2017 Mitsubishi Mirage Pros vs Cons
What's New for 2017?
Over the course of a year, Mitsubishi made many important changes to the Mirage. On the exterior, new taillights, headlights, and bumpers were added. Inside the cabin, new and better-quality materials have been added. Under the hood, Mitsubishi upgraded the engine from 74 to 78 hp. Also, the new base trim is the ES (it was formerly the DE), and two new trims have been added - the mid-range SE and top-of-the-line GT. Suspension tuning has been reworked, and larger brakes were implemented.
Ten Reasons You May Like the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Pros
1. Great Fuel Economy with the CVT
While the five-speed manual gets about 36 mpg combined (with 3 mpg city/41 mpg highway), the CVT gets even more. The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage with CVT gets an impressive 39 mpg combined (with 37 city/43 highway mpg), thereby outperforming most non-hybrid automobiles.
2. Affordability
The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage won't break your bank account. It has a modest MSRP starting at just under $13,000 for the base trim. This makes it not just one of the most affordable subcompact hatchbacks, it also makes it one of the most affordable new cars, period.
3. The Warranty
Mitsubishi offers an incredibly generous warranty with the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage. Most automakers offer a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, but Mitsubishi's 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty is rather unprecedented. There are also 5- and 7-year warranty options available, but the 10-year warranty really stands out.
4. Many Technical Features
There are quite a few nice tech features on the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage - something the previous models were known for. The Available Display Audio with Smartphone Link technology lets you access apps from your Apple or Android device and has rear-view camera and hands-free Bluetooth capabilities. The interface is easy-to-navigate and won't overwhelm drivers who aren't as interested in tech-heavy vehicles.
5. Generous Cargo Space
Subcompact hatchbacks aren't known for being extremely spacious, but the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage gives a generous amount of cargo space. It's 17.2 cubic feet of space can be increased to 47 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down, making this one of the most spacious cargo areas for a vehicle in its class.
6. Great Urban Maneuvering
Being as small as it is, the Mirage maneuvers will in tight urban areas. The car handles turns and bumps well, and it is easy to navigate tight parking spots in this vehicle. Its small turn circle is effective in getting around cramped streets and parking lots where even smaller sedans sometimes encounter trouble.
7. Automatic Climate Control and Heated Front Seats
The mid-line Mirage SE and top-line GT add automatic climate control to their list of features. Whether it's piping hot or freezing cold outside, your car will automatically adjust temperature settings to keep you comfortable in the cabin. There are also heated front seats available for an additional level of comfort.
8. Active Stability Control
Active Stability Control (ASC) uses sensors to help monitor how good of a grip each tire has on the road. When it senses a wheel is slipping, the system will tell ABS to apply the brakes on the wheels with the best traction. This allows you to stay in control of the vehicle and keeps you safely on the surface of the road.
9. Enhanced Visibility
The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT features Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlamp and Dusk Sensing Headlights, allowing you better visibility from behind the wheel. These lights work extremely well for low-visibility conditions, such as during major rainstorms, snow flurries, or in high-density fog.
10. Hill Start Assist
Standard on all 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage trims is the Hill Start Assist feature, which allows you to better manage steep inclines. Smaller cars with less acceleration power tend to struggle to get uphill easily, especially after having to stop on an incline. Hill Start Assist keeps your vehicle from rolling backward after coming to a stop on a hill, ensuring that you won't hit the vehicle behind you.
Reasons You May Not Like the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Cons
1. Sluggish Acceleration
Unfortunately, the biggest downfall to the Mirage is that its acceleration is pretty sluggish, even compared to other subcompacts. This makes it difficult to get up to speed quickly and pass other slow-moving vehicles on the highway. If you're lucky, you can get from 0 to 60 in about 11 seconds, which is about two seconds slower than the Ford Fiesta.
2. Road Noise at Highway Speeds
The acceleration is one thing, but the road noise while driving at highway speeds might be even more annoying. The three-cylinder engine makes quite the ruckus even at slower speeds, but when it gets on the highway, your ears will take a beating from all the noise generated under the hood. With the CVT, it becomes more chaotic as even a minor increase in accelerator pedal pressure amps up the engine's rpm.
3. Low-quality Interior Materials
There are still a lot of plastic materials lingering around the interior of the Mirage. Cheap plastic parts do contribute to the low MSRP but might need repair sooner than other materials on more expensive vehicles.
4. Limited Rear Room
Leg room in the rear is pretty cramped. If you are a larger adult, you will likely feel a little uncomfortable sitting in the back. The front, however, provides sufficient space for most adults.
How it stacks up to the competition:
Mirage vs. 2017 Honda Fit
The Fit is surprisingly more spacious. Also, the EX-L with Navi trim gets an impressive 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, making it one of the best-accelerating subcompacts, leaving the Mirage in the dust. You will, however, be paying about $4,000 more for the Fit.
Mirage vs. 2017 Hyundai Accent
Like the Mirage, the Accent struggles a bit with acceleration and speed. It does, however, give a smoother ride than the Mirage. The Accent's rear seats don't fold totally flat, which gives the Mirage an advantage on cargo space.
Conclusion
Although the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage struggles with noise and acceleration, it has plenty of utility when it comes to driving in the city. The vehicle is affordable, but it does not have the most high-quality interior materials. Gas mileage is what truly makes the Mirage stand out, so if fuel economy is your biggest concern, give the Mirage a test-drive.
