The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage Isn't The Shitbox "Journalists" Claim It To Be

"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia) 01/28/2018 at 15:16 • Filed to: Mitsubishi Mirage

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Ahh yes, so called “journalists” love to hate on the newest generation of the Mitsubishi Mirage. There’s plenty of reasons to hate this car, with only 78 horsepower generated from a 1.2 liter three cylinder, it hasn’t any scrap of sportiness whatsoever. However, it isn’t supposed to. In fairness, what this car is supposed to be, and what it intends to achieve, it does very well.

Frugal Transportation

The Mitsubishi Mirage has never been a luxury car, it has always been a subcompact designed for tight budgets and people that don’t care much about a car having a soul. In that sense, the Mirage is indeed alive and well, not much has changed. The current generation of Mitsubishi Mirage comes in three trim levels; ES, SE and GT. The ES comes with steel wheels and no basic features other than power windows and power locks. It truly is the definition of basic transportation and it does a pretty fair job of that.

However, step into the SE and GT models and options can get pretty decent. My 2017 is an SE, and my car has some options that other cars I’ve owned have not. For example, my Mirage has Apple CarPlay and the Android version too. In lieu of that, my car also has navigation in the way of the Maps app, and it works very well. My vehicle also has upgraded Rockford Fosgate audio, a smart key with a button on the doors or hatch for keyless entry (simply push the button to lock or unlock the doors with no need to touch the key fob) and push button start. Additionally, my Mirage is equipped with one touch down power windows, a pretty good back up camera, cruise control, bluetooth hands free, fold down rear seats, power locks, a tilt steering column, child anchor locks for car seats, and other basic things you’d hope for. Also my vehicle is equipped with automatic headlights, fog lights and even rear fog lights.

Step up to the GT and you get a few more basic things like HID headlights, nicer alloy wheels than my SE, and little aesthetic differences. The point is this, Mitsubishi sells a car like mine new for $16,000 which is laughable because they offer a “name your price” offer system, and rebates. You can get a car like mine for $14,000 or under, making it the single cheapest vehicle I know of. Mine has very low miles, the remainder of the Mitsubishi bumper to bumper warranty, and the famous CarMax bumper to bumper Max Care warranty, all for $13,000. When you look at this car as a new car for $13,000 suddenly it starts to make more and more sense.

Why Buy This Over A Versa Or Corolla?

I don’t have a great answer, so I will tell you precisely why I did. For one, I despise Nissan’s CVT transmission massively. It feels like it constantly is slipping and overall annoys the shit out of me. The Corolla is a great car, but the price is definitely higher and fuel economy is certainly lower. Plus, when you factor in options to options, the Corolla doesn’t come close in terms of price.

I didn’t buy my Mirage because it was cheap, in fact I was looking at vehicles in the $50,000 and up price range. I decided on the Mirage because I needed transportation I can rely on, and with an insane amount of warranty coverage, I have much peace of mind in that. The 1.2 liter three cylinder has been turning 38-40 miles per gallon in city driving and upper 40s in highway driving at 70 miles per hour. I hate all CVT transmissions, but the Mitsubishi slushbox isn’t nearly as terrible as the Nissan units I’ve experienced and I find it tolerable. It isn’t great, but it IS tolerable.

The little wheels and tires make ride quality very good, and Consumer Reports had commented that highway handling was twitchy on rough roads. I say they’re full of shit, as I drove down US23 in Ohio and found the car to be superbly stable and comfortable at high speeds on one of the most notoriously bad roads around. Steering is definitely light and lacks feedback, but it is direct and goes where you point it. Body roll is certainly there thanks to its’ soft ride, but you don’t buy this car to carve corners. Braking is very much up to the task and I find it more than safe and acceptable.

In short, I buy this over the Corolla or Versa because you save a fair amount of money, get decent options and features with MORE fuel economy for LESS money.

The Mirage Doesn’t Act Pretentious

Mitsubishi knows this car is a shitbox at the end of the day, and in many ways it is. That’s the point I’m making here, the Versa is also a massive piece of shit too. Most cars in this class lack any form of soul or character, and there’s no reason to act like that isn’t the case. However, that doesn’t mean any of these cars are bad cars. All of them are good at being cars if nothing else.

Interior fit and finish isn’t the best with many exposed bolts and fasteners, but I find that to be an upside. When this car is out of warranty someday, the simplicity everyone bad mouths... Is the single biggest feature to me. Working on this car will be insanely simple. There’s just not much that can really go too wrong, and if it does everything is extremely basic and easy to remove and reinstall. I embrace and love the simplicity of the Mirage.

Mitsubishi electronics have a notorious reputation for being robust, and my DSM is proof of that. The three cylinder engine is basic and simple, my favorite reviewer Doug Demuro knocked the fact that you can see daylight in the engine bay and I just laugh. I love Doug, but he also doesn’t wrench his own cars and he wouldn’t think of this as a plus side for those like me that do. So to you Doug, thanks for pointing out my favorite feature of the Mirage; my large hands would have zero issue doing any repair under the hood.

Additionally, I’m a Mitsubishi guy, so my basic bias helped my decision in buying this car. Plus, if I’m honest, I really do like the way this car looks. When I get my 15" Enkei RPF1's on it, it will look pretty sharp. Otherwise, stock it is everywhere else.

The Meat & Potatoes Of This Review

Well of course, let us talk about what everyone wants to know. Yes, it is very slow. However, in town it easily keeps up with traffic and feels more powerful than it is. Merging on the highway I haven’t had any troubles at all. It cruises 70 miles an hour under 2500 RPMs which is less than my 1g DSM. Handling is very acceptable in my opinion, and road noise is more isolated than the Elantra, Sentra and Versa I’ve driven. Yes I’m serious.

The switches are easily laid out on the center stack, and very intuitive. The Apple CarPlay makes the center screen especially useful and I love having Maps navigation in such a cheap car. The Rockford audio isn’t punchy by any means, but sounds good enough streaming my Amazon Music. Overall at this price point, the interior is comfortable for me, there’s room for two adults and two children and it gets insanely good fuel mileage.

The small size and back up camera means even a blatant idiot can park this car absolutely anywhere, and darting through big cities is effortless. While this car isn’t remotely of the highest quality, it doesn’t need to be. Everyone expects Mercedes Benz quality, but they don’t want to pay the price point. So many people “claim” to want a good basic transportation device at a low price, and Mitsubishi delivered it.

Too bad everyone forgot about what they asked for, and instead bitched about it. I bitch when someone builds a $35,000 vehicle without options, but not at $14,000. I won’t forget driving a certain Santa Fe Sport with a tag over $30k that didn’t have Apple Car Play, navigation and had a smaller infotainment screen than my Mirage.

I say good on you Mitsubishi. I love this car, and look forward to the incoming shit storm due to my very unpopular opinion.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:12

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Are you gonna put more power in it

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:16

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And for more of my thoughts on why the Mirage is actually a cool little car, click the trader below to check out my com on steerlink.auto/overcolumn

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:16

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Counterpoint :

ranwhenparked > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:27

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The Mirage serves a purpose as a cheap, honest, reliable little car for people that need exactly that. Auto journalists don’t understand that market segment, at all, so, naturally they will be pretty savage with it.

But, it is kind of a rare hit for Mitsubishi in sales (hence why its their lone remaining passenger car in the US), so it obviously is finding favor with a good number of actual consumers.

fhrblig > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:33

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If it had right around 100 hp, it’d be almost perfect. That’s what my Fiat had and it was a fun little runabout. But for what it is, I don’t have a problem with it. I do wish the manual was better.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:41

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Never understood the hate for the little Mirage in the US. It has been quite a hit in Oz and was popular with the auto press.

Things have moved on though and now it’s up against a couple of very competent Suzuki’s, Kia Picanto and the Holden Spark. The latter can be had in base trim (6 airbags, stability/traction/cruise control, Android and Apple Play) for AU$13,800 on the road at the moment - that’s just US$11,200.

FSI > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:56

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The Mirage is the closest thing to a Dacia you can buy in the States so I don’t get it why this car is so hated on here. Also, 78hp is more than enough for pure city driving. The obsession of high hp numbers and 0-60 times is the so damn immature.

Stef Schrader > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 16:58

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The Mirage is a good, honest car.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 01/28/2018 at 17:00

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I dislike GM vehicles though. And there’s a HUGE price difference there between new to new.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Stef Schrader 01/28/2018 at 17:00

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Ooooh hey Stef! Thanks for acknowledging my piece lol. I definitely do agree!

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 01/28/2018 at 17:01

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LOL made my day

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > FSI 01/28/2018 at 17:01

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I’ve definitely cruised 75-80 comfortably with it already! Very excellent points indeed!

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > fhrblig 01/28/2018 at 17:02

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Haven’t got to drive the manual model unfortunately

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > ranwhenparked 01/28/2018 at 17:03

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Very good points. The mirage name is pretty loved among Mitsu guys like myself, and that’s part of the nostalgia I adore I suppose.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/28/2018 at 17:04

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Nah it’ll stay stock with some really nice and lighter wheels :)

fhrblig > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 17:04

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Don’t bother, it isn’t worth it. I’d still like to test drive the CVT.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 17:06

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Yeah, you’re getting a $35k new car for $13k used, not a $14k new car for $13k used... that’s called value.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 17:09

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Excellent review! I love basic, cheap cars...they aren’t pretentious, and they do exactly what it says on the tin. I actually don’t mind the looks of the Mirage, even before the facelift of the current generation. The fact it comes in bright, cheery colors is a nice plus as well, considering a lot of cars nowadays only offer darker blues, grays, silvers, whites and reds...and that’s about it.

Kudos for picking up the plucky little fellow, and I look forward to hearing about it more! :)

VERY surprised it actually comes with rear fogs, by the way....they are very uncommon to be sold on cars in North America other than Euro imports like Audis, Mercsand BMWs!

FSI > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 17:10

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I probbly wouldn’t buy one tbh but I bet the Mirage is an excellent value.

What’s the rpm @ 75-80 mph?

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 01/28/2018 at 17:11

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Valid points. Very true. I still dislike GM products from my past experiences and I admit that. But I don’t weight that bias into my reviews either.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/28/2018 at 17:11

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You just hit the nail on the head, thank you for this! I love the color too and rear fogs is a neat plus. I’ll be writing about it more for sure.

ranwhenparked > FSI 01/28/2018 at 17:19

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78hp is perfectly acceptable for anything that weighs right around 2,000lbs.

Jayhawk Jake > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 17:50

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When your introduction of your new car to a group of enthusiasts is a defense of your choice, I feel like you know you messed up.

I’m glad you like it, but for $13k it sure seems like there’s better options. Especially when you say you had considered cars $50k and more, that opens so many choices. But that’s the cynic in me. Congrats, curious to see how it holds up over time.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 01/28/2018 at 17:55

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All that tells me is that those were too expensive to begin with.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake 01/28/2018 at 18:08

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He’s not defending anything. He’s sharing how he ended up with his new vehicle choice, something pretty much everyone does on here when they buy a car... The fact that it is a maligned vehicle adds context and intrigue.

And you’re not a cynic, you’re just rude :/

For Sweden > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 01/28/2018 at 18:10

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I doubt this is warrantied to 125,000 miles

For Sweden > Jayhawk Jake 01/28/2018 at 18:11

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125,000 miles of warranty coverage = money for second fund car

For Sweden > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 18:13

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mfw I’m defeated in journalism and bumper to bumper warranties

CB > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/28/2018 at 18:39

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Nice little summary! You make an excellent point about it being honest about what it is, and nothing more. Honestly, for the price, it seems like a solid deal. Happy travels!

(Although, if I was buying new in that price range, I’d also consider a Micra that you Americans don’t get)

CB > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 01/28/2018 at 18:39

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When things go wrong out of warranty, though, I doubt that working on a Volt in your backyard is an easy task.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/28/2018 at 18:51

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Thank you so much, just LITERALLY took the words out of my mouth.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > For Sweden 01/28/2018 at 18:53

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EXACTLY

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > Jayhawk Jake 01/28/2018 at 18:54

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Not in defense of anything except the car itself, definitely had the buying power to get basically anything in reason I wanted. Not saying in immodesty at all, just putting it into context.

Thanks for your feedback as well, plenty of updates will follow.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > For Sweden 01/28/2018 at 21:32

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Alternatively, when you quirk and she clicks the link below to check out your column on dougtrader.com/demurosteer

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > FSI 01/29/2018 at 02:20

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2900-3100 range :)

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > For Sweden 01/29/2018 at 02:21

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Indeed it is. With Car Max Max Care factored in it is ;)

FSI > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 01/29/2018 at 04:37

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I could live with that.

Jayhawk Jake > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/29/2018 at 09:19

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When you open by saying “eff the haterz” and close by saying “I’m looking forward to the incoming shitstorm for my unpopular opinion” that’s defending it.

I’m not trying to be rude, I’m simply observing. I don’t really care what people do with their time or money, and it will certainly be interesting to see a long term ownership perspective of the car.

XJDano > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 06/01/2018 at 12:31

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I drove a 98 Chevy metro for almost 10 years. I would probably feel at home in one of these. Instead I bought my wife a van, and got her equinox and essentially gave my metro away to be used as rally-x duties.

JoeF > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 06/20/2019 at 15:17

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I just want to say that back in May, I bought a brand new 2019 Mirage which looks exactly like yours and color. I love it. Is it a little shitbox? Sure it is. It rattles, it’s engine is anemic and can’t get out of its own way, its not as spacious as my past car, and I wa s pretty down on Mitsubishi and other Japanese cars before. My first car in 1989 was a Nissan Sentra and it was horrible. But after all the domestic cars I bought that were complete garbage and money pits the entire time I owned them throughout the years , I have to say for the money, I love it. I knew what I was in for because I wanted a car with good gas mileage and is cheap to fix. At 49 I am not looking to b low the barn d oors off anyone. I drive like an older person . I like the $18 and I spend to have a full tank that’ s lasts me a week and a half instead of $40 every single week. I like not taking my car in every two weeks for something that was so ridiculously designed that instead of replacing one simple cheap part, you find they designed 5 parts all in one unit and now its gone from a $60 part from NAPA to $500 part from the dealer only. Don’t take any shit from people because everyone likes what they like. I personally hate trucks and anyone who drives one, but I don’ t go on here spewing venom on the people for their truck mentality . I find the “expert” reviews to be pretty harsh o n this car, all of which I have to disagree with on their nitpicking. This car was designed and built for a certain type of people and budget. I love mine and I’m looking forward to see how i t treats me. Not to mention the dealership I drove 35 miles to get to to test drive and but this was the best dealership I ever dealt with in the Buffalo, NY area.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > JoeF 06/21/2019 at 19:29

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Well put. I bought it honestly because of the fuel mileage and warranty. Of course I’m also a huge Mitsubishi person so that never hurt lol. Knock on wood it’s been a great little car for me and looks nice sitting next to my old DSM.