Used 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage

The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage subcompact hatchback and 2021 Mirage G4 sedan are two of the least expensive brand-new cars sold in the United States. They’re slow and basic, but the warranty is good and standard equipment is expanded this year, with forward-collision mitigation now included, along with tweaks to the exterior design.

By spending just a little more, though, there are better alternatives. Like the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Nissan Versa. Or there’s the even cheaper Chevrolet Spark hatchback. From its hard interior plastics to its anemic 3-cylinder engine, the Mirage falls well short of the class best.

For the undeterred, a base 2021 Mirage can claim a comfortable ride, good fuel economy, a decent trunk (in the G4 sedan), attractive pricing, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The driving experience is pleasant, but nothing special. The ride is smooth, the brakes quick to respond, and the automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) is completely capable of doing its job. That’s a sign of low expectations right there.

Twisting roads highlight a Mirage weakness: steering response. Vague on-center feel obliges the driver to return the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position after a curve or correction, just to be sure of not drifting off in whichever direction the wheels were last pointed. The Mirage also leans noticeably when pushed into curves, and the suspension can get jouncy over uneven surfaces.

Acceleration (if it can be described as such) from standstill to 60 mph takes nearly 13 seconds. Any sense of urgency requires nailing the throttle pedal to the floor, resulting in an obnoxious wheeze from the 78-horsepower (yes, only in the double figures), 3-cylinder engine.

The trade-off for this tepid performance is fuel economy near the top of the class, with an estimated 41 mpg on the highway in the G4 sedan and 43 mpg in the hatchback, when each is equipped with the CVT.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage comes with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen (upgraded this year), Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone integration, and a conveniently located USB port. Unfortunately, there’s only one.

Supportive seat padding and cloth upholstery are tolerably comfortable, and the optional heated seats are quick to warm up. A standard height-adjustable driver’s seat helps improve overall driving comfort, but long trips are not necessarily something to relish.

And cheapness is everywhere. The Mirage lacks padded elbow rests on the door panels (although a driver’s-side center armrest is available). Nor are there any soft-touch plastics. Our test vehicle also had numerous small defects and misaligned trim pieces.

Forward of the front doors, the 2021 Mirage looks modern and appealing. This year’s restyling brings new bumpers (color-coded) and new LED combination taillights. The SE trim has LED headlights and daytime running lights as well.

Every version also receives a new rear spoiler. And the Carbonite Edition has its own aerodynamic and cosmetic additions.

The sides still look out of proportion, with low door handles and thick hindquarters. And the forward-leaning hatchback has perfunctory, flair-free lines at its tail. But a squared-off rear end at least helps with parking.

The Mirage G4’s trunk gives an arguably more balanced look. It’s a decent size (12.6 cubic feet), but the rear seats don’t split and fold down as they do in the hatchback. There’s just a pass-through for longer objects.

The Mirage is available in a few eye-catching colors, such as Sunrise Orange Infrared, Sapphire Blue, and a purplish Wine Red.

APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO
Young people who might decide to buy a new Mirage require smartphone connectivity, so they’ll be glad to see that both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard in the base model.

WARRANTY
Taking a page from the Hyundai/Kia playbook, Mitsubishi puts a standard 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on every 2021 Mirage/Mirage G4.

Trim levels for the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4 are ES, LE, Carbonite Edition, and SE. Standard equipment is a little sparse, but that’s not surprising considering the low base price.

The ES starts off with a 5-speed manual transmission, 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, folding/power-adjustable side mirrors, cruise control, power windows/locks, 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, height-adjustable steering wheel (but not reach), 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, voice control, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, AM/FM/HD radio, and a 4-speaker sound system.

Safety features include hill-start assist, seven standard airbags, including one for the driver’s knees, stability control, and forward-collision mitigation.

Strangely, the LE trim loses some standard equipment this year, including smartphone integration, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It does have the CVT as standard and 14-inch alloy wheels, but buyers on the tightest budget would be better off going with the ES and spending a little extra for the automatic transmission.

Anyone buying a 2021 Mirage in ES trim will probably want the automatic transmission, which we recommend since the manual is hardly the best.

The top SE trim has 15-inch alloy wheels with 2-tone finish, LED headlights/daytime running lights, fog lights, CD/MP3 player, leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, leather/fabric seating surfaces, heated front seats, driver’s-seat armrest, and lane departure warning.

All versions of the 2021 Mirage are eligible for front/rear parking sensors, blue ambient LED cabin lighting, cargo mat, cargo net, and a 300-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.

Navigation is not available, but most drivers can use a smartphone app.

An unimpressive 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine sits under the hood of the 2021 Mirage and Mirage G4. Generating just 78 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque, this unit is both noisy and prone to vibration, making it irritating at high speeds.

Paired with the rubbery 5-speed manual gearbox, the Mirage achieves fairly decent fuel economy estimates. But the CVT automatic produces the best results.

1.2-liter inline-3
78 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
74 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 33/41 mpg (manual, hatchback), 33/40 mpg (manual, G4 sedan), 36/43 mpg (automatic, hatchback), 35/41 mpg (automatic, G4 sedan)