Overview & Reviews

When it comes to the small car segment, Japanese automakers have long held a dominant role. But some makes and models have been more popular than others. The Mitsubishi Mirage reliably served as an affordable and economical set of wheels for 16 years, usually scoring well in quality surveys and critics' reviews. Yet this compact sedan and coupe never could escape the shadows of more popular models like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla.

In actuality, the Mirage's road manners, at least on versions equipped with the proper engine and tires, were reasonably refined and up to the demands of basic transportation. Gas mileage was decent, cabins were acceptably isolated from noise and ride harshness, and the Mirage's interior was designed as well as any. Finally, Mitsubishi was ahead of the game in offering what small-car shoppers presumably look for most: a low price.

For awhile there, the Mitsubishi Mirage even showed hints of sports car aspirations by dishing out a couple high-output engines, one of them turbocharged. But the Mirage never attained much sales success. Most shoppers at the time preferred the comfortable reputation provided by more mainstream products. As a used compact sedan or coupe, the Mirage is at least worth a look as a budget buy, especially given its below-average resale value. However, you'll want to be aware of the car's limitations and faults, and comparing it to a few other small car choices would probably be wise.

Most Recent Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mitsubishi Mirage lived its fourth and final life from 1997-2002. Its lineup was divided between sedan and coupe body styles and entry-level DE (later ES) and upscale LS trim lines. Engines included a 1.5-liter engine with 92 horsepower and a 1.8-liter with 113, both of which could be paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

At first, all Mirages were sparsely equipped, but LS models could at least be ordered with power windows and locks, cruise control, 14-inch wheels and a sunroof. Style-conscious LS coupes added standard alloy wheels, foglights, a spoiler and a tachometer.

Over the next few years, Mitsubishi tinkered with the different trims' feature lists; the most notable change was the discontinuation of antilock brakes, which were only offered as an option on LS models through 1999. For the Mirage's final year, only the coupe survived, as Mitsubishi discontinued the sedan in favor of the car's eventual replacement, theLancer.

Picking the right Mitsubishi Mirage is critical to its desirability. Because the 1.8-liter engine and 14-inch wheels are necessary for decent acceleration, handling and braking, stick to sedans of 2000-'01 or an LS of any year, which have more amenities anyway. Also note that the sedan's slightly greater length, wheelbase and height (a tradition carried over from past Mirages) made it a passable four-seater, whereas the coupe's backseat suffered from cramped space and awkward entry and exit, partly due to a passenger seat that didn't slide forward easily.

With any Mirage of this vintage, one pressing matter to keep in mind is safety, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded it an unusually low rating of "Poor" in its frontal offset crash test.

Past Mitsubishi Mirage Models

The most recent Mitsubishi Mirage owed much of its design to the generation of 1993-'96. The third-gen Mirage was also available in sedan and coupe form, and it used the same engines and transmissions. It was also similar in size and had the same suspension (struts in front, multilink in rear) and the same competent demeanor on the road. The most significant difference is that the automatic transmission attached to the 1.5-liter engine had only three speeds, which made for noisy and inefficient freeway driving.

Trim lines included the S, ES and LS. The 1.8-liter engine initially came only in the LS sedan, then spread to ES sedans and LS coupes in 1994. Other changes that year included an upgrade from 13-inch wheels to 14 (on some models) and a driver side front airbag. Dual front airbags replaced the motorized seatbelts in 1995, the same year Mitsubishi oddly ceased selling sedan versions of the Mirage to the public, instead restricting them to fleets.

While this generation of Mirage had a sound design, the details limit its appeal. The 13-inch wheels and lack of airbags during the early years are a concern, while the later years are limited to a smallish two-door coupe that went without now-common amenities like power windows and locks or cruise control.

The second-generation Mitsubishi Mirage of 1989-'92 was another story. Body styles consisted of a sedan and a two-door hatchback, with most models coming with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 81 hp (92 from 1991 onwards). Transmissions included four- and five-speed manuals and three- and four-speed automatics; its rear suspension was a rigid axle and not all models had power steering. Add it all up and this Mirage was a little less refined than its successors.

But it was perhaps more interesting. One particularly memorable Mirage was the Sport hatchback of 1989 only, whose turbocharged 135-hp 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual transmission, sport suspension and four-wheel disc brakes added some spice. Nearly as entertaining was the GS sedan of 1991-'92, whose twincam 1.6-liter engine made 123 hp.

While it's generally a better idea to stick with newer generations given the Mirage's affordability, these rare special editions have gone down in history as being the fastest Mirages that Mitsubishi ever built.

User Reviews:

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  Better car than value shows - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Lumpy Mullet - December 8 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I have owned a 2000 for almost 2 years and find it to be an excellent car. Only negative is resale value.

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  Its a good car - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By carlover_zf - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I cant figure out why people dont like it. Its reliable and crisp to drive. Its good looking. I just LOVE it.

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  great car for the money - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By glen29 - October 6 - 2:23 am

  I have owned this care for 4 moths. The best mpg of any care I have driven not to mention the price. The only thing I cant figure out is why all the so called professional reviewers give it such poor reviews. I think if your in the market for a inexpensive car with great mpg read the owners review and take one for a test drive you will be pleasantly surprised. 8363 owners cant be wrong this year.

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  Dont buy one - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By tank driver - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I hate this car!Ive had front end problems,brakes replaced,and it rides like a small rusty tank.Save your money and buy a Toyota.

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  Very Pleased - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By MtnTyme - August 24 - 10:00 am

  The first 3 yrs, I put over 36k per yr on this car, most of that in the Appalachian Mtns. The Yokahoma tires that came with it lasted about 90k miles, and the seat covers still look great. I average about 40 mpg overall. It survived a deer collisionw/only front end body damage. It handles very well in snow on paved roads, but does not have the power to handle deep snow or icy grades on rutted dirt roads. It now has a bit of tapping when it starts, and the suspension is losing out to the rough dirt road where we live now. Ill have to give it up soon for something w/more clearance & traction, but it will be sorely missed.

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  Gets you from A to B - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Chiyo - May 29 - 9:23 pm

  I got this used with 36,000 miles on it. The car has good exterior styling, but the inside feels cheap. The seats, sun visors, air filters. The sound system is not that great. The door is too heavy. The car is very slow, so it gets decent gas mileage. It seems fairly reliable, and gets me from A to B without much problems. The wheel size is small, so the tires dont cost much either. I got this car because I got a good deal on it...Otherwise, Id have chosen something more fun to drive...like the Mazda Protege I have had.

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  A not so dream car - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Rene - May 17 - 10:56 am

  I dont feel safe in the car. Not value for money.

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  Long-time owner - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Vince - May 10 - 11:43 am

  I purchased my Mirage LS new in May of 1998 and have enjoyed owning it ever since. My only regret is that Mitsubishi no longer manufactures the Mirage. I now have 120,000 miles on it and other than routine maintenance it has not cost me a dime. The highway mileage has never been less than 32 miles per gallon. It has been a great little car.

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  Great Car! - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By AJAK - April 7 - 9:53 pm

  Ive had this car since 2002, and it has been the best car. Super reliable. Holds up to normal wear and tear very well. Styling looks pretty good too (kind of looks like the A4 from the same time period!). Good gas mileage. Never had any major problems. I would buy this car again for sure. Very very under rated.

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  Quirky and Charming - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By sdaigle - April 2 - 3:04 am

  Ive owned this car for 4 months and 8,000 miles now. I stepped down to this car from a 2012 Nissan Versa SV sedan. Thats my basis for comparison. Once I adjusted to only having 74hp, I now find the power perfectly adequate most times. It does struggle on hills and interstate passing, but is surprisingly sedate once settled into a cruising speed. The ride is very comfortable, however, its very soft and handles sloppily. This car is not set up for fast, winding country roads, which is 90% of my driving. The interior is attractive and quite comfortable. Good ergonomics. Comfy seat and driving position.