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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  Mirage review - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rasid - August 5 - 11:33 pm

  I have had this car for over 4 years. It has always been reliable to me, getting about 30-35 mpg, even with aftermarket wheels that weigh about 3x more than the stock ones. The 5 speed manual shifts very smoothly and has some get up and go to it, and handles corners fairly well. The stock sound system is decent enough to the average driver. The interior cloth pattern is unique, but nothing special. The back seats are better suited for small children as they are compact. The instrument panel is easy to read, but most mirages dont come with a tachometer. Over all it is a reliable, fun, and has a great fuel economy.

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  test of time - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By dinosaur - July 24 - 10:00 am

  my mirage is a 93 and still running like a top;and im told i am very hard on a car by my son who is a mechanic.it handles great and does manage to get out of its own way-not bad for a 4 cyl.the only complaint is that parts are always dealership only and cost a fortune.im looking for a new car and probable will by another mirage.at 140,000 it keeps on ticking.

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  Red Beauty - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By richgroh - July 21 - 10:07 pm

  This was my first car and have owned it for over 3 years.Bought it at 104k and it i now at 145k. Only problem ive had so far was the a/c compressor went out at 110k but you have to expect things to break with this many miles. I has been totaled 3 times and still runs like a champ. Besides routine maintenance and the a/c compressor it has been very reliable so far. I am a delivery driver and my other job is a long commute so alot of those miles were hard on it and i also have a pretty heavy foot. I average around 22mpg which is good considering my lead foot and it is alot of stop and go traffic on long island plus it is also an automatic.

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  I love my 2017 Mirage! - 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Janaka - July 10 - 10:45 pm

  Great little economical car that cant be beat for the price. Ive been averaging 48mpg and have even reached 52mpg at times. Its not a luxury car but has everything I need. I mostly drive it in a mountainous area and find that braking and acceleration are plenty adequate. Dont listen to the professional reviews unless you are looking for a sports car. For an everyday driver, this car is perfect for me.

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  a japanese BMW - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By macchu - June 17 - 10:00 am

  The new LS Mirage coupe is the sportiest in its class in terms of drive and looks. The car handles like a 323i and is impressive in the build quality and Mitsubishi has a high proven reliability. The price is also great and the dealer service is impeccable. The only flaw is the low seating position and the mushy braking pedal. The car is fast though

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  Love My Car - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By yoseph - June 11 - 11:56 am

  I purch my car new and now have it for over 10 years and it has 175,000 miles on it...There was a saying that Mitsubishi has that said just get up and go and man that is true..My car has given me no problems at all

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  STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 13 YEARS - 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By kycat52 - May 24 - 9:46 pm

  I bought this Mirage new in February 2000, Ive driven it for 13 years and it still gets 34 mpg. I drove it in Washington DC from Feb 2000 to Jun 2007, 76 miles a day, in heavy traffic and on the beltway. It got 40 mpg on the highway then. This car amazed local mechanics in that it has NO oil leaks, everything still works and all I have done is routine maintenance. In 2012, I had to put new struts all around and outer tie rod ends on both sides, other than that it has been routine maintenance. I plan to drive it until it is out of service. Then Ill probably buy another Mitsubishi to replace it.

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  Mirage? - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Mark H - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Ill make this quick. The car for me was reliable until the engine blew out 2 years after i bought it. Completely fried the engine. Before that it was reliable. Slow as can be but good gas milage. The exterior isnt bad for an entry level car but the interior needs some work.

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  Good car - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Dina - April 29 - 8:10 am

  I have it for over 5 years and have 75K on it. So far no problems at all. Its been in 3 relatively big accidents and all passengers were OK, so I guess you can say it is a safe car. It is good for one or two people, but a little small for more than that and doesnt drive as easy with more people. It doesnt accelerate fast, but it is expected from small car like this one. Once in a while, doesnt shift fast.

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  robs ride - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By tgtgtgtg - April 12 - 2:00 am

  The purpose of this vehicle was to buy something economically efficient for the purpose of driving back and forth to work from Ohio to Indiana. It really has been a great little car!