Used 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

Among the many subcompact cars one can buy, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan wouldn’t be our first picks. Why? Because while perks like a frugal 3-cylinder engine and the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto impress, in just about every other category that matters the Mirage comes up short, especially when compared to such established competitors as the Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa and Kia Rio. The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage’s styling is far from memorable, the interior materials hard and unwelcoming, the engine weak and the latest driver-safety assists nowhere to be found. On the plus side, the Mirage’s ride is comfortable, its CVT works better than most and it does have a large trunk.

Our 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan exhibited a smooth ride and strong brakes. Unfortunately, the steering’s on-center feel is so poor we physically had to return the wheel to center or run the risk of continuing in whichever direction the Mirage was last pointed. On rough pavement, the Mirage’s suspension is quite bouncy and the car leans heavily even in moderate corners. Fuel economy is good so long as you’re not in a hurry to get where you’re going. Any sense of urgency, however, requires constant full-throttle maneuvers that quickly torpedo those rosy EPA numbers. The 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine isn’t big on power; with a mere 78 ponies it requires a leisurely 12.5 seconds to achieve 60 mph. The engine is also quite loud at full throttle, a fact exacerbated by the CVT automatic transmission that keeps the tachometer near redline anytime the engine is asked for peak performance.

Improvements to the interior this year include a new touch-screen audio system, rearview camera and a relocated USB port. Sadly, soft-touch surfaces aren’t among the positive, and the Mirage offers no padded elbow rest, although it does gain a driver’s-side center armrest this year. The supportive seat padding and cloth suggest comfort, and the seat heaters are remarkably efficient, but the lousy seating position makes it hard to actually get comfortable. And there are cheap touches everywhere, like the Bluetooth microphone gracelessly tacked on top of the steering column.

While we wouldn’t call the 2018 Mirage ugly, it doesn’t benefit from the cutesy charm of some other jelly-bean-like subcompacts. The hatchback and sedan feature a large chrome grille with a handsomely detailed lower bumper. The trunk gives the little car a more mature persona, and while it offers decent cargo space, the rear seats don’t fold down as they do in the hatch, although there is a pass-through for longer objects. The Mirage G4 is available in a few eye-catching colors, such as bright orange Infrared, or the purplish Wine Red of our test car.

APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO
A pleasant surprise in any subcompact, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With these apps, the audio system connects to your smartphone allowing you to access texts, maps and music all via the 6.5-inch touch screen.

WARRANTY
Similar to what Hyundai and Kia offer, Mitsubishi’s 2018 Mirage and Mirage G4 subcompacts come with a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty at no extra cost.

The basic 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 comes with air conditioning, tilt (but not telescoping) steering wheel with controls for audio and Bluetooth, and power windows, doors and mirrors. Also standard is keyless entry with an alarm, a USB port, and a 4-speaker touch-screen audio system with rearview camera. It’s a little sparse, but not surprising considering the low base price. Safety features include hill-start assist, seven standard airbags, including a driver’s-side knee airbag, and stability control. That of course is on top of the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine, which in base models is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Foremost among the options is the automatic transmission, which we recommend since the manual is hardly the best. Most options are available as standard equipment in the higher-level SE trim on sedans, or GT on the hatchback. They include push-button ignition and entry, and the upgraded audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Automatic climate control is also part of the upgraded models, but curiously a stand-alone navigation system isn’t available; presumably Mitsubishi has decided whatever smartphone you’re using will suffice. Also available on the SE/GT models is cruise control controlled through steering-wheel buttons.

The only engine available in the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4 is a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder with a modest 78 horsepower. The engine’s primary duty is saving fuel, and it does this admirably, offering up to 42 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg in the city, numbers we normally associate with hybrids. The downside is that this isn’t the most elegant powertrain. The engine vibrates noticeably at idle — although it’s better than it was before — and at full throttle it sings a raspy, groaning song that will discourage exploring the reach of the gas pedal. Unfortunately, even if you just want to keep up with traffic leaving a stoplight, you’ll need to floor it, which of course hurts fuel economy.

1.2-liter inline-3
78 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
74 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 33/40 mpg (manual, sedan) 33/41 mpg (manual, hatchback), 35/42 mpg (automatic, sedan), 37/43 mpg (automatic, hatchback)