The Mitsubishi Mirage lives up to its name. While its low price and good fuel economy may conjure up an inviting image of a good, economical runabout, the illusion quickly dissipates when you drive this regrettable car.
A three-cylinder engine powers the Mirage. In an effort to make the car palatable, Mitsubishi fitted a rather impressive list of standard features. However, the car is way too slow and noisy to effectively compete in this competitive class.
Our high-trim ES looks OK on paper, with its keyless push-button ignition, cruise control, automatic climate system, 140-watt audio system, and Bluetooth capability. It also has a compliant ride and a surprisingly accommodating rear seat.
But the driving experience falls short on just about every other count. Acceleration from the sputtering and vibrating engine is sluggish. Engine noise and coarse vibrations also fill the miniscule cabin. While subcompacts are usually nimble, the Mirage's handling is so clumsy several testers found it disconcerting. On top of that, the interior feels drab, cheap, and insubstantial.
Overall, it seems the Mirage was designed to put cost first and everything else second. With a tally of only 29 points, it was the lowest scoring car we'd tested in a very long time.
If you're set on buying a Mirage, the base DE model has power locks and windows and a USB port; Bluetooth is available as an accessory. The only feature you may miss is cruise control.
The top-level Mirage ES has some unexpected features, including push-button start and automatic climate control, along with steering-wheel audio and voice controls. However, they really don't improve the overall experience.
A backup camera is available, but only with the optional navigation package.