After a one-year hiatus from the market, Mitsubishi’s entry-level Mirage returns for 2017 with a new look and more equipment.
The Mirage’s new styling makes it look more substantial and less like a toy. The larger grille and chrome-trimmed front fascia add a surprising amount of class and character to the pint-sized subcompact, too – especially the spiffy 15-inch wheels found on the range-topping SEL trim. There’s also a new four-door sedan, which is covered in a separate report.
Inside, the changes continue with a restyled instrument cluster, console, new cloth upholstery, and a new steering wheel design. From a mechanical perspective, the Mirage gets revised spring rates, new dampers, and bigger front disc and rear drum brakes. Bigger still are the changes to the standard equipment.
The base ES trim isn’t as spartanly equipped as in the past – air conditioning, remote keyless entry, power windows, LED tail lights, Bluetooth with streaming audio, USB port, steering wheel audio controls are all standard. All this adds but $200 to 2015’s bottom-line price for a grand total of $12,698.
The mid-grade SE hatchback adds a CVT, fog lights, and 14-inch alloy wheels, plus a few other features and sells for $17,398.
The Mercedes-like SEL trim level gains bigger 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, projector beam headlamps, heated front seats, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, fog lights, heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, cruise control, a display audio system with reverse camera, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Yours for $18,298.
It’s worth noting that if it’s technology you’re after, Chevrolet offers standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus 4G LTE Wi-Fi with OnStar on the redesigned Spark.
Under the hood, the Mirage still makes do with a teensy 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, but revisions to the variable valve timing system and a roller-type camshaft see horsepower grow to 78 hp. That’s a meager four hp more, but an improvement nonetheless. Torque stays level at 74 lb-ft. A five-speed manual is standard equipment on the base level, but a CVT is mandatory for the SE and SEL. While performance isn’t the Mirage’s forte, it does return excellent fuel economy figures – 7.1 L/100 km city, 5.8 L/100 km highway.
One other point worth noting is that the Mirage also comes with Mitsubishi’s excellent warranty – five years/100,000 km bumper to bumper, and 10 years/160,000 km powertrain.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
