Item: 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage
Rating: 1.7
Author: Joel Patel

Overview

What's New

Minor revisions for the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage bring automatic climate control across the range, while gloss black accents are introduced to the cabin and the steering wheel gains multifunction controls.

Otherwise, this subcompact hatchback continues on offering a low starting price and strong fuel economy while being held back by a subdued engine and noisy ride.

Choosing Your Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mirage is available in four trims: ES, LE, SE, and GT. Pricing starts at $14,990 including destination for a base ES and only climbs to $18,290 for the GT.

Engine Choices

The Mitsubishi Mirage is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that delivers 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. The lack of powers leads acceleration to come at a glacial pace, which makes for uneasy highway handling.

Power is supplied to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission on the ES and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on all other trims. The CVT is a $1,300 option on the base model.

Fuel economy checks in at an EPA-estimated 36 miles per gallon city, 43 mpg highway, and 39 combined with the CVT. These figures drop to 33/41/36 mpg (city/highway/combined) with the manual.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

The five-seat Mirage is much better suited with only four passengers in tow. Cargo capacity is 17.1 cubic feet in the trunk, which expands to 47.0 with the rear seat down.

Safety Features

With its diminutive dimensions, it's disappointing to see that the Mirage comes with no standard active safety features at any trim level. Worse yet, there aren't any available on the option's list outside of front and rear parking sensors ($480).

We understand that this is an economy car bent on offering value, but that isn't going to cut it in 2020.

Connectivity

Base ES models start with a 7-inch display with HD radio, Bluetooth, and one USB port. Smartphone integration enters the picture when buyers move up to the LE, which brings a 6.5-inch infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

ES - From $14,990

The ES trim is pretty basic, but you wouldn't buy a $15,000 subcompact expecting luxury features. There's 14-inch steel wheels, a six-way manual driver seat, a four-way manual passenger seat, and a four-speaker audio system.

It delivers modern essentials like power windows, cruise control, automatic climate control, keyless entry, a rear window defroster, and LED taillights.

The main option across the Mirage range is a $595 Rockford Fosgate audio system, outputting 300 watts through an amplifier and subwoofers.

LE - From $17,190

The Mirage LE is most notable for having the 6.5-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional upgrades include 15-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a driver seat armrest, a leather wrapped-steering wheel and shift knob, and black interior fabric with red accents.

SE - From $17,740

The modest price hike means the SE receives relatively little in the way of extra features. In fact, it loses the heated seats and it's back to 14-inch wheels, although they are alloys at this level.

Over the LE, the SE does offer fog lights, side mirrors with turn signal indicators, chrome front inner door handles, push-button start, and Mitsubishi's FAST-Key entry system.

GT - From $18,290

GT buyers benefit from HID headlights, 15-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and heated front seats. Otherwise, it's specified identically to the SE trim.

Compare Mirage Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

Buyers of the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage will likely be on a strict budget, but it’s worth paying a little extra for LE trim. It's only $900 more than an ES with the CVT, and you get smartphone integration and heated seats, among other upgrades.

Neil Cumins

Automotive Editor - January 22, 2020

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Expert Review

Pros

Affordable pricing
Good fuel economy
Easy-to-drive size

Cons

Sluggish acceleration
Unnerving handling on highway
No active safety features

Expert Rating

1.7

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Joel Patel

Automotive Editor - February 12, 2020

Excellent fuel economy. The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the most efficient subcompact vehicles on the market. Thanks to its tiny 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, the Mirage can get an EPA-estimated 39 miles per gallon combined.

The Mirage’s excellent fuel economy rating puts it at the top of its class, only falling behind hybrids. But the compromise comes in performance. The Mirage only has 78 horsepower, which makes the subcompact hatchback feel lethargic at best.

Passing cars on the highway is difficult and even dotting around the city is cumbersome. Don’t expect the Mirage to win any impromptu races.

Easily maneuverable and versatile. For urban drivers, the Mirage’s small stature makes it easy to drive. The vehicle measures in at just 149.4 inches in length, 65.6 inches in width, and is 59.4 inches tall. Consumers searching for something small and maneuverable will find the subcompact hatchback’s size to be easy to handle on even the narrowest of roads.

Despite the Mirage’s small size, the hatchback has a decent amount of cargo space. Behind the rear seats, the hatchback has 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which opens up to a total of 47 cubic feet.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Low-rent interior. With a starting price of $14,990 including destination, the Mirage prioritizes being an affordable method of transportation before having a luxurious cabin.

Still, the Mirage comes with lackluster materials, hard plastics, and a bland design on the inside. The hatchback lacks decent sound deadening and is loud at highway speeds on the inside.

In addition to the dull interior design and materials, the Mirage has uncomfortable seats that lack cushioning. A limited number of adjustments also makes it hard for passengers in the front to find a good seating position. In the rear, the seats are even firmer and a small amount of rear legroom makes things even more uncomfortable.

Below-average safety scores. When it comes to safety, the Mirage leaves a lot to be desired. In testing by the IIHS, it did fine except in the small overall front crash test, which got a second-from-the-bottom "Marginal." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the vehicle a four-star overall safety rating.

Beyond a rearview camera, which is mandated by the federal government, the Mirage doesn’t come with any other standard active safety features. That puts the Mirage behind the pack. Optional features aren’t any better, as the Mirage is only offered with front and rear parking sensors.

Final thoughts. If you’re on a tight budget and need something small to drive, the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is, at best, a mediocre choice. There are much better options on the market that are safer, better value options, more powerful, and more comfortable.

The main things we’re left wanting for with the Mirage are more power and safety features. If Mitsubishi were to mend those two areas, the Mirage would be a much better option.

The Honda Fit is the grandfather and the benchmark for the subcompact class. It has a much more spacious interior, more standard safety features, and is a more comfortable vehicle than the Mirage. All-new for 2020, the Nissan Versa is another great option in the class. The Versa has more comfortable seats, a larger interior, and is priced similarly to the Mirage.

Check prices for the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage »

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Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

1.2L I-3 / 78 HP / 74 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 5-spd man w/OD

Available: 2-spd CVT w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

33 / 41 / 37 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

60 Months / 60,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	1.2L I-3 / 78 HP / 74 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	33 / 41 / 37 Mpg
Brakes	Front Disc/rear Drum
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel	Compact Steel
Fuel Tank	9.2 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$35

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	47.0 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	86 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	149.4 "
Exterior Width	65.6 "
Exterior Height	59.4 "
Front Headroom	39.0 "
Rear Headroom	37.2 "
Front Legroom	41.7 "
Rear Legroom	34.2 "
Front Shoulder Room	51.7 "
Rear Shoulder Room	51.0 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	2,018 Lbs. / 2,073 Lbs.
Wheel Base	97 "
Turning Radius	15.1 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	14.0 " Steel
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote
Bumpers	Front Body-colored With Chrome Insert
Grille Moldings	Black W/chrome Surround
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Cloth
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats	60-40 Bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Am/fm Stereo, Clock, Seek-scan / Rockford Fosgate Am/fm Stereo, Seek-scan
Speakers	4 / 4 Rockford Fosgate
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Tilt
Climate Control	Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror	Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors	Driver
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	1

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag	Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors	Rear / Front And Rear
Security Systems
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Immobilizer

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Major Components Months	120 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Corrosion Perforation	84 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage for Sale

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