owned back in the 60s-70s-80s. MUCH faster than my 61 Corvair or 72 VW Bus, for example. And all those cars got me everywhere I went with no problem.
My mum bought one of these 5 years ago in CVT and I’ve driven it a LOT with taking her to medical appointments, cancer treatment etc This review is very accurate! The ride quality is good, but it has a weird diagonal pitching problem that is nearly dangerous in twisty mountainous roads. On the bright side, the CVT shines in twisty mountainous roads because it always keeps the engine in the power band, even with 4 on board. The CVT allows the mirage to drive like a much bigger car, particularly when heavily laden. It still has the usual automatic/CVT flaws, like slow to ‘downshift’ and always lugs the motor when taking off at the lights normally, which can be frustrating when you need a bit more go merging, and it is slow to respond. The reviewers comments on the steering are spot on, the power steering does not centre at all, and the lack of cruise control make for a very tiring drive on expressways. The car will happily cruise well over 110kmh, and my mum has been pinged at 123 in a 110kmh zone 🤪 The air conditioning works very well, a plus in Australia with 45C summer days, but at the penalty of using what fees like 30% of the available power 😫 Her car has been reliable, but only reached 55000km so far and service costs have been low. It averages 6L/100km in mixed driving without A/C, heavy usage of the A/C pushes it up to 6.8 L/100km. Would I buy one? If I needed a cheap city commuter, yes without hesitation.
Nice one, i bought a second hand manual version a year ago with 40,000km on the clock. It is awesome around town but doesnt like highways, at 100kms im using 6L/100km but 110-120+ im using almost 7L/100km in which case my friends lancer is using half a liter less at the same speed and nearly double the weight. Once this engine blows up ill stick an electric in it, hopefully in the form of 4x10kw hub motors for each wheel and a battery where the engine used to be.
Lol, it's all good. To each their own. Lots of people ask me to take a picture of them, in front of my car. This city is full of black and red fish, so I decided to be a shark. ;)
Great review, never got the point of a 10k "new" car when there are so many older, much higher end models that can be bought used for similar or less money.
Also, the Mirage starts at $9,998 in Canada because the Canadian-exclusive Nissan Micra is sold here for, you guessed it, $9,998. The big problem is that the Micra offers more, has one more cylinder, is built better, looks better and was heavily advertised. The Honda Fit is extremely popular in Canada as well, with the Fiesta being a close 2nd (based on how many I see on the roads). Basically, the Mirage has nothing to offer except decent fuel economy and the standard features at the expense of cost-cutting techniques. The final nail in the coffin is going to be Ford's 1.0L ecoboost which is also 3-cylinders, but is turbocharged whereas the Mirage is N/A. Personally, I've seen a few Mirages around town but it's a rare sight. I've only seen two Micras in my city, but that's because there is a massive back-order and delivery only just happened. Mitsubishi is doomed.. In Canada at least.
When you see Micra's fuel ratings you understands how poorly made it is instead. The mirage can average in the 60's, thats good as an hybrid, 20 grand cheaper. This car is made for third world nation's, more cylinders doesnt mean better, fewer equals cheaper on gas and maintenance.
Thomas Beaulieu Fournier A Fiesta ecoboost can average 60 MPG as well, is less than $20,000 and is also a 3-cylinder, non-hybrid. More cylinders = more displacement = better performance = better car. even if it means less MPG. 3-cyl engines aren't that much cheaper to maintain than 4-cylinder engines (with performance 4-cyl engines being the exception)
+TFiPW 20 grand? Shit, that is almost what we paid for our new 2016 Subaru Forester. These Mirages can be had for half that including all fees, under 10k.
The Eco Boost Fiesta is 12 grand in my area, asking price for a nicer SE model with a sunroof is $14,060. That is before negotiating those prices further potentially, too. However, it is a car with far less reliable drivetrain than the Mirage. The Mirage is a $9000 car that gets 50 mpg. I don't think one can fault it, and it remains a possibility for me.
We have a Mirage and have owned it since 2014. Don't be too quick to judge this underpowered. I have had it up to 150 kph on the highway and it's fairly peppy up hills. Ours has the CVT and currently no issues at 47,000 kms. In the winter, this engine heats up quickly and has no trouble starting in cold weather. My only real beef came recently when shopping for new tires. These are not a common size and most dealers had trouble finding them. So far, only Dunlop, Bridgestone and Kumho makes these and they are not cheap (contrary to what you may think). This review mentions sloppy steering, well yes, but if you're looking for a rally car, this is not going to be your first pick. However, if you want to get from A to B as cheaply as possible, this should be your first pick. A tank of gas goes a long way. I drove from Calgary to Vancouver on a little over 70 litres (lots of steep grades along the way). The final selling point (not mentioned here) is the warranty. At this price point, you can't beat a 10 year warranty. Now whether they try to weasel out of repairs down the road remains to be seen, but in the interim, I remain optimistic.
Think new one is underpowered. I owned a brand new 1985 Mitsubishi mirage L automatic. It had 68 horse but it got 38-40 mpg on highway and I easily got 30 around town. Loved that car. It was just under $4500 out the door...lol
So weird seeing all of these roads I drive almost everyday in this video. Cool tho! The video was nicely done too. Pretty sure I have seen that exact car driving around!
you were right about the 3 banger sounding like a v6, something to do with the odd number of cylinders? nice sound from the pipe, also really like your new camera views!
I like the interior...I'm not resting my head on the dash so I dont care that they used plastic. Mitsubishi has several 3 cylinder engines...overseas. So I'd like to think the engine is reliable and durable......
Oh my god I was cackling at 11:03! I'm looking into a 2015 ES model since they're listed just under 10k right now. Thanks for providing your take on this car! I'll probably get some wider 15" wheels to hopefully aid the steering feel a bit if I choose this car.
+Graham Jefferson The steering feel is actually the soft suspension not a dead zone in the electric steering like most people think. Tightening up the suspension with braces and bars makes a huge difference. Stiffer springs would be an awesome upgrade. The springs are the last thing for me to do then I'm done upgrading it besides some tint. RS-R makes good springs and they are cheap. If you want Coil overs they are expensive but BC makes a great set. All of the frame and strut bars I bought are Ultra racing ordered and installed though NextGenTuning. The Wheels I got are ICW Racing and the only reason I went with 15" was so I could have a wider option range of both brand and size tires to choose from. I went with Toyo Proxes T1R tires. The stock size only comes in one brand and they suck ass plus are very expensive.
+Graham Jefferson NP, Join the Mirage Forum dot com. Look me up, Hitshane I have pics of the car in my garage with the upgrades. It is an active forum with everything you need to know about the car...
I just have to ask.....does anybody really care what the headliner feels like? I mean, it's a headliner. I can't remember the last time I fondled my headliner while driving. This whole universal fetish about "hard touch surfaces" just puzzles me. Who wants to pay extra money for plush surfaces that, other than the steering wheel and shift knob, you never actually touch? I can understand it on expensive cars, but cheap cars are supposed to be cheap.
The Mitsubishi Mirage: The official car of teenage girls who got daddy to buy their first car, homosexuals, fans of Al Gore, and nerds who think 40 city is a good thing, without having our balls busted by high sticker price, and inevitable hybrid battery replacement.
Yeah. Not like something this size needs it anyway. Not sure why power steering is standard in cars today. Without it, it would probably get better gas mileage.
It's electric power steering, shouldn't have much if any parasitic draw. If the car drives better with the electric power steering off, then perhaps what they should do is disable the power steering past a certain speed as the assist is only needed when parking, if at all.
That's a good idea and it is true that you only really need it for parking anyway. Now if they could stiffen the suspension a bit or throw in some anti-sway bars to help with that body roll then we would have a solid driving car.
I find this car is pretty good since it's cost about 8,5 thousands dollars here in Jordan The engine is 74 hp is enough for car like this since is the #1 purpose of hatch back cars is fuel economy, it's pretty good looking and I'm sure it's better than the ugly spark and the crapy hyundai i20
Lol...I have one of these, and the intake tube just snaps into the manifold. It has a ton of play in it, which makes the engine look like it shakes a LOT more than it actually does.
+joe b VERY reliable. It went back to the dealership once for lug nuts that had discolored on one wheel. Other than that, it has just been oil changes. My lifetime average mpg over 22k miles has been right around 48.
If Intechdude thinks that the manual is making better use of the engine's capabilities than the CVT, he must think again. That is just plain wrong. So, think again. I will help a little. 1. Almost infinite number of gears. 2. Computers. 3. Better fuel economy with CVT in spite of non-mechanical torque converer.
My view is that with a manual, you have a better connection with the car. Because there's no belts & etc like found within most CVT's, the drivetrain feels more direct and gives you the sense that the car a moving quicker than it really is + you can't deny that it adds more fun to the experience. IMO it's the only thing that makes the Mirage somewhat tolerable. Slap on the CVT which gives you the sense that the car is being pulled by rubber bands while having an engine screening nonstop at 6000RPM, the fun factor is taken away and it won't be anything else but a loud, boring, and inexpensive appliance.
Ronald de Rooij Maybe on the EPA Fuel economy test does the CVT get better fuel economy but in real world driving, the manual transmission should match or exceed the CVT. There is much less parasitic loss from a manual transmission compared with an automatic/CVT therefore better acceleration and fuel economy. Just idling at a stoplight alone saves a lot of fuel in a manual compared with an automatic.
***** The CVT model of the Mitsubishi Mirage has a start/stop system. Moreover I think that the losses in the torque converter are offset by the fact that the CVT Always allowes the engine to rev spot on the most ideal rev/min for the circumstances. Something a manual can never do (and an ordinary automatic cannot do either. It would be interesting to test both at the same time, though. My guess is that they would have both the same fuel economy (manual and CVT) in the real world. So, there is work for Intechdude300 to do! Compare them, please!
the side molding??? ruins what little style this car has.....i would rip that shit off yesterday you know for $10k and a huge warranty...i would buy it, drive the shit our of it, change my oil, and see if it makes it to 100k
+Hemen Kareamg True if space is your main concern. But for a similar (although slightly higher) price, you'd be missing power locks and windows, however you do gain an extra cylinder lol.
+Graham Jefferson Good point, Hemen Kareamg. I am actually having fun reading about the Nissan Versa S 4-door sedan - it is at a cheap price point and I saw one in that nice Nissan metallic blue color and it looked great. I would choose a 5-speed stick for the Versa S. Over this little Mitsubishi Mirage, for sure. Just checking the little 74hp buggy out a bit is all.
Debatable. The Mirage has been proving to be more reliable, it gets better fuel economy. You can get both of them for under 10 grand out the door with discounts and incentives. If you need more Space, and don't mind giving up the flexibility of a folding rear seat like the Mirage offers in the hatchback... it depends. The Versa would be a better car from a modest increase in power point of view and seat space. The Mirage better for fuel economy, warranty, equipment, arguably build quality and reliability from what I have read.
WAY TO FUNNY to see you go from the CTS and all of it's GLORY to THIS ECONO BOX. IN the states I don't see where this car sells for less then $12,995.00 Better off buying a USED car for this money. One would expect 60-70MPG but that's not even the case. 34/42?
Mitsubishi had a goal of 7000 units in 2014 for the Mirage. They surpassed that goal last month, June 2014. They are on track to more than double their goal. I personally liked it when I test drove it. Good cheap durable transportation.
I love how the engine just sits there and vibrates and jiggles in the engine bay at idle. It's so animated, haha. Makes the car cuter.
It vibrates because it's a 3 cylinder. 3 cylinders are inherently imbalanced. So yes all 3 cylinders will vibrate more than not. The motor mount in this car is really thick....You can see they are trying to keep it steady. I drove one. I thought it accelerated like a small 4 cylinder. Took bumps kinda hard though.
Boujai12 I know 3's shake. I didn't ask why it did. But thanks.
Dillon1791 BTW Honda's 3 in the Beat and 1G Insight didn't vibrate and Shake as much. And it sounds shit tons better lol.
+Dillon1791 Similar to my 87 Sprint TURBO I sold in 2010. With 193k, it vibrated about the same as this.
@@Dillon1791 ha! My beat shakes I don't know what you're talking about
I somehow managed to find myself at this review yet again. I would honestly enjoy having this car. If I had it in black and left it stock, it would work. Yes, cars with tons of horsepower are fun to drive, but there's just something about extremely under powered cars with a stick shift that are far the most fun. My 1.6L accent from 2011 w a 5-speed was by far the most fun car I've had. Probably why the MX-5 is at the top for most. Great handling car but slightly under powered. Perfect combo.
Minus the great handling. Handling is good, could be made great with a modest sum of money and effort.
On the light steering and soft suspension: People in Asia tend to love that. Also the roads are not always on good standards outside Europe or USA. As a European, I know I am a minority over here. But I love superlight steering and very soft suspension. I still regret selling my hydropneumatic Citroëns.... So, I bought mysel a Mirage (or Space Star in continental Europe) CVT. It is all a matter of taste. Question is, does it feel comfy and does it negotiate (too) fast turns safely in all conditions. That is what a tester should be judging he car on. By the way, the 2015 model has stiffer suspension and has better noise insulation. Steering feel is still the same, though, zero.
I have the 2013 Space Star or Mirage and I don't like the steering at highway speed, it feels unsafe.
Excellent review! What I am thinking is that this car has a character all it's own, even if it has flaws and peculiarities. It may be its charm that wins people over more than substance.
I just want to point out to you that Mitsubishi makes money selling industrial and commercial equipment. They only started making cars as a "Pet Project" and to quote the CEO, "will continue to do so as long as they don't lose too much money in the process"... P.S. I bought a 2015 Mirage DE as a business vehicle for local driving. I think it's a great little car. I upped the wheels to from 14x4.5" to 15x6.5" and the tires from 165/65 R14 to 185/55 R15. I went with aggressive summer tires and it handles much better. I ordered an Ultra Racing- Rear Sway/anti-roll bar, and it's getting installed by Xmas!
+Chris P. New wheels and an anti-roll bar sound like perfect upgrades for this little rig! Good idea!
+Graham Jefferson Since this post I have installed the Rear lower bar, the front upper strut brace and the lower front 4 point chassis brace. The Wider (and better) tires alone with the rear sway bar made the most difference. I also installed ceramic front brake pads. 20k miles later the car is doing great.
"When going up a steep hill you do need to plan ahead." LMFAO!
Pop the transmission is Ds mode, you stupid people and the car zings! Read the fucking owners manual!!!
something to think about...skinny tires are extremely good in deep snow!!!
Great review! This gentleman is a joy to watch. I’m gonna have to go along with him on the eyelashes though. Yes, ok, they’re fine for... someone? But NOT me. Great little car, even with all the quirks.
That was some of the best on-the-road footage/commentary I've seen in any review! Those tires are incredibly skinny, and that body lean is terrifying.
You scared 😨
"At highway speeds you're constantly correcting this thing". THAT! I test drove a brand new 2017 and highway speeds faster than 60MPH was maddening! CONSTANT steering corrections to keep it going straight. The car oscillated left / right / left / right continuously. It's an absolute deal breaker. Outside of that, I actually loved it.
"The Oh shit handle" I'm so done, this killed me, hilarious review xD
Its basically a street legal go kart that is in dire need of a supercharger and/or turbocharger, drop 1-2 inches height, stiffen suspension, strut tower and chassis braces, ceramic brakes with drill and cross slot rotors, and could perform neck and neck with a Fiat 500 Arbath cause that fiat is 2515lb (stock) while the mirage is only 1922lb (stock)
Really could have used a proper rear suspension, but there's more empty space than engine under the hood, so one could add as many turbochargers as desired. Personally, I think I'll focus on the rear suspension for MY pink mirage.
Price goes up. Fuel economy goes down. Cost of repairs and maintenance goes up. Buy one of those cars if those things are not of great importance. Me? I want those things and am willing to compromise.
I love the thumbnail you put for this video. It shows the "impressive" moves the Mirage has.
I own a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, white with only about 15,000 miles total on it. Car is great, it provides everything you need to get from A To B.
The whole section about the suspension...I was dieing laughing! rofl
I love the new review style, keep it up! (:
I just purchased the exact car as pictured. Even coming from a 7th gen Accord/Inspire, I actually don't find the handling poor at all. Obviously it's a narrow car with a comfortable ride, but even delivering pizzas, I find that in spite of the body roll, the car grips very well at least in dry conditions. This may also be due to the Bridgestone Potenzas that come standard, as I was running discount Kelly tires on my Accord. Overall very good car, albeit cheap. You buy a $1300 car, don't expect an AMG Mercedes. Mine is worth every penny of the 8G I payed for it used and then some.
Yes it's slow. But it's faster than several cars I owned back in the 60s-70s-80s. MUCH faster than my 61 Corvair or 72 VW Bus, for example. And all those cars got me everywhere I went with no problem.
My mum bought one of these 5 years ago in CVT and I’ve driven it a LOT with taking her to medical appointments, cancer treatment etc
This review is very accurate!
The ride quality is good, but it has a weird diagonal pitching problem that is nearly dangerous in twisty mountainous roads. On the bright side, the CVT shines in twisty mountainous roads because it always keeps the engine in the power band, even with 4 on board. The CVT allows the mirage to drive like a much bigger car, particularly when heavily laden. It still has the usual automatic/CVT flaws, like slow to ‘downshift’ and always lugs the motor when taking off at the lights normally, which can be frustrating when you need a bit more go merging, and it is slow to respond.
The reviewers comments on the steering are spot on, the power steering does not centre at all, and the lack of cruise control make for a very tiring drive on expressways. The car will happily cruise well over 110kmh, and my mum has been pinged at 123 in a 110kmh zone 🤪
The air conditioning works very well, a plus in Australia with 45C summer days, but at the penalty of using what fees like 30% of the available power 😫
Her car has been reliable, but only reached 55000km so far and service costs have been low. It averages 6L/100km in mixed driving without A/C, heavy usage of the A/C pushes it up to 6.8 L/100km. Would I buy one? If I needed a cheap city commuter, yes without hesitation.
Nice one, i bought a second hand manual version a year ago with 40,000km on the clock. It is awesome around town but doesnt like highways, at 100kms im using 6L/100km but 110-120+ im using almost 7L/100km in which case my friends lancer is using half a liter less at the same speed and nearly double the weight. Once this engine blows up ill stick an electric in it, hopefully in the form of 4x10kw hub motors for each wheel and a battery where the engine used to be.
That engine shakes around as much as the 4.0 I6 in my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee (:
I felt like this video was a lot more similar to your older tours at auction and I really like that.
Your such an honest guy great review with positives and negatives good review😊🇵🇭
Be honest Intechdude300, this is your daily driver!
I own the 2015 Mirage, same color- Purple Plasma. No complaints, so far.
+Christina Harrington I would not put that information on the internet. The car is OK, the color is not.
Lol, it's all good. To each their own. Lots of people ask me to take a picture of them, in front of my car. This city is full of black and red fish, so I decided to be a shark. ;)
Great review, never got the point of a 10k "new" car when there are so many older, much higher end models that can be bought used for similar or less money.
All those cars you mentioned not around except the Spark.So whats still around? The mirsge.
mirage. And since when is plastic evil all of a sudden?
Nice Review, Good Camera Work Too 👍
Also, the Mirage starts at $9,998 in Canada because the Canadian-exclusive Nissan Micra is sold here for, you guessed it, $9,998. The big problem is that the Micra offers more, has one more cylinder, is built better, looks better and was heavily advertised. The Honda Fit is extremely popular in Canada as well, with the Fiesta being a close 2nd (based on how many I see on the roads).
Basically, the Mirage has nothing to offer except decent fuel economy and the standard features at the expense of cost-cutting techniques. The final nail in the coffin is going to be Ford's 1.0L ecoboost which is also 3-cylinders, but is turbocharged whereas the Mirage is N/A. Personally, I've seen a few Mirages around town but it's a rare sight. I've only seen two Micras in my city, but that's because there is a massive back-order and delivery only just happened. Mitsubishi is doomed.. In Canada at least.
When you see Micra's fuel ratings you understands how poorly made it is instead. The mirage can average in the 60's, thats good as an hybrid, 20 grand cheaper. This car is made for third world nation's, more cylinders doesnt mean better, fewer equals cheaper on gas and maintenance.
Thomas Beaulieu Fournier A Fiesta ecoboost can average 60 MPG as well, is less than $20,000 and is also a 3-cylinder, non-hybrid. More cylinders = more displacement = better performance = better car. even if it means less MPG. 3-cyl engines aren't that much cheaper to maintain than 4-cylinder engines (with performance 4-cyl engines being the exception)
+TFiPW 20 grand? Shit, that is almost what we paid for our new 2016 Subaru Forester. These Mirages can be had for half that including all fees, under 10k.
The Eco Boost Fiesta is 12 grand in my area, asking price for a nicer SE model with a sunroof is $14,060. That is before negotiating those prices further potentially, too. However, it is a car with far less reliable drivetrain than the Mirage. The Mirage is a $9000 car that gets 50 mpg. I don't think one can fault it, and it remains a possibility for me.
We have a Mirage and have owned it since 2014. Don't be too quick to judge this underpowered. I have had it up to 150 kph on the highway and it's fairly peppy up hills. Ours has the CVT and currently no issues at 47,000 kms. In the winter, this engine heats up quickly and has no trouble starting in cold weather. My only real beef came recently when shopping for new tires. These are not a common size and most dealers had trouble finding them. So far, only Dunlop, Bridgestone and Kumho makes these and they are not cheap (contrary to what you may think). This review mentions sloppy steering, well yes, but if you're looking for a rally car, this is not going to be your first pick. However, if you want to get from A to B as cheaply as possible, this should be your first pick. A tank of gas goes a long way. I drove from Calgary to Vancouver on a little over 70 litres (lots of steep grades along the way). The final selling point (not mentioned here) is the warranty. At this price point, you can't beat a 10 year warranty. Now whether they try to weasel out of repairs down the road remains to be seen, but in the interim, I remain optimistic.
Think new one is underpowered. I owned a brand new 1985 Mitsubishi mirage L automatic. It had 68 horse but it got 38-40 mpg on highway and I easily got 30 around town. Loved that car. It was just under $4500 out the door...lol
So weird seeing all of these roads I drive almost everyday in this video. Cool tho! The video was nicely done too. Pretty sure I have seen that exact car driving around!
Love this format!!!
Is it still going? Would be interested to know how they run over the years after all the price.
Noticed an error right away, you got the tire size wrong. They're 165, not 155. Though I swapped Civic VX wheels on mine with 175/70/13 rubbers.
you were right about the 3 banger sounding like a v6, something to do with the odd number of cylinders? nice sound from the pipe, also really like your new camera views!
Technically, an inline-3 is the same as one half of a dual-exhaust V6!
11:04 that's funny as hell to see that wallow as you see-saw the steering.
Yeah that's wright man, I have a Smart and the 3 cylinder sounds pretty good.
Put Eibach or H&R springs and 195/45r16 wheels on it and there you go, it now drives like a car
I think you did the review on this one very well. It really was comical to see the shot of the car going down the road on those pizza-cutter tires.
I like the interior...I'm not resting my head on the dash so I dont care that they used plastic. Mitsubishi has several 3 cylinder engines...overseas. So I'd like to think the engine is reliable and durable......
Oh my god I was cackling at 11:03! I'm looking into a 2015 ES model since they're listed just under 10k right now. Thanks for providing your take on this car! I'll probably get some wider 15" wheels to hopefully aid the steering feel a bit if I choose this car.
+Graham Jefferson The steering feel is actually the soft suspension not a dead zone in the electric steering like most people think. Tightening up the suspension with braces and bars makes a huge difference. Stiffer springs would be an awesome upgrade. The springs are the last thing for me to do then I'm done upgrading it besides some tint. RS-R makes good springs and they are cheap. If you want Coil overs they are expensive but BC makes a great set. All of the frame and strut bars I bought are Ultra racing ordered and installed though NextGenTuning. The Wheels I got are ICW Racing and the only reason I went with 15" was so I could have a wider option range of both brand and size tires to choose from. I went with Toyo Proxes T1R tires. The stock size only comes in one brand and they suck ass plus are very expensive.
+Chris P. Thanks for the rundown! I took a screenshot so I'll remember! 👍
+Graham Jefferson NP, Join the Mirage Forum dot com. Look me up, Hitshane I have pics of the car in my garage with the upgrades. It is an active forum with everything you need to know about the car...
I just have to ask.....does anybody really care what the headliner feels like? I mean, it's a headliner. I can't remember the last time I fondled my headliner while driving. This whole universal fetish about "hard touch surfaces" just puzzles me. Who wants to pay extra money for plush surfaces that, other than the steering wheel and shift knob, you never actually touch? I can understand it on expensive cars, but cheap cars are supposed to be cheap.
great review!!
In 2020, is the suspension stiffer and steering more responsive?
The Mitsubishi Mirage: The official car of teenage girls who got daddy to buy their first car, homosexuals, fans of Al Gore, and nerds who think 40 city is a good thing, without having our balls busted by high sticker price, and inevitable hybrid battery replacement.
ah see i am going to buy this car because im poor college student who needs cheap insurance and something i wont get speeding tickets in
M Danahey this car attract girls. cars like s14, american muscle, 86 and more only attract men.
I wonder if the owner was aware of her vehicle being bashed on youtube. -_-
She doesn't care actually lol
+Intechdude300
like
+Intechdude300 Has the car had nay problems so far?
+buildmorefarms100 she's had no problems with it although it can't handle the rough roads in New Orleans.
***** How so, did it blow a strut or bend a rim?
Thanks for the upload. Wondering about your height @Intechdude300? Because I'm trying to gauge room at the back.
6'1, it's a spacious car for the most part but it does feel narrow
I question the safety with light weight, little power, skinny tires etc
+DoubleD 613 It is better than average. There as only 1 test where it scored poorly.
you know my first reaction was gasping. but after a while, i understand why someone would buy this thing. cheap transport is cheap transport
It's so freaking cute!!!! 😍😘
put a little turbo on it or supercharger just to bump it up to around 120hp. kinda like a ecoboost
Good review
The Mirage G4 should be here in America soon....
The list of standard features are exactly the techno junk no buyer outside America should pay for unless they request it.
A modern day Geo Metro. :) Although I think the Metro had better steering feel or feedback (no power steering) and stiffer suspension. :p
probably could disable the power steering in this car.
Yeah. Not like something this size needs it anyway. Not sure why power steering is standard in cars today. Without it, it would probably get better gas mileage.
It's electric power steering, shouldn't have much if any parasitic draw. If the car drives better with the electric power steering off, then perhaps what they should do is disable the power steering past a certain speed as the assist is only needed when parking, if at all.
That's a good idea and it is true that you only really need it for parking anyway. Now if they could stiffen the suspension a bit or throw in some anti-sway bars to help with that body roll then we would have a solid driving car.
In what world is a metro better than this car?
I find this car is pretty good since it's cost about 8,5 thousands dollars here in Jordan
The engine is 74 hp is enough for car like this since is the #1 purpose of hatch back cars is fuel economy, it's pretty good looking and I'm sure it's better than the ugly spark and the crapy hyundai i20
Lol...I have one of these, and the intake tube just snaps into the manifold. It has a ton of play in it, which makes the engine look like it shakes a LOT more than it actually does.
What do you think of the car so far? Has it been reliable?
+joe b VERY reliable. It went back to the dealership once for lug nuts that had discolored on one wheel. Other than that, it has just been oil changes. My lifetime average mpg over 22k miles has been right around 48.
If Intechdude thinks that the manual is making better use of the engine's capabilities than the CVT, he must think again. That is just plain wrong. So, think again. I will help a little. 1. Almost infinite number of gears. 2. Computers. 3. Better fuel economy with CVT in spite of non-mechanical torque converer.
My view is that with a manual, you have a better connection with the car. Because there's no belts & etc like found within most CVT's, the drivetrain feels more direct and gives you the sense that the car a moving quicker than it really is + you can't deny that it adds more fun to the experience. IMO it's the only thing that makes the Mirage somewhat tolerable. Slap on the CVT which gives you the sense that the car is being pulled by rubber bands while having an engine screening nonstop at 6000RPM, the fun factor is taken away and it won't be anything else but a loud, boring, and inexpensive appliance.
***** Haha, well, everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion. My preference is different from yours.
Ronald de Rooij yes indeed lol ;)
Ronald de Rooij Maybe on the EPA Fuel economy test does the CVT get better fuel economy but in real world driving, the manual transmission should match or exceed the CVT. There is much less parasitic loss from a manual transmission compared with an automatic/CVT therefore better acceleration and fuel economy. Just idling at a stoplight alone saves a lot of fuel in a manual compared with an automatic.
***** The CVT model of the Mitsubishi Mirage has a start/stop system. Moreover I think that the losses in the torque converter are offset by the fact that the CVT Always allowes the engine to rev spot on the most ideal rev/min for the circumstances. Something a manual can never do (and an ordinary automatic cannot do either. It would be interesting to test both at the same time, though. My guess is that they would have both the same fuel economy (manual and CVT) in the real world. So, there is work for Intechdude300 to do! Compare them, please!
So my Chevy spark didn't come with a spare tire yet a mitsubishi does? Lol I bought a full size tire for my car anyhow
i wonder how it will feel driving it in California
does the owner know you did skids in it?
Great review. Very funny
Can't stand that color but other than that it seems OK for what it is but I'd rather have a Spark, 2 or Fiesta like you said.
Why is your car head lights has eyelashes
does the 3 cyl have a timing belt or chain? anyone know?
+joegolden481 Chain.
+Jason L That's another check to tick off, then. Excellent - I disdain timing belts.
Compared to my peterbilt, my mirage might as well be a Lexus
4:24 Emergency glovebox deodorant - what will they think of next?
I wouldn't be surprised if that car doesn't have front OR rear sway bars......
I don’t like how he constantly causes it cheap and discredits the car a lot
Very funny review :D
the side molding??? ruins what little style this car has.....i would rip that shit off yesterday you know for $10k and a huge warranty...i would buy it, drive the shit our of it, change my oil, and see if it makes it to 100k
+joegolden481
How hot did you ??
I would take it further than that, maintain it, fix it as it will be cheap to fix. Enjoy years and years of 40-60 mpg.
Americas closest thing to a kei
This review person sounds like a BRAINIAC, or at least he thinks he is. What do you expect for the low price? A BMW interior? He's a wise ass too. Oy!
ikr :)
My car isn't stupid lol .... only a guy 😂
ok ok so it's no 2015 gti lol but but you will a great 100 mile warranty lol
Omg the prius is so so so so so so so sos os so sexy than that but I will steel drive it love the vid omg
nissan versa with same price is a better car.I think this car must be 8000 $
+Hemen Kareamg True if space is your main concern. But for a similar (although slightly higher) price, you'd be missing power locks and windows, however you do gain an extra cylinder lol.
+Graham Jefferson Good point, Hemen Kareamg. I am actually having fun reading about the Nissan Versa S 4-door sedan - it is at a cheap price point and I saw one in that nice Nissan metallic blue color and it looked great. I would choose a 5-speed stick for the Versa S. Over this little Mitsubishi Mirage, for sure. Just checking the little 74hp buggy out a bit is all.
Debatable. The Mirage has been proving to be more reliable, it gets better fuel economy. You can get both of them for under 10 grand out the door with discounts and incentives. If you need more Space, and don't mind giving up the flexibility of a folding rear seat like the Mirage offers in the hatchback... it depends. The Versa would be a better car from a modest increase in power point of view and seat space. The Mirage better for fuel economy, warranty, equipment, arguably build quality and reliability from what I have read.
Ugly pink or not
I love you 😍 😂😂
You have me laughing.
Ok ok lol so it's no 2015 gti but....it has a great 100,000 warranty lol haha yes I know ur lawn mower will faster but who cares lol
WAY TO FUNNY to see you go from the CTS and all of it's GLORY to THIS ECONO BOX. IN the states I don't see where this car sells for less then $12,995.00 Better off buying a USED car for this money. One would expect 60-70MPG but that's not even the case. 34/42?
VW needs to bring the Polo diesel here. 3 cylinders and diesel with much better economy.
It was purchased for a special price as the result of a promo going on at that specific dealership
YouDontWannaFightMe I don't want to fight you.
Djonkie Bonk yeah
I am averaging 40 100% city driving, 1800 km on the clock, i'm delivering pizza.
Young people. Why must they abuse cars? This is not a drag strip.