There are people like me, who love the cheapest cars because they are hardest to design and make. I love that I do not worry about repair bills, fuel price and cost of tyres. I want a car to bring me from A to B in reasonable comfort, werever and whenever. I want it to slow down when I brake and turn when I turn the wheel. I bought the Mirage in 2015 (with CVT) and I never regretted it. Zero defects. Zero oil consumption. Fuel use is 50 MPG. I did only service, 2 tyres, a set of brake pads and windscreen wipers (and 2 l of windscreen fluid) and fuel. I drove 40.000 miles now. Nothing broke. Not even a light bulb.
6 years on and i've done 167000km without a single mechanical failure and i still get down to 4.5 litres per 100km. I'm 6'1" and i still have leg room to spare. The biggest surprise is not how slow it is to take off at the lights which is pretty average (unless you don't care about the fuel economy) but the fact you can boot the car at 100km/h and manage to overtake easily, before i knew it i was doing 130km/h.
I want one. I love tiny cars and I want it in the most hideous color possible. In fact, I wish I could get it in multiple colors, with body panels randomly painted purple, neon green, and whatever other finishes they have.
Sometimes you just want a car with a new car warranty that will get you from point A to Point B and are not looking for all the bells and whistles. This seems to be a good car for that purpose.
Konrad Checinski Maybe not, I bought the Mazda 3 and I'm very happy with it. I looked at the Mazda 2 and for a small car it was really fun to drive. It had a sticker price of about 15k (Florida spring 2014). The Mazda 3 is only a few thousand more and you get a lot more bang for the buck. Thanks for responding.
George Martin A mazda 2 is ten times the car that a mirage is. Sharing a platform with a fiesta makes the 2 fun to drive. I have driven the 2 and rather enjoyed the nimbleness. Same with the 3, its based on a focus/ volvo c30. At least you get some enjoyment out of your car. This POS provides ZERO. Hateful cars make hateful shitty drivers.
Konrad Checinski I test drove my friends Mazda 2, it does handle much better than the Mirage and is faster. Who buys a economy car to have cornering and 1/4 bragging rights? I bought a economy car to have MPG bragging rights and cheap ownership costs. He has already had to take his 2 back to the dealer twice for issues and I already caught up to him in mileage. I get plenty of enjoyment out of my Mirage, with the terrible energy saving tires and the large amount of body roll it really challenges me as a driver to pin it through the corners correctly, the Mazda 2 is a car anybody can drive fast through a corner, I ran into the same issues with my MR2 going against Miata drivers, they could never drive my MR2 as hard as I did without losing control on the autocross circuit.
got the 2014 midnight purple for my wife and she loves it. easy to drive, park, and great on gas only $20-30 for a full tank even when gas prices were at $3+ and it easily beats my Lancer which racks $40-50 a tank and if your foot is not heavy, you'll easily hit 50+mpg on the highway/// i also love driving it, even if its purple with hella HelloKitty stickers on it. i admit, we both laugh at it sometimes whenever i drive and tries to overtake some cars...which it has a hard time pulling... took it to a regular car meet and its a head turner...
+phsycopiano They can. You have to pay extra or get one from e-bay or something. On the Mirage forum you will find what you are looking for. One word of caution. I have an armrest in this car. But for those with short arms/legs it is too much to the rear (or the seat too much to the front, of course). For normal sized persons it is OK.
Mirage is a sensible, honest vehicle. Simplicity, reliability, no frills, transportation thats actually fun to drive. Love mine, my girl loves her sedan version too.
People always complain that no one will make a cheap bare bones hatchback with good gas mileage. But every time an auto maker makes that exact car everyone slams it. I would honestly buy this car. I usually just drive old Honda civics but those are getting harder and harder to find. In a few years I might just go pick one of these eggplants up.
Just drove on as a rental for a few days. Overall I have to say the car is not that bad. It's more "old school", such as the comments you read about how good cars in the 90s were. Well, this is as good as any econobox from back then. Still, it has a magical amount of frills such as power windows, locks, and the autoclimate control is pretty amazing since many cars in the low 20s don't even have it. Yes, power stinks but this is an economy car. You really have to plan ahead to get going, but once it gets up to speed, it rides just fine. Softly sprung so no jarring, you don't feel like you're in such a small car. Visibility sight lines are exceptional. Gas mileage is where this car is at. Got high 40's overall even with massive pedal mashing.
@@moviesmetalmusicmotorvehic4828 Get used to it. 30 years from now cars will either be low hp electric or 3 cylinders. Hell, a hundred years from now will be using teleportation.
@@kylemas2005 Yeah but pretty much nobody makes vehicles with less than 100 horsepower. At least the majority of car companies. So yeah, if you think sub-100 horsepower engines in cars is justifiable today, then you're a complete and utter dumbass.
@@moviesmetalmusicmotorvehic4828 No need for that kinda talk my friend lol. Its all good. We got 2 Mirages in my family and we both do alot of highway driving. These cars do just fine, it helps they only weigh 2000lbs. Although our G4 sedan version is a bit heavier.
I love my '15 Mirage. I get 46 doing 100% urban/suburban driving. No freeway. That's in the winter...on winter gas. The Mirage is a city car. It is meant for getting from point A to point B. Use it for anything else (slaloms, drag races) and you will certainly be disappointed. This car has a narrow mission: low price, great warranty, high MPG. The market used to be chock full of cars like this (Tercel, Metro, Festiva, etc), but now all we can get are $20k-$40k hybrids. Not everyone wants or can afford a $400/mo car payment. I considered the Spark, but since I dislike GM and HATE Daewoo, it didn't make much sense to buy a Daewoo Matiz rebadged as a Chevrolet (look it up). Sure, it has "contemporary" styling...meaning headlights that start in the middle of the front bumper and stretch all the way up to the base of the windshield. Blech. Personally, I think this styling trend looks ridiculous. And, at the end of the day, it's still a Daewoo.
I agree the Mirage is a great little economy car. As a previous owner or a 98 Mirage and 06 Lancer, I know the Mirage is a reliable and frugal econobox. About GM Daewoo, i own a 11 Aveo5 2LT and has 72k miles on it and it has been very reliable. Never had issues with a GMDAT or now GM Korea product. They have come a long way and i can't complaint about my little Daewoo Gentra X.
Aveos with timing belt issues are 04-08 with the old E-tech engine which were prone to timing belt failure. Aveos 09-11 use the Ecotec LXV engine, totally different engine with a stronger belt system that requires changing at 100k.
hibye Wow, I remember a girlfriend of mine that had an '05 or '06 Aveo that she leased, and her timing belt broke before the warranty was even up (under 40k). Half of the engine had to be rebuilt because of it. I thought that was the weirdest thing for a rubber belt to have that much authority.
Andrews Lloyd Lol...I was happy to hear that the Mirage has a CHAIN. Glad to hear that timing belts on the GM-sourced Daewoo cars are better than they used to be.
We advertise these after discounts for $11,500 that comes with a 10 year warranty power everything and air conditioning. No other car is close to that price with those features. Also 37/44 mpg crushes everything else.
The long-ish braking distance is most likely due to the narrow economy tires. I'm sure some more premium all seasons or summer tires will improve not only the braking, but the handling and road-holding too
I have a 2015 ES 5 speed manual, it is my daily driver for me to get to work and back averaging probably 25-30 miles daily, monday through thursday (I drive my 2013 outlander on fridays and weekends), and I have had 0 problems with this car @54000 miles now, I fill up once a week for around $10-$15 depending on fuel price, I am 6'6" and fit in it comfortably, longest drive I have taken was a 3-1/2 hour drive and I was averaging 45-50 mpg, and I've used it to haul multiple loads from boxed furniture, to landscaping materials for our home. I see a lot of reviewers giving this car flak (Doug Demuro anyone lol) but really it has the creature comforts I want, bluetooth, cruise, good AC, hot air, good traction in snow, cargo space, steering wheel audio controls, navigation, backup camera, DVD (aftermarket stereo), etc. It's a good point A to B car that I will drive until the wheels fall off.
@@donc6781 It's a safe bet he doesn't care what you or anyone else assessing his "man card" thinks. You know what they say about men who drive big vehicles, right? lol
Our car was in the shop, and we got an Outlander as a rental. I was blown away at how it handled, and loved the real 4WD on it. Not that AWD from Honda or Toyota. Keep doing your thing Mitsubishi!
This is the first good review for this car I've ever seen. We have one and use it for pizza delivery, it is EXCELLENT for that! It's the blood of this household with the moolah it rakes in.
Also the 2015 differences from 2014, extra sound material, side markers moved from fender to mirrors, different seat patterns and no more "purple" thread in seats, different motor mount to lower vibration, antenna moved to the rear of roof and it is shorter. This review and other mirage owners convinced me to test drive my first mirage, 3 days later the first Mirage I test drove was mine.
I just traded my 2015 Mirage for a 2020 Mirage G4. My 2015 was the most reliable car I ever owned it managed 85k miles on just oil changes a set of tires and a set of front pads ..and of course gas. That’s all I ever had to replace in that car. The brakes and suspension were updated in 2017 on the mirage and it’s one of the first things I noticed ..along with that extra 4 horsepower on the test drive in my new G4. Not mention the 2020 model year took this car out of 1991 and into 2020 with the addition of Bluetooth cruise control and a touch screen radio with a back up camera standard. My 2015 had power window and locks lol everything else was basic basic basic no cruise control nothing lol
@@bgdtlbrs the rear end was stiffened up, the 14 and 15 if you had adults in the back it completely bottomed out the suspension and the 17 and up is not like that at all
I hope it wasn't something expensive to fix. I also have a mirage and am loving it so far. 5 speed manual and base trim which I love. Still has backup cam, android auto etc. Really a good balance No mechanical issues for now I'm hitting almost 25k kms.
To me this is the BEST car you can buy today. Fully gas powered car that makes 44 mpg, is as easy to change the oil, and can have ALL 4 tires replaced for $75.
+Chad Snow The engine on this car is very thoughtfully designed. I changed the oil on mine, and was surprised to find a small spout underneath the oil filter. When you change the filter and oil comes gushing out, it runs down through this nice little spout into your oil catch pan instead of dripping and splattering down the side of the motor. ALL ENGINES SHOULD HAVE THIS.
Good choice for those who drive a lot of miles on full mileage reimbursement for the company... minimal costs, but reliable transportation, allows you to pocket the rest for yourself.
Insurance is paying for my rental of a 2021 Mirage hatch while one of my cars is in the body shop. It was a bit of a slouch driving it home from the shop after dropping my wife's car off for a fender bender. After sitting for an hour in my driveway, I checked the tire pressures: three underinflated by 5psi, and one over nearly 10psi. I reset all tires to 41psi(39 cold as recommended), took it out for a backroad spin and some Burger King, and it ate up curves and pavement like I ate my Whopper! 😄 Correct tire pressure matters folks!
I like the Mirage. It is light, stingy with gas, and can be had fully loaded around 14k with rebates. Too bad Motorweek tested the horrible CVT, the manual makes things much more entertaining, with only a marginal knock in economy. I would suggest a few minor tweaks... 1)offer 15 inch wheel like in England 2)stiffer springs 3)a GT model with a light pressure turbo and a six speed manual for about 18k Still, with its faults, I like it because I don't have to spend 25k and worry about battery packs or blue fluid to get 40 mpg.
***** y u mad? Is the mirage that horrible to drive that you have to defend it non stop? If it was a good car, you wouldn't be here hopelessly trying to convert a turd into a piece of gold
M Danahey Hmm, a turbo I3 engine and a 6-speed manual would probably do the Mirage more justice, but it takes more than that. An I5 engine, leather seats, Twin Clutch SST, etc. would be more preferred.
+Konrad Checinski That "paper thin sheet metal" is made of high tensile strength steel, not regular sheet metal. Since you seem to have ignorance and refuse to do your homework, the difference is that high tensile strength steel is lighter, more resilient and much better than regular sheet metal. There has been a LOT of thought and engineering packed into this tiny vehicle that the Big Three refuse to put into their N. American offerings. Outside of N. America, it's a different story. They're forced to compete in markets that don't blindly buy out of loyalty to N. American manufacturers so they have to put up their best. The best innovations Ford, Chrysler and GM have put out have been because they've acquired or partnered with real innovators from around the world. You really need to bone up on your automotive knowledge before you go spouting off all this crap I've been reading from you.
+Peter Lainas Hello. I see you never heard of a MAZDA 2, or a FORD FIESTA, or a NISSAN MICRA, or a CHEVY SPARK, DACIA SANDERO, OPEL ADAM, FIAT PANDA 3, SKODA FABIA, and i could keep going, all cars that put the Mirage in its place, a "mirage" of a decent small car. Don't insult me with your babble, because I am not comparing the Mirage to north american offerings, I am comparing it to GLOBAL OFFERINGS that are LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF IT. Dumbass.
Not a bad car I see a lot more mitsubishis because of this car, the outlander and outlander sport. But what car are they going redesign next? Lancer? It needs it.
If you have to get this car skip over the CVT and take the 5 speed. I test drove both and the 5 speed is way better and peppier than the slug CVT. I was hoping for the geo metro of the 21st century but no such luck
I got up to 75 in it and it was really screaming...I think 3500 rpm. I will have to give it another try. One flew past me today doing 75-80 so it must not have been too buzzy for that driver...and maybe it was doing 2500-3000 if in "top" gear. The 2014 had awful upholstery, I hear it is new for 2015, but I honestly did not pay any attention. The automatic was a white LS? and the green was a base model stick...which was fun to drive...loved the dead pedal too.
3656761 I tested two identical white 15 models (one with a 5 speed and one CVT) and had the AC on for both tests. When driving the CVT it would "lug" in heavy acceleration and just generally take its time to get going. Had to punch the gas to get it reasonably moving. The 5 speed was zippy and didn't lug at all, even with the AC on. Had more direct power when I needed it. I just like the manual because it was more direct in the power response than the auto was. The auto felt more slushy during gear changes too, kinda vague.
+ScaryGhost1 "The auto felt more slushy during gear changes too"...??? Did you really drive a CVT...??? In the real world CVT's don't "change gear". CVT is short for continuously variable transmission. Check it out: cars.about.com/od/thingsyouneedtoknow/a/CVT.htm
I love my 2014 mustang base but I also like this car for what it is. 10 year powertrain warranty! Seriously, I could see myself in a car like this, 10 years from now.
MARS PLEX you can die in a full size F150 in a car accident. Think about all the motorcycle riders out there, do they chose not to ride because of the fear of death?
It's really not a terrible car if you come to terms it's a 1996 economy car sold in 2016. It gets awesome gas mileage, easy to parallel park (and big inside for a car that's Fiat 500 sized), it's dead reliable because it's built for third world markets (no direct injection and CVT meant for 133 ft-lb/2400-2700lb cars in 74 ft-lb 2000lb car), and because it's a Mitsubishi it depreciates like a rock in water so you can buy it cheap used. Its the perfect city car if you don't want/can't afford a Prius. Whatever used Civic/Corolla you can buy for the price of a new or used one is going to be either $5000 more or 5 years older with more miles.
buildmorefarms100 Golf 1 curb weight: 1,741.7 lb, so 300lbs of airbags and bluetooth then, cuz it sure failed the offset crash test just as much as a golf 1 would.
Konrad Checinski It has a 4 star safety rating overall and has a knee airbag. The 1st generation golf wouldnt stand a chance against the Mirage in a crash. Mirage for the win! Plus german cars are always breaking down and in the $hop.
The 2015 Mirage has other new features not listed. It has turn signal indicators on the side view mirrors, a much smaller roof antenna and some slight trim changes inside (chrome accents on the dash) and then there's the seat fabric change mentioned in the video. It's small details, but excellent. All of those add up. To actually drive one is quite surprising. This review was right about the ride, it has a very smooth ride quality, better than it's competitors (tested). It's turn in rate is awesome. If you're in the city or on a sharp turn at a low speed, you can whip this car smoothly with no body roll, it's not like it's competitors, those cars you have to telegraph the turn because of the way the steering is set up. There's highlights in quality that are surprising. In the ES with push button start, it starts better than a lot of cars, it also shuts off better. It's an odd detail to point out, but it's worth mentioning. The trunk on the car is very solid, better than some of the other cars in its class. When you close it, you can tell the quality of the build, it's not a tin vibration, it's definitely solid. The HVAC is powerful, the air conditioning works better than expected and the circular vents make it easy to even position the air flow to the back better. It's a car that for it's category and engine just feels right. The power delivery is good in either transmission, but if you're worried about that, get the manual. Owners are averaging very high fuel economy numbers in both transmissions, but getting the most with the 5-speed overall. There are other details that are different. It takes 0W-20 oil and why: because instead of having a plugin heater for cold markets, that grade of oil will make the car start in really cold conditions easily without any added help. The warranty is a no brainer. Reliability seems to be good. Only two calendar years have been out. Possible a sedan version comes out for the 2016 model year. The car has had success outside of the U.S., just like the Fiesta. In other countries it has a 5-star ANCAP rating, which is equivalent to U.S. standards mostly. It has the smallest turning circle of any small car sold in the U.S. and has a lot going for it. Look at the sales figures. It's over 15,000 for 2015 and there's 5 calendar months left of sales for the total of this model year. That's impressive! That proves a lot.
Guy Portmonteau The '15s also have different motor mounts than the '14s had. Mine is a stick, and with the warm weather I calculated my last fill-up at 51.5 mpg. That's 385 miles on 7.47 gallons. These cars have tiny wheels/tires and great aerodynamics...they LOVE to coast.
Aaron Costello Excellent points. I like talking to owners of Mirage's. Most everyone loves these cars. They are completely under-rated. It's the most honest car ever. The fuel economy you stated doesn't surprise me. I talked to an owner averaging 48 with a manual. I've driven both the CVT and manual, both are good for different reasons. Thanks for adding the point about coasting, I've driven that way before and have achieved good results too. It is so much better when a certain brand or model can, some don't. Mitsubishi is probably putting out a sedan version in January 2016, I'm curious about that version.
+Guy Portmonteau As far as sedans go, if you're talking about the Attrage (sedan version of the Mirage), good luck getting that from Mitsu, as they are going (nearly) all SUV in the future...
I work at a second hand dealer. My boss bought 3 or 4 of these and a couple of older decked out smart cars. Every single mirage that came back for service had an uber sticker on it. Lol
マックス Man Let's face it. Cars are seriously expensive here in the Philippines. That's why cheap cars like these are chosen as the Car of The Year for its affordability. The Mirage in Japan costs 100,000 pesos less than here.
Why did I buy a Mirage? It's bullet-proof, timing chain (not a timing belt), 5 speed and high tensile steel underbody; which means I get 300,000 miles out of it. Dual heated seats✓ Cruise✓ Air, antilock brakes✓ .... $4,000. 😊
Who did the history and back checking of the mirage in the us for motorweek? or was the comment at 1:51 a mistake on the commentators part. he claimed the mirage has not been in the us since 1991? the mirage was made well into 2002 for the us market. now onto my thoughts of the car, well I like the concept of this car it could use some refinement, but for what it is i'd say Mitsubishi has done what many car makers have failed to do they made a better geo metro for the current day with a tad more modern convenience this car is miles ahead of that car, I also love the colors available and I think this car would make a good commuter car, heck id go so far to say that the us postal service should start driving these things around, they cost less then a prius and look really easy to fix compared to the technology laden hybrids out there.
I love the mirage name, I've had 3 mirages in my life and im only 18, I had 1989 sedan , I had a 1993 ES and my current 1993 LS, gotta say, I love the mirages back then, perfect, reliable, parts are everywhere, dirt cheap( keep in mind I got my current mirage last year for 800 dollars and it's on mint condition and had 200k miles on it), good power, for a 93hp it sure feels peppy, so where im going with all this?, this mirage is no where near the level mirages where back then, I mean, my LS looks wonderful, sharp curves, nice body lines, overall is a decent looking car, people's mayor complaint with this vehicle: style. i would buy it, yeah, just for the drive train, or if there was a hope in hell to make it look better i would, because I do think it's an ok car, it does what mirages are supposed to do, but it doesn't carry the legendary " stigma " or charm that mirages back in the day had, and that's a real let down, I mean, if there's a turbo option coming up, where do I sign up?, everyone remembers the legendary 1988 colt turbo, that's missing, is like the wow factor mirages used to have.
Wil lyou be testing the 2017-2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE? I would like to see Motor Week review it in the future since the 2017 Mirage and Mirage G4 had numerous updates inside, outside and in the mechanical department. I loved my 2015 loaded Mirage and I love my 2017 Mirage G4 SE even more!
Well, they haven't really iodated anything for the 2019 model year, it has a good engine, but it's severely underpowered. The Hyundai Accent offers better build quality, better materials, and almost twice the power of the Mirage, at the same price point. Their warranty periods are identical. 10 year 100k mi powertrain 5 year 60k mi basic 7 year 100k mi rust (on the Mirage) Hyundai offers a 7 year unlimited mileage rust warranty.
The US market had them until 2001 and in 2002 the Lancer global name was used. I had a 1998 Mirage Coupe DE until 2008 when it was totaled in an accident.
Looked at buying one last year. Steering wheel was the most uncomfortable piece of garbage plastic I have ever held ever. Seats were also kind of uncomfortable. Sad when car has good hwy mileage.
usmcportes Enjoy being an angry driver, driving a hateful car that returns ZERO pleasure out of ownership. Everything runs forever with some tlc, including sport cars which can be rebuilt from the ground up for 14k, like a e36 m3, which will return 20 times the enjoyment over ownership, won't be a pancake on the road, and yet somehow still be frugal.
Konrad Checinski My Mirage was $13,000 with a $300 protection package (mud guards, rear bumper protector, side modling) $95 cargo package (cargo net and mitsubishi mat) $60 wheel locks, +destination 795= MSRP $15,445, so what ever dealer you went to must think your a sucker. I found mine online, test drove it, bought it.
Back in early 2016, non current new 2015 es manuals could be had for under 10k all day long. A modern much improved Yugo by a long shot. Too bad now the price has creeped up and discounts have been reduced dramatically.
All you haters seem to resent that it's available at all. Same sort of people who hate anyone just for being different to you. There are many deeply satisfied ecstatic owners and you seem determined to blunt that feeling for them because YOU don't like the car personally. That's a very self centered way of thinking. Go buy your alternative and leave people alone to make their own choice in peace. You're sick in the head.
Mitsubishi have gone to crap. Such a shame. I had a 2001 Lancer that had the same engine and gear box that the Australian mirage had at the time. My Lancer was so reliable and handled great. The mirage at the time looked cool too. This thing is just a poor excuse of a car. Mitsubishi used to be a great brand.
I love my Mirage but the way the suspension is be wary of pot holes. Even not going that fast can do a lot of damage. But my main gripe about this car is those stop and go lights before freeway entrances. I've gotten used to it now, but in the past it used to be frighting merging at such a slow speed.
I'm mirage owner myself I also laugh at another mirage when get behind another one..Yes those tiny 14×4 1/2 inch wide tires do look funny.I won't deny that 🤣.I look at it this way my tire replacement bill should be about half the of the cost everyone else's haha
@@jmcrjc6799 Its not though. 165 65 r14 selections are sparse and expensive in the US. I recommend going with 175 65 r14 size. Alot more selection and cheaper. Your speedometer is only off by 2% and the mpg is hardly affected.
Hahaha at people calling this car super slow, is it slow? yeah. But no slower than the 99 Civic with the 1.5 I had in college, 4 speed auto. With just me in it it was about the same as this. Stuff 6 people in it which we did, you had to floor it to even move up a hill
I test drove one today and it didn't really want to go above 50, I'm very interested as the 2015 model is only 10,000 at my dealership for that hideous pink/ purple color. Can I really purchase this car as a grown woman lol... for that price and gas mileage maybe. But I will be using the vehicle to go back and forth from NY to GA and living and commuting in GA with above average speed limits can this car hang on the highway? or will I be driving ms Daisy?
+Crystalmuhammad It can do highway, no problem, very comfy up to 90 mph (I have CVT). But... you have to like the steering feel, or lack of it. And make sure you test the seats. They fit me, but they are not to everybody's taste.
Except its borderline dangerous handling and braking. At least they give you traction control on the base model, though you are going to need it because the tires are so thin they will struggle for traction.
I'm struggling to decide between the Mirage and a 1 year old CPO Mazda 3 Grand Touring Hatchback with 13K miles, 6 speed manual, leather, sunroof and 71 more HP. Both are $16,000. Someone please HELP!!!
This is the ultimate sleeper car, the 1.2L MPFI 12valve 3 cycle is exactly like the one found on the EVO. All it needs is a ECU tune and a catback exhaust and a CAI, and you're looking are 190hp and 245tq. The brembo's brakes need breaking in before they 95ft 60-0 stops appear. And the issue with the body roll, is that it's the adaptive suspension setting being on comfort.
I worked for Mitsu in the late 90's, and you are correct. The problem Mitsu is having right now is, now that Subaru went mainstream, and Suzuki is dead in the west, identity is a problem. They have too many options and too many bean counters looking for a profit. If they are to survive in North America, they must offer some cheap, exciting, ground breaking fun that resembles nothing. Subaru, Mazda, and Suzuki are either gone or mainstream. Opportunity knocks. Either sink or swim.
i've got to borrow one to test drive on my small town's cratered moonscape roads, to see if that "plush ride" holds up. almost nothing rides well in my town 'cept for big ol' cadillacs which of course just float over it all.
+Douglas Lafferty I love mine as well. The only people who hate them are the professional critics who just finished test driving a Bentley or Range Rover and idiotic armchair internet 'car experts' who have never even seen one in person...much less driven one.
that car is great on gas I wouldn't complain lol. I drive a 3g GTS and it gets 20mpg and I have to use Premium, when I do errand or travel distance I sometimes wish I had a hybrid or a gas saver. still my car hasn't let me down yet considering it has almost 180k miles lol
i got the 2015 mirage and came with a ralliart front strut bar, it can slalom better tbh, and i just added a rear strut bar as well so it feels more planted when doing a slalom now. fun car to do autocross as well
Best economy car ever. Does more economy than the one which advertised as economy cars, which I love. According to my perception, if you go for cheap cars, go for the cheapest at least you know that's the bottom, yet this zippy car had the most fun I got among other cars I've possessed so far! But manual deserves the 6th gear! ⚙️ I mean who gets 4.5 liters per 100kms unless it's hybrid?? OK, 70 hp seems less but who needs to accelerate from 120-150 very often? Not me. Keep in mind this metal box only weights 900 is kgs!
You could get a 74 horsepower triple cylinder or you could get a Polaris Ranger 1000xp with 82 horsepower, lower weight, cheaper, and better looking and more capable... no brainer 🤣
74hp-140 mph speedometer good selling point because there are some people who will believe That if the speedometer says it than that's what the car will go
Here's the test for everyone talking shit about this car . You're in the middle of a backroad , and a tornado drops 2 miles away heading straight for you moving at 30 MPH . You have a new Mitsubishi Mirage , and a set of keys to it in your hands. There's a clear path to drive away the other direction , a completely open road for 20 miles. I rest my case thank you.
a dae who? the 3 cylinder has a good sound to it there's no sense in criticizing a car for doing well in the area it was designed for i still see alot of those old Geo metro on the road they were Suzuki imports also know as Suzuki Swift 3 cylinder .
This is a car from ecology car project of Thailand government. The fuel consumption must be over 20 km/litre. CO2 must less than 120g/km. Thailand also produce Benz,BMW,TOYOTA Camry,Honda Accord but USA don't import these type.
They're not super reliable, but as long as you own them during the warranty period, they're decent everyday transportation, not fast, but they will get you where you're going,and get great fuel economy. As soon as they hit 100K though...I'd kick it to the curb, unlike a lot of other cars nowadays.
There are people like me, who love the cheapest cars because they are hardest to design and make. I love that I do not worry about repair bills, fuel price and cost of tyres. I want a car to bring me from A to B in reasonable comfort, werever and whenever. I want it to slow down when I brake and turn when I turn the wheel. I bought the Mirage in 2015 (with CVT) and I never regretted it. Zero defects. Zero oil consumption. Fuel use is 50 MPG. I did only service, 2 tyres, a set of brake pads and windscreen wipers (and 2 l of windscreen fluid) and fuel. I drove 40.000 miles now. Nothing broke. Not even a light bulb.
I love cheap, simple cars. I daily a Civic EH2. I'll drive it until the wheel fall off and the plastic rots.
Still driving my 2001 Suzuki Swift in 2019. About to hit 200,000
That's what I'm talking about !
Why buy hybrid??
@The Brain still driving it? And how many miles?
Not gonna lie, this video makes the Mirage look pretty awesome. It can't slalom well but it took those curves just fine, and looked good doing it.
6 years on and i've done 167000km without a single mechanical failure and i still get down to 4.5 litres per 100km. I'm 6'1" and i still have leg room to spare. The biggest surprise is not how slow it is to take off at the lights which is pretty average (unless you don't care about the fuel economy) but the fact you can boot the car at 100km/h and manage to overtake easily, before i knew it i was doing 130km/h.
My brother has one and the engine blew up at 35k miles
@@The101Point1 perhaps your brother didn't look after it very well.
@@Medjeed86 oil change every 3k miles
@@The101Point1I don’t believe you.
I want one. I love tiny cars and I want it in the most hideous color possible. In fact, I wish I could get it in multiple colors, with body panels randomly painted purple, neon green, and whatever other finishes they have.
You. I like you.
You my friend are funny. 😂
Wanna be friend??
Co-part auction
It needs to be on 15 inch wheels and in need of a turbocharger to add onto that 70+ horsepower engine like i to 140 HP.
Sometimes you just want a car with a new car warranty that will get you from point A to Point B and are not looking for all the bells and whistles. This seems to be a good car for that purpose.
George Martin not at 17k out the door. (california)
Konrad Checinski Maybe not, I bought the Mazda 3 and I'm very happy with it. I looked at the Mazda 2 and for a small car it was really fun to drive. It had a sticker price of about 15k (Florida spring 2014). The Mazda 3 is only a few thousand more and you get a lot more bang for the buck. Thanks for responding.
George Martin A mazda 2 is ten times the car that a mirage is. Sharing a platform with a fiesta makes the 2 fun to drive. I have driven the 2 and rather enjoyed the nimbleness. Same with the 3, its based on a focus/ volvo c30. At least you get some enjoyment out of your car. This POS provides ZERO. Hateful cars make hateful shitty drivers.
Konrad Checinski I'm not quite getting your point.
Konrad Checinski I test drove my friends Mazda 2, it does handle much better than the Mirage and is faster. Who buys a economy car to have cornering and 1/4 bragging rights? I bought a economy car to have MPG bragging rights and cheap ownership costs. He has already had to take his 2 back to the dealer twice for issues and I already caught up to him in mileage. I get plenty of enjoyment out of my Mirage, with the terrible energy saving tires and the large amount of body roll it really challenges me as a driver to pin it through the corners correctly, the Mazda 2 is a car anybody can drive fast through a corner, I ran into the same issues with my MR2 going against Miata drivers, they could never drive my MR2 as hard as I did without losing control on the autocross circuit.
got the 2014 midnight purple for my wife and she loves it.
easy to drive, park, and great on gas only $20-30 for a full tank even when gas prices were at $3+ and it easily beats my Lancer which racks $40-50 a tank and if your foot is not heavy, you'll easily hit 50+mpg on the highway///
i also love driving it, even if its purple with hella HelloKitty stickers on it.
i admit, we both laugh at it sometimes whenever i drive and tries to overtake some cars...which it has a hard time pulling...
took it to a regular car meet and its a head turner...
@tx7750680 haters ganna hate..
Is it a good female car
The 0 to 60 time is actually better than I was expecting, LOL! If I were going to get one of these, I'd buy it with a manual gearbox.
I love my mirage when I'm not using my evo. There's room for improvement with the mirage but mostly is very good at what it does.
It needs improvement. Mainly styling and build.
+Konrad Checinski Styling, yes. Build quality is perfect (except for rear axle alignment sometimes).
Why can't they put in an arm rest. That would be so nice. I am considering buying on of these
+phsycopiano I hated that at first but I dont even miss it now.
+phsycopiano They can. You have to pay extra or get one from e-bay or something. On the Mirage forum you will find what you are looking for. One word of caution. I have an armrest in this car. But for those with short arms/legs it is too much to the rear (or the seat too much to the front, of course). For normal sized persons it is OK.
Mirage is a sensible, honest vehicle. Simplicity, reliability, no frills, transportation thats actually fun to drive. Love mine, my girl loves her sedan version too.
People always complain that no one will make a cheap bare bones hatchback with good gas mileage. But every time an auto maker makes that exact car everyone slams it. I would honestly buy this car. I usually just drive old Honda civics but those are getting harder and harder to find. In a few years I might just go pick one of these eggplants up.
CORRECTION: The Mirage nameplate has been off the US market since 2002, and the Mirage as a hatchback has been off the US market since 1991.
Took the words right out of my mouth! I remember watching a "MotorWeek" review of the 1993 Mirage thanks to bajabusta.
I was going to write about that misinformation in regards to the discontinuation year, but you watched this a few years earlier than I did
Ugh... I hate CVTs. It sounds like shit.
@@Phenom98 It pretty cool though doing 70 mph @ 2k rpms
The classic battle of efficient vs high performance transmissions.
I had a 2000...so by motorweek it must have been just a .....well....mirage.
"Head-turning plasma purple?"
More like "Head-turning BARNEY purple" if you ask me. XD
Loyalmoonie more like eye burning girly, Victoria Secret pink🤢🤮
MW gave this car decent review. A well-built, economical and comfortable small car.
Just drove on as a rental for a few days. Overall I have to say the car is not that bad. It's more "old school", such as the comments you read about how good cars in the 90s were. Well, this is as good as any econobox from back then. Still, it has a magical amount of frills such as power windows, locks, and the autoclimate control is pretty amazing since many cars in the low 20s don't even have it. Yes, power stinks but this is an economy car. You really have to plan ahead to get going, but once it gets up to speed, it rides just fine. Softly sprung so no jarring, you don't feel like you're in such a small car. Visibility sight lines are exceptional. Gas mileage is where this car is at. Got high 40's overall even with massive pedal mashing.
This may be an economy car but this is also a 2015 model and these days, engines with less than 100 horsepower are unacceptable, at least to me.
@@moviesmetalmusicmotorvehic4828 Get used to it. 30 years from now cars will either be low hp electric or 3 cylinders. Hell, a hundred years from now will be using teleportation.
@@kylemas2005 Yeah but pretty much nobody makes vehicles with less than 100 horsepower. At least the majority of car companies. So yeah, if you think sub-100 horsepower engines in cars is justifiable today, then you're a complete and utter dumbass.
@@moviesmetalmusicmotorvehic4828 No need for that kinda talk my friend lol. Its all good. We got 2 Mirages in my family and we both do alot of highway driving. These cars do just fine, it helps they only weigh 2000lbs. Although our G4 sedan version is a bit heavier.
I love my '15 Mirage. I get 46 doing 100% urban/suburban driving. No freeway. That's in the winter...on winter gas. The Mirage is a city car. It is meant for getting from point A to point B. Use it for anything else (slaloms, drag races) and you will certainly be disappointed. This car has a narrow mission: low price, great warranty, high MPG. The market used to be chock full of cars like this (Tercel, Metro, Festiva, etc), but now all we can get are $20k-$40k hybrids. Not everyone wants or can afford a $400/mo car payment.
I considered the Spark, but since I dislike GM and HATE Daewoo, it didn't make much sense to buy a Daewoo Matiz rebadged as a Chevrolet (look it up). Sure, it has "contemporary" styling...meaning headlights that start in the middle of the front bumper and stretch all the way up to the base of the windshield. Blech. Personally, I think this styling trend looks ridiculous.
And, at the end of the day, it's still a Daewoo.
I agree the Mirage is a great little economy car. As a previous owner or a 98 Mirage and 06 Lancer, I know the Mirage is a reliable and frugal econobox. About GM Daewoo, i own a 11 Aveo5 2LT and has 72k miles on it and it has been very reliable. Never had issues with a GMDAT or now GM Korea product. They have come a long way and i can't complaint about my little Daewoo Gentra X.
Andrews Lloyd I would get the timing belt on the Aveo changed ASAP. They snap at 40k even though manual says change at 60k.
Aveos with timing belt issues are 04-08 with the old E-tech engine which were prone to timing belt failure. Aveos 09-11 use the Ecotec LXV engine, totally different engine with a stronger belt system that requires changing at 100k.
hibye Wow, I remember a girlfriend of mine that had an '05 or '06 Aveo that she leased, and her timing belt broke before the warranty was even up (under 40k). Half of the engine had to be rebuilt because of it. I thought that was the weirdest thing for a rubber belt to have that much authority.
Andrews Lloyd
Lol...I was happy to hear that the Mirage has a CHAIN. Glad to hear that timing belts on the GM-sourced Daewoo cars are better than they used to be.
We advertise these after discounts for $11,500 that comes with a 10 year warranty power everything and air conditioning. No other car is close to that price with those features. Also 37/44 mpg crushes everything else.
They wanted to sell 7,000 units in 2014. They will triple it when the year is over. They have been selling over 1,000 a month.
I think I will buy used. So many better used cars for the money.
green93 Used= buying someone elses problems, repair bills and you wont get the fuel mpg or warranty.
buildmorefarms100 True, but as soon as you buy a new car it instantly looses it's value, and what is saying that the car still doesn't have issues?
green93 The 3 Mitsubishi's I have owned have been good cars.
I love these Retro Reviews. It shows how truly terrible some cars were back in the day. Keep 'em coming!!
Ian Clancy ? This is 2015, not really retro
Ma Ss he's being sarcastic lol
Far better than a Yugo.
@@kylesoler4139 nah.. it's basically a Modern day Yugo that's just more reliable
I’d go with modern day Beetle, or Geo Metro. It’s a good little car.
It gets on my nerves when people give this car bad reviews. It’s an economy car it ain’t a Porsche 🙄
The long-ish braking distance is most likely due to the narrow economy tires. I'm sure some more premium all seasons or summer tires will improve not only the braking, but the handling and road-holding too
I have a 2015 ES 5 speed manual, it is my daily driver for me to get to work and back averaging probably 25-30 miles daily, monday through thursday (I drive my 2013 outlander on fridays and weekends), and I have had 0 problems with this car @54000 miles now, I fill up once a week for around $10-$15 depending on fuel price, I am 6'6" and fit in it comfortably, longest drive I have taken was a 3-1/2 hour drive and I was averaging 45-50 mpg, and I've used it to haul multiple loads from boxed furniture, to landscaping materials for our home. I see a lot of reviewers giving this car flak (Doug Demuro anyone lol) but really it has the creature comforts I want, bluetooth, cruise, good AC, hot air, good traction in snow, cargo space, steering wheel audio controls, navigation, backup camera, DVD (aftermarket stereo), etc. It's a good point A to B car that I will drive until the wheels fall off.
If I was 6’6” I’d be truly embarrassed been seen driving that car- sure people laugh at you daily - lost your “man card”
@@donc6781 It's a safe bet he doesn't care what you or anyone else assessing his "man card" thinks. You know what they say about men who drive big vehicles, right? lol
Our car was in the shop, and we got an Outlander as a rental. I was blown away at how it handled, and loved the real 4WD on it. Not that AWD from Honda or Toyota. Keep doing your thing Mitsubishi!
This is the first good review for this car I've ever seen. We have one and use it for pizza delivery, it is EXCELLENT for that! It's the blood of this household with the moolah it rakes in.
Also the 2015 differences from 2014, extra sound material, side markers moved from fender to mirrors, different seat patterns and no more "purple" thread in seats, different motor mount to lower vibration, antenna moved to the rear of roof and it is shorter. This review and other mirage owners convinced me to test drive my first mirage, 3 days later the first Mirage I test drove was mine.
I love my 2014 Mirage.
I just traded my 2015 Mirage for a 2020 Mirage G4. My 2015 was the most reliable car I ever owned it managed 85k miles on just oil changes a set of tires and a set of front pads ..and of course gas. That’s all I ever had to replace in that car. The brakes and suspension were updated in 2017 on the mirage and it’s one of the first things I noticed ..along with that extra 4 horsepower on the test drive in my new G4. Not mention the 2020 model year took this car out of 1991 and into 2020 with the addition of Bluetooth cruise control and a touch screen radio with a back up camera standard. My 2015 had power window and locks lol everything else was basic basic basic no cruise control nothing lol
What was going on with the suspensions
@@bgdtlbrs the rear end was stiffened up, the 14 and 15 if you had adults in the back it completely bottomed out the suspension and the 17 and up is not like that at all
I hope it wasn't something expensive to fix. I also have a mirage and am loving it so far. 5 speed manual and base trim which I love. Still has backup cam, android auto etc. Really a good balance
No mechanical issues for now I'm hitting almost 25k kms.
@@bgdtlbrs it wasn't anything I had to fix, it's just an upgraded suspension on any mirage 2017 or newer - I lived with it on my 2015
I'd hope nothing would break with only 85K miles.
To me this is the BEST car you can buy today. Fully gas powered car that makes 44 mpg, is as easy to change the oil, and can have ALL 4 tires replaced for $75.
+Chad Snow The engine on this car is very thoughtfully designed. I changed the oil on mine, and was surprised to find a small spout underneath the oil filter. When you change the filter and oil comes gushing out, it runs down through this nice little spout into your oil catch pan instead of dripping and splattering down the side of the motor. ALL ENGINES SHOULD HAVE THIS.
Excellent you mention the tires. That's a huge part of operating costs for cars driven a lot.
Good choice for those who drive a lot of miles on full mileage reimbursement for the company... minimal costs, but reliable transportation, allows you to pocket the rest for yourself.
oldtwins n
Insurance is paying for my rental of a 2021 Mirage hatch while one of my cars is in the body shop.
It was a bit of a slouch driving it home from the shop after dropping my wife's car off for a fender bender.
After sitting for an hour in my driveway, I checked the tire pressures: three underinflated by 5psi, and one over nearly 10psi.
I reset all tires to 41psi(39 cold as recommended), took it out for a backroad spin and some Burger King, and it ate up curves and pavement like I ate my Whopper! 😄
Correct tire pressure matters folks!
I don't know why, but I have a wierd lust for double digit horsepower.
There is a novelty in owning a 3cyl engine car these days.
I just bought a 2017 Mirage ES, it gets 47 mpg all the time ,or more. It drives more like a buick, then a Honda Civic! Love it!
The plush ride is one of my favorite aspects of the way this cars drives.
that's it, i'm getting a mirage
This is like the modern day Geo Metro
I like the Mirage. It is light, stingy with gas, and can be had fully loaded around 14k with rebates. Too bad Motorweek tested the horrible CVT, the manual makes things much more entertaining, with only a marginal knock in economy. I would suggest a few minor tweaks...
1)offer 15 inch wheel like in England
2)stiffer springs
3)a GT model with a light pressure turbo and a six speed manual for about 18k
Still, with its faults, I like it because I don't have to spend 25k and worry about battery packs or blue fluid to get 40 mpg.
M Danahey Costs 17k in california fully loaded. Its not worth the paper thin sheet metal its made from.
***** y u mad? Is the mirage that horrible to drive that you have to defend it non stop? If it was a good car, you wouldn't be here hopelessly trying to convert a turd into a piece of gold
M Danahey Hmm, a turbo I3 engine and a 6-speed manual would probably do the Mirage more justice, but it takes more than that. An I5 engine, leather seats, Twin Clutch SST, etc. would be more preferred.
+Konrad Checinski That "paper thin sheet metal" is made of high tensile strength steel, not regular sheet metal. Since you seem to have ignorance and refuse to do your homework, the difference is that high tensile strength steel is lighter, more resilient and much better than regular sheet metal. There has been a LOT of thought and engineering packed into this tiny vehicle that the Big Three refuse to put into their N. American offerings. Outside of N. America, it's a different story. They're forced to compete in markets that don't blindly buy out of loyalty to N. American manufacturers so they have to put up their best. The best innovations Ford, Chrysler and GM have put out have been because they've acquired or partnered with real innovators from around the world. You really need to bone up on your automotive knowledge before you go spouting off all this crap I've been reading from you.
+Peter Lainas Hello. I see you never heard of a MAZDA 2, or a FORD FIESTA, or a NISSAN MICRA, or a CHEVY SPARK, DACIA SANDERO, OPEL ADAM, FIAT PANDA 3, SKODA FABIA, and i could keep going, all cars that put the Mirage in its place, a "mirage" of a decent small car. Don't insult me with your babble, because I am not comparing the Mirage to north american offerings, I am comparing it to GLOBAL OFFERINGS that are LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF IT. Dumbass.
Not a bad car I see a lot more mitsubishis because of this car, the outlander and outlander sport. But what car are they going redesign next? Lancer? It needs it.
If you have to get this car skip over the CVT and take the 5 speed. I test drove both and the 5 speed is way better and peppier than the slug CVT. I was hoping for the geo metro of the 21st century but no such luck
Jorge Marrero I drove both and the manual was the same 3000 rpm as the cvt.
Maybe the one I drove was in sport mode??? It had 3000 rpm at 60 just like the stick. I was wondering why..any ideas?
I got up to 75 in it and it was really screaming...I think 3500 rpm. I will have to give it another try. One flew past me today doing 75-80 so it must not have been too buzzy for that driver...and maybe it was doing 2500-3000 if in "top" gear. The 2014 had awful upholstery, I hear it is new for 2015, but I honestly did not pay any attention. The automatic was a white LS? and the green was a base model stick...which was fun to drive...loved the dead pedal too.
3656761 I tested two identical white 15 models (one with a 5 speed and one CVT) and had the AC on for both tests. When driving the CVT it would "lug" in heavy acceleration and just generally take its time to get going. Had to punch the gas to get it reasonably moving. The 5 speed was zippy and didn't lug at all, even with the AC on. Had more direct power when I needed it. I just like the manual because it was more direct in the power response than the auto was. The auto felt more slushy during gear changes too, kinda vague.
+ScaryGhost1 "The auto felt more slushy during gear changes too"...???
Did you really drive a CVT...???
In the real world CVT's don't "change gear". CVT is short for continuously variable transmission.
Check it out: cars.about.com/od/thingsyouneedtoknow/a/CVT.htm
I love my 2014 mustang base but I also like this car for what it is. 10 year powertrain warranty! Seriously, I could see myself in a car like this, 10 years from now.
Driving thing thing for 10 years, you would sooner be in a coffin.
Elaborate.
MARS PLEX you can die in a full size F150 in a car accident. Think about all the motorcycle riders out there, do they chose not to ride because of the fear of death?
MARS PLEX It has 7 air bags...nothing is 100% safe.
I'd most likely use it as a winter car.
The Mirage nameplate was last used around 2001 then replaced by the Lancer.
Still better than a Prius. If you buy this, get the manual version.
It's really not a terrible car if you come to terms it's a 1996 economy car sold in 2016. It gets awesome gas mileage, easy to parallel park (and big inside for a car that's Fiat 500 sized), it's dead reliable because it's built for third world markets (no direct injection and CVT meant for 133 ft-lb/2400-2700lb cars in 74 ft-lb 2000lb car), and because it's a Mitsubishi it depreciates like a rock in water so you can buy it cheap used. Its the perfect city car if you don't want/can't afford a Prius. Whatever used Civic/Corolla you can buy for the price of a new or used one is going to be either $5000 more or 5 years older with more miles.
That colour is BEAUTIFUL :O
The 80's called. They want their Mirage back.
I love the 80's! This is the 80's + airbags, 140watt stereo, auto climate control and loaded: pw,pl,pw,cc a/c, tilt, mp3/usb. With a 10 year warranty.
buildmorefarms100 And because of all that weight , its a pitiful car.
Konrad Checinski 2000 lbs? Youre silly.
buildmorefarms100 Golf 1 curb weight: 1,741.7 lb, so 300lbs of airbags and bluetooth then, cuz it sure failed the offset crash test just as much as a golf 1 would.
Konrad Checinski It has a 4 star safety rating overall and has a knee airbag. The 1st generation golf wouldnt stand a chance against the Mirage in a crash. Mirage for the win! Plus german cars are always breaking down and in the $hop.
3 cylinder engine providing more working room and a 1.2 engine is a smart plan
I drove a Mitsubishi Mirage recently as a rental car. Not bad for what it is. Basic A to B transportation. On the fence as to whether I would buy one.
The 2015 Mirage has other new features not listed. It has turn signal indicators on the side view mirrors, a much smaller roof antenna and some slight trim changes inside (chrome accents on the dash) and then there's the seat fabric change mentioned in the video. It's small details, but excellent. All of those add up. To actually drive one is quite surprising. This review was right about the ride, it has a very smooth ride quality, better than it's competitors (tested). It's turn in rate is awesome. If you're in the city or on a sharp turn at a low speed, you can whip this car smoothly with no body roll, it's not like it's competitors, those cars you have to telegraph the turn because of the way the steering is set up. There's highlights in quality that are surprising. In the ES with push button start, it starts better than a lot of cars, it also shuts off better. It's an odd detail to point out, but it's worth mentioning. The trunk on the car is very solid, better than some of the other cars in its class. When you close it, you can tell the quality of the build, it's not a tin vibration, it's definitely solid. The HVAC is powerful, the air conditioning works better than expected and the circular vents make it easy to even position the air flow to the back better. It's a car that for it's category and engine just feels right. The power delivery is good in either transmission, but if you're worried about that, get the manual. Owners are averaging very high fuel economy numbers in both transmissions, but getting the most with the 5-speed overall. There are other details that are different. It takes 0W-20 oil and why: because instead of having a plugin heater for cold markets, that grade of oil will make the car start in really cold conditions easily without any added help. The warranty is a no brainer. Reliability seems to be good. Only two calendar years have been out. Possible a sedan version comes out for the 2016 model year. The car has had success outside of the U.S., just like the Fiesta. In other countries it has a 5-star ANCAP rating, which is equivalent to U.S. standards mostly. It has the smallest turning circle of any small car sold in the U.S. and has a lot going for it. Look at the sales figures. It's over 15,000 for 2015 and there's 5 calendar months left of sales for the total of this model year. That's impressive! That proves a lot.
Guy Portmonteau The '15s also have different motor mounts than the '14s had. Mine is a stick, and with the warm weather I calculated my last fill-up at 51.5 mpg. That's 385 miles on 7.47 gallons.
These cars have tiny wheels/tires and great aerodynamics...they LOVE to coast.
Aaron Costello
Excellent points. I like talking to owners of Mirage's. Most everyone loves these cars. They are completely under-rated. It's the most honest car ever. The fuel economy you stated doesn't surprise me. I talked to an owner averaging 48 with a manual. I've driven both the CVT and manual, both are good for different reasons. Thanks for adding the point about coasting, I've driven that way before and have achieved good results too. It is so much better when a certain brand or model can, some don't. Mitsubishi is probably putting out a sedan version in January 2016, I'm curious about that version.
+Guy Portmonteau As far as sedans go, if you're talking about the Attrage (sedan version of the Mirage), good luck getting that from Mitsu, as they are going (nearly) all SUV in the future...
+wiiplayer9revisited They have already announced they are bringing it here for the '17 model year, which should be introduced this spring.
+Aaron Costello you are correct.
according to some sources, the Mirage G4 sedan is supposed to be released sometime in January.
I work at a second hand dealer. My boss bought 3 or 4 of these and a couple of older decked out smart cars. Every single mirage that came back for service had an uber sticker on it. Lol
Did any of your customers comment on how the Mirage held up to ridesharring?
MotorWeek should change it’s name to “Why are all cars good?”
This car was rated Car of the Year in the Phillipines.
マックス Man LOL, that doesn't give it any credit considering the GDP in the Philippines and how many people actually can afford cars...
マックス Man Let's face it. Cars are seriously expensive here in the Philippines. That's why cheap cars like these are chosen as the Car of The Year for its affordability. The Mirage in Japan costs 100,000 pesos less than here.
Why did I buy a Mirage?
It's bullet-proof, timing chain (not a timing belt), 5 speed and high tensile steel underbody; which means I get 300,000 miles out of it.
Dual heated seats✓
Cruise✓
Air, antilock brakes✓
.... $4,000. 😊
Who did the history and back checking of the mirage in the us for motorweek? or was the comment at 1:51 a mistake on the commentators part. he claimed the mirage has not been in the us since 1991? the mirage was made well into 2002 for the us market.
now onto my thoughts of the car, well I like the concept of this car it could use some refinement, but for what it is i'd say Mitsubishi has done what many car makers have failed to do they made a better geo metro for the current day with a tad more modern convenience this car is miles ahead of that car, I also love the colors available and I think this car would make a good commuter car, heck id go so far to say that the us postal service should start driving these things around, they cost less then a prius and look really easy to fix compared to the technology laden hybrids out there.
Well said.
Exactly, people that dont get these cars could care less about those less fortunate than themselves being able to get to work.
I love the mirage name, I've had 3 mirages in my life and im only 18, I had 1989 sedan , I had a 1993 ES and my current 1993 LS, gotta say, I love the mirages back then, perfect, reliable, parts are everywhere, dirt cheap( keep in mind I got my current mirage last year for 800 dollars and it's on mint condition and had 200k miles on it), good power, for a 93hp it sure feels peppy, so where im going with all this?, this mirage is no where near the level mirages where back then, I mean, my LS looks wonderful, sharp curves, nice body lines, overall is a decent looking car, people's mayor complaint with this vehicle: style.
i would buy it, yeah, just for the drive train, or if there was a hope in hell to make it look better i would, because I do think it's an ok car, it does what mirages are supposed to do, but it doesn't carry the legendary " stigma " or charm that mirages back in the day had, and that's a real let down, I mean, if there's a turbo option coming up, where do I sign up?, everyone remembers the legendary 1988 colt turbo, that's missing, is like the wow factor mirages used to have.
I've been using Mirage for completely 6 years. Noise reduction is for me the weakness. Anybody has the same view with me?
Wil lyou be testing the 2017-2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE? I would like to see Motor Week review it in the future since the 2017 Mirage and Mirage G4 had numerous updates inside, outside and in the mechanical department. I loved my 2015 loaded Mirage and I love my 2017 Mirage G4 SE even more!
A car only Motorweek could love
Sometimes instead of buying a Camry, you opt instead to buy two Mirages, and now your family can go two places at once rather than one.
I’m looking into this little car for my commute to work.
Well, they haven't really iodated anything for the 2019 model year, it has a good engine, but it's severely underpowered. The Hyundai Accent offers better build quality, better materials, and almost twice the power of the Mirage, at the same price point.
Their warranty periods are identical.
10 year 100k mi powertrain
5 year 60k mi basic
7 year 100k mi rust (on the Mirage)
Hyundai offers a 7 year unlimited mileage rust warranty.
Its not the same price point at all. There's like a 3k plus cost difference. Apples to Oranges. Accent is a fine car, but not a better deal.
Continental US had no Mirages after 91?! But Puerto Rico had them since forever, so many are still left. 0.0?
+TheZProtocol because we arent really a small car market
The US market had them until 2001 and in 2002 the Lancer global name was used. I had a 1998 Mirage Coupe DE until 2008 when it was totaled in an accident.
there was a mirage in the us till 2001 he made a mistake.
chustro zoom
TheZProtocol yeah I live in Puerto Rico and 50% of their cars are mirages and montero sport (Nativa)
Looked at buying one last year. Steering wheel was the most uncomfortable piece of garbage plastic I have ever held ever. Seats were also kind of uncomfortable. Sad when car has good hwy mileage.
I put 222,088 miles on my 2015. The CVT went out. I was so impressed with it, I bought a 2022.
You are NOT buying a sports car.
This little car is the future: cheap, economical, and cheap lol
usmcportes and hideous. 17k out the door in california. Its not cheap at all, i would never spend 17k on this turd. Used better cars are the way to go
usmcportes Enjoy being an angry driver, driving a hateful car that returns ZERO pleasure out of ownership. Everything runs forever with some tlc, including sport cars which can be rebuilt from the ground up for 14k, like a e36 m3, which will return 20 times the enjoyment over ownership, won't be a pancake on the road, and yet somehow still be frugal.
Konrad Checinski
Mine was $14k loaded. Move out of California. Mitsubishi isn't screwing you...California is.
Aaron Costello my e36 m3 convertible was 5k, with a mint factory paint job, clean title, 8/10 interior and 92k on the clock.
Konrad Checinski My Mirage was $13,000 with a $300 protection package (mud guards, rear bumper protector, side modling) $95 cargo package (cargo net and mitsubishi mat) $60 wheel locks, +destination 795= MSRP $15,445, so what ever dealer you went to must think your a sucker. I found mine online, test drove it, bought it.
Back in early 2016, non current new 2015 es manuals could be had for under 10k all day long. A modern much improved Yugo by a long shot. Too bad now the price has creeped up and discounts have been reduced dramatically.
All you haters seem to resent that it's available at all. Same sort of people who hate anyone just for being different to you. There are many deeply satisfied ecstatic owners and you seem determined to blunt that feeling for them because YOU don't like the car personally.
That's a very self centered way of thinking.
Go buy your alternative and leave people alone to make their own choice in peace. You're sick in the head.
The new ones with the grill obviously looks nicer to me but I still like these one.
I definitely don't think that comparing it to the early offerings from Hyundai is a selling point LOL
I thought the same thing. “We are reminded of the early Hyundais...because like the Excel and Scoupe, this car is a piece of shit too”
Yeah not the most flattering comparison, but I think they meant it's back to basics for a low price, which appeals to certain people.
I drove a 94 for years. And the new one feels just like that....if they were going for that then good job
Mitsubishi have gone to crap. Such a shame. I had a 2001 Lancer that had the same engine and gear box that the Australian mirage had at the time. My Lancer was so reliable and handled great. The mirage at the time looked cool too. This thing is just a poor excuse of a car. Mitsubishi used to be a great brand.
I love my Mirage but the way the suspension is be wary of pot holes. Even not going that fast can do a lot of damage. But my main gripe about this car is those stop and go lights before freeway entrances. I've gotten used to it now, but in the past it used to be frighting merging at such a slow speed.
You're safer braving pot holes in a Mirage than in a car with ultra low profile tires.
You got an auxiliary gear box that will kick up the CVT to highway speeds, dont be afraid to punch it.
I bought BMW F30 328i.. after 20k miles. It breaks..
Everything
Those have got to be some of the skinniest tires I've ever seen
mark williams Reminds me of my mom's 89 Tercel. I'll never forget those skinny 155 80 R-13 tires!
My bicycle tires are wider than that
I'm mirage owner myself I also laugh at another mirage when get behind another one..Yes those tiny 14×4 1/2 inch wide tires do look funny.I won't deny that 🤣.I look at it this way my tire replacement bill should be about half the of the cost everyone else's haha
@@jmcrjc6799 Its not though. 165 65 r14 selections are sparse and expensive in the US. I recommend going with 175 65 r14 size. Alot more selection and cheaper. Your speedometer is only off by 2% and the mpg is hardly affected.
@@kylemas2005 I will consider looking into that.I am considering going to upgrade to a polished aluminum mag wheels or something along that line
Hahaha at people calling this car super slow, is it slow? yeah. But no slower than the 99 Civic with the 1.5 I had in college, 4 speed auto. With just me in it it was about the same as this. Stuff 6 people in it which we did, you had to floor it to even move up a hill
Wow, that should have been a pretty peppy car. Surprised.
Yeah but this is a 2015 model. Most cars made in that year have at least 100 horsepower.
I test drove one today and it didn't really want to go above 50, I'm very interested as the 2015 model is only 10,000 at my dealership for that hideous pink/ purple color. Can I really purchase this car as a grown woman lol... for that price and gas mileage maybe. But I will be using the vehicle to go back and forth from NY to GA and living and commuting in GA with above average speed limits can this car hang on the highway? or will I be driving ms Daisy?
+Crystalmuhammad It can do highway, no problem, very comfy up to 90 mph (I have CVT). But... you have to like the steering feel, or lack of it. And make sure you test the seats. They fit me, but they are not to everybody's taste.
Did you get a Mirage?
I'm wondering if it's not based on the Suzuki Celerio also from Thailand .
Although it come from Thailand, Mirage isn't based on Celerio.
nothing wrong w/ this car.
Except its borderline dangerous handling and braking.
At least they give you traction control on the base model, though you are going to need it because the tires are so thin they will struggle for traction.
PRNDB
The B stands for "Badass", you're passing someone, you go badass.
Had a 2010 Lancer ES and then I got this... Fuel economy is much better and to be honest I don't miss the Lancer... Just miss it's 156hps 2.0
The underdog hatchback thats a viable option when fuel is not cheap.
I'm struggling to decide between the Mirage and a 1 year old CPO Mazda 3 Grand Touring Hatchback with 13K miles, 6 speed manual, leather, sunroof and 71 more HP. Both are $16,000. Someone please HELP!!!
Hmm? Seeing the Mirage can be discounted for barely $9500 OTD? That is a big difference!
This is the ultimate sleeper car, the 1.2L MPFI 12valve 3 cycle is exactly like the one found on the EVO. All it needs is a ECU tune and a catback exhaust and a CAI, and you're looking are 190hp and 245tq. The brembo's brakes need breaking in before they 95ft 60-0 stops appear. And the issue with the body roll, is that it's the adaptive suspension setting being on comfort.
The mirage's awd is far more advanced. It's Mitsubishi's test bed for the Evo. I can't believe more people haven't caught on to it.
yep.
I worked for Mitsu in the late 90's, and you are correct. The problem Mitsu is having right now is, now that Subaru went mainstream, and Suzuki is dead in the west, identity is a problem. They have too many options and too many bean counters looking for a profit. If they are to survive in North America, they must offer some cheap, exciting, ground breaking fun that resembles nothing. Subaru, Mazda, and Suzuki are either gone or mainstream. Opportunity knocks. Either sink or swim.
i've got to borrow one to test drive on my small town's cratered moonscape roads, to see if that "plush ride" holds up. almost nothing rides well in my town 'cept for big ol' cadillacs which of course just float over it all.
The car is ok overall but the CVT is annoying on acceleration. However the manual version seems promising and fun
Bought one and love it
+Douglas Lafferty I love mine as well.
The only people who hate them are the professional critics who just finished test driving a Bentley or Range Rover and idiotic armchair internet 'car experts' who have never even seen one in person...much less driven one.
Agreed
that car is great on gas I wouldn't complain lol. I drive a 3g GTS and it gets 20mpg and I have to use Premium, when I do errand or travel distance I sometimes wish I had a hybrid or a gas saver. still my car hasn't let me down yet considering it has almost 180k miles lol
Where is the Lupo, VWoA?
Is that a HEMI?
Purple? I really thought this car was pink.
i got the 2015 mirage and came with a ralliart front strut bar, it can slalom better tbh, and i just added a rear strut bar as well so it feels more planted when doing a slalom now. fun car to do autocross as well
how much weight did it add?
This tiny car gets me from point a to point b, using stick shift can do 90++mph or 150 kmh with low gas mileage.
A fair and balanced review of a "people's car."
Best economy car ever. Does more economy than the one which advertised as economy cars, which I love. According to my perception, if you go for cheap cars, go for the cheapest at least you know that's the bottom, yet this zippy car had the most fun I got among other cars I've possessed so far! But manual deserves the 6th gear! ⚙️
I mean who gets 4.5 liters per 100kms unless it's hybrid??
OK, 70 hp seems less but who needs to accelerate from 120-150 very often? Not me. Keep in mind this metal box only weights 900 is kgs!
Seems like some reviewers treat the car fairly. Some trash it harder than anything I've,e ever seen. I hope to own one of these come June. 5 speed ES.
OMG!! COMPAIRES WELL TO EARLIER HYUNDAIS?????
I have a faulty brake issue with mine known for the 2014 2015 model. Keep needing to replace my brakes and the sceching
whomever is doing your brakes possibly isn't greasing up the slide pins on the calipers and are just replacing the pads.
Mi own opinion, small cheap car but come very equipped for the price , may you like may not but still a good buy
You could get a 74 horsepower triple cylinder or you could get a Polaris Ranger 1000xp with 82 horsepower, lower weight, cheaper, and better looking and more capable... no brainer 🤣
74hp-140 mph speedometer good selling point because there are some people who will believe That if the speedometer says it than that's what the car will go
this is not the base model.... this is the fully optioned model......
Here's the test for everyone talking shit about this car . You're in the middle of a backroad , and a tornado drops 2 miles away heading straight for you moving at 30 MPH . You have a new Mitsubishi Mirage , and a set of keys to it in your hands. There's a clear path to drive away the other direction , a completely open road for 20 miles. I rest my case thank you.
a dae who? the 3 cylinder has a good sound to it there's no sense in criticizing a car for doing well in the area it was designed for i still see alot of those old Geo metro on the road they were Suzuki imports also know as Suzuki Swift 3 cylinder .
This thing is god awful. It has wild factory colors, but that’s about it. I want one.
They can call that plasma purple all they want but that car is PINK.
Yeshua Man more like Barney Purple if you ask me. XD
This is a car from ecology car project of Thailand government. The fuel consumption must be over 20 km/litre. CO2 must less than 120g/km.
Thailand also produce Benz,BMW,TOYOTA Camry,Honda Accord but USA don't import these type.
They're not super reliable, but as long as you own them during the warranty period, they're decent everyday transportation, not fast, but they will get you where you're going,and get great fuel economy. As soon as they hit 100K though...I'd kick it to the curb, unlike a lot of other cars nowadays.
I'd kick any CVT automatic to the curb. This car will always sell fast with high miles thanks to uber drivers.
The previous Mirage is a better car than this new one in practically every respect except fuel economy