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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  2001 Mirage - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By svricha1 - December 5 - 2:00 am

  easy to drive, ext. paint nicks easily, picks up speed quickly, a tad rough in shifting, antenna in really bad place, good brakes, good second car or starter car, big trunk

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  not bad - 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Kevin A - July 4 - 2:00 am

  very cheap, affordable

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  I dont understand the bad reviews - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By db1980 - January 25 - 11:46 pm

  Seems like car reviewers focus on how horrible the car is. Depends on what you are looking for. I hate the big bloated heavy cars everyone seems to love. I wanted a warranty, cheap to buy and cheap to drive. Car scores huge on all points there. It also has nice features for the price. I reccomend the ES manual with no extra options. CVT is for the lazy, and it adds a lot to the price of the car. It has a growly engine sound (I find this a positive not a negative). Handling can be improved greatly by adding a $200 rear sway bar. Styling is so so. Interior is hard plastic but seems like there is very little to break. It is designed to be practical and durable. No defects so far

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  Very reliable - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By markr307 - November 26 - 1:46 pm

  I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, manual transmission. 160,000 miles on it, Ive had it for 2 years, and the occasional repairs are just wear and tear - break pads, spark plugs. A basic but very reliable car.

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  Lean, mean and green! - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By gulati - October 5 - 4:33 pm

  Our Mirage LS was exceptionally reliable. Like our previous Colt, not much more than routine maintenance, with tires and brakes lasting 60K. After 120K the car did loose some zip, maybe form diminished compression. And while fuel economy also declined, we could still obtain 35 mpg plus on the long trips.

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  2014 Mitsubishi Mirage - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rob269 - September 30 - 6:19 am

  I bought this car as I finally decided to try a small car, coming out of an 2012 F150 and a 2011 Genesis, which are the types of vehicles I am used to driving. This is not a Cadillac, Lexus or Mercedes, and its not a BMW or Corvette. So dont expect the luxury and handling you would get in one of those vehicles. Having come out of some very nice vehicles, this one is pretty impressive considering the price and the gas mileage. I read all the bad reviews before I bought but decided to go test drive one and judge for myself, and was I surprised. I think the criticisms levied at this vehicle are greatly exaggerated, to the benefit of its competitors. But the MPG is for real, outstanding

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  Great value. Fun cheap drive. - 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By bigdav15 - March 21 - 7:09 pm

  Overall, a great fuel saver and a fun little ride. Some complain about the CVT and its "growing" or sounding like "an angry vacuum," but I enjoy its capabilities in the mountains and highway riding. Driving easy (45-55 mph under 3000 rpm) I average between 45 and 55 mpgs. Next to my old 2002 Cavalier 2.4, this is my favorite fuel efficient car to drive. If I didnt have payments left on a Jeep Patriot (CVT also) Id get a second one of these. Only downfall is sudden braking with curves, but a good driver will not present them self with this issue.

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  good car - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By texaspumpkin - March 11 - 10:00 am

  When I got this car in 1/99 with only 11,000 miles on it, I was told by several people (including a mechanic) that it was going to be horrible purchase. Now over 80,000 miles later, it has really proven everyone wrong. It is still going strong after several long distance trips, a couple of years of alot of commuting, a little off road abuse, & my poor maintenance habits. Good 1st car, good for a young family.

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  Good Commuter - 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By Regalistic - March 11 - 10:00 am

  The Mirage DE Coupe is a fun ride in the city aswell as the country side. It is cool inside and out with a sporty look that seems to cost much more than the deal you can get with buying this car. A lot of bang for the buck!

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  very reliable - 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage
  By rascaljim - November 24 - 2:50 am

  I bought this car at 107,000 miles, It now has nearly 140,000. I have only had to replace a couple belts, otherwise no problems at all. Unfortunately its probably gonna be totalled out by an insurance company for body damage.