2017 Mitsubishi Mirage

Under 20K for the Under 20 Crowd!

By Charles Donaldson

Are you looking for a financially-affordable car for the newest driving member of your family or just a very fuel-efficient commuter vehicle? Well, there are a few options to choose from in the sub-compact car category; however, which one holds the claim as the most fuel-efficient, non-hybrid gasoline-powered vehicle available in America? That would be the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage!

The Mirage is the smallest car in the Mitsubishi stable. It was refreshed for the 2017 model year which may be why they decided not to produce a 2016 model. It hasn’t been hot on the buyer’s list when searching for a sub-compact car with sales dropping for the past couple of years. I’m sure one of the goals of the redesigned 5-door Mirage was to help re-spark interest in this little hatchback.

The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage is available in three trim levels: ES ($13,830), SE ($15,630) and GT ($17,330). Prices include a destination fee of $835. The U.S. version of the Mirage is built in Thailand.

Power comes in the form of a 3-cylinder, 1.2-liter motor with only 78 horsepower. The fuel economy isn’t bad at all with 37 City and 43 Highway. It’s not a rocketship at 78 horsepower and there definitely isn’t a warp drive; however, on flat roads it doesn’t get in its own way. The ES and SE come standard with a 5-speed manual transmission and an optional CVT automatic transmission that is also standard on the GT.

Mitsubishi claims to have made significant improvements to the handling and it does have a great turning ratio. I did experience wind noise and if you don’t give the doors a decent push, they will not close tightly.  

The Mirage is one of the smallest five-door hatchbacks sold in the United States; yet, it is longer than a Fiat 500. The styling is smooth and cute. New changes for the 2017 model year include new front and rear bumpers and lower-body treatments, different headlights, fog lamps, a new grille, new 14 and 15-inch wheels and a new spoiler.

The interior is simple and clean with offerings that include air conditioning, full power accessories, keyless entry, steel wheels and a four-speaker 140-watt sound system. Bluetooth compatibility is an option on the ES. T In addition, a new available 300-watt Rockford-Fosgate™ audio system with EcoPunch™ is available with Smartphone Link Display Audio, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ the first Mitsubishi model to feature this popular infotainment system in the States.

Some new features for 2017 include new front and rear seat materials, 4-way adjustable driver’s and front passenger seat, keyless entry with panic feature, new front fascia with chrome upper/lower grille, New hood design, LED tail lamps, Rear spoiler, Color-keyed front and rear bumpers, folding side-view mirrors, door handles and tailgate handle, New 14-inch alloy wheel design; 15-inch alloy wheels (SE/GT), HID automatic on/off headlights (SE/GT), and Beveled fog lamps (SE/GT).

Room for improvement:

·         The dash and door pieces are hard plastic

·         The rear camera image is a bit fuzzy

Cool Features:

·         Push Button Start

·         Available Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™

Safety on the 2017 Mirage have improved from previous poor ratings to mostly good ratings by the Institute for Highway Safety. The Mirage's safety features include seven airbags—driver and passenger front and side bags, side-curtain bags over the front and rear windows, plus a knee airbag for the driver. For an inexpensive vehicle, the Mirage still includes stability control, traction control, and all of the typical anti-lock braking systems.

In Summary – The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage is a decent vehicle for getting around town without putting much of a dent in the gas tank. Mitsubishi has truly improved the looks and style of the vehicle as it continues to move in the right direction. Let’s not forget that you get a fair amount of features for nearly under $14,000.

Specifications

2016 Mitsubishi Mirage GT

Base price:                  $16,495 as driven: $17,330 (including destination & optional
                                    features)

Engine:                        1.2-liter MIVEC DOHC 3-cylinder

Horsepower:               78 @ 6,000 RPM

Torque:                       74 @ 4,000 RPM

Transmission:             5-speed CVT automatic

Drive:                          FWD Drive

Seating:                       5-passenger

Turning circle:            30.2 feet

Cargo space:               17.2 cubic feet

Curb weight:               2117 pounds

Fuel capacity:              9.2 gallons        

EPA mileage:              City 37/Hwy 43

Wheel Base:                96.5 inches

Warranty:                    5 years/30,000 miles powertrain limited

Also consider:             Chevrolet Spark, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota
                                    Yaris