2018 Mitsubishi Mirage Pros vs Cons

If you are shopping on an extremely tight budget and are in a hurry to buy a vehicle, you might be tempted by the price tag on the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage. While there are some positive aspects to this vehicle, you will want to exercise some caution and do comparison shopping. The Mirage lacks the smooth and sophisticated ride of other vehicles priced just a little bit higher, and you will likely end up having to pay for repairs to the interior somewhere not too far down the road. However, the CVT offers a great fuel economy, and there are some user-friendly controls on the Mirage that non-tech-savvy drivers will find appealing.

What's New for 2018?

New for the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is a standard rearview camera, 7-inch touchscreen, and Bluetooth capability on the base ES trim.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Pros

1. The CVT Offers Excellent Fuel Economy

If fuel economy is important to you, opt for the CVT over the 5-speed manual transmission. Equipped with the CVT, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is able to get a whopping 39 combined mpg. However, if you do want the manual transmission, it still gets a respectable 36 combined mpg.

2. The Warranty Coverage

Mitsubishi offers a rather generous warranty coverage on the Mirage. The basic warranty is a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. In addition, there are a 7-year/100,000-mile rust warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Not bad for an economy vehicle!

3. Affordably Priced

We cannot ignore the price aspect of the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage. While it might be worth it to spend a little more on a slightly more powerful and better-crafted vehicle, the Mirage has one of the lowest starting MSRPs of any new vehicle hitting the market this year. This is likely going to draw the attention of those who are shopping on a budget yet want something brand-new.

4. Standard Features on the Base Trim

The base ES trim has a good amount of desirable features, some of which you cannot find as standard features on other base trims. The ES has full power accessories, a lovely 7-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth connectivity. The addition of the rearview camera is especially pleasant since some makers of higher-priced vehicles have yet to make it standard equipment across their lineups.

5. Most Controls are Easy to Use

The Mirage is a user-friendly vehicle when it comes to figuring out the controls. Every physical button and knob is intuitively placed and well-marked. There is no guesswork as to what function a control performs. The infotainment interface is also relatively easy to use.

6. Good Visibility

Although the rear roof pillars are thick and slightly impinge upon blind spot visibility, front and side visibility are excellent. The front pillars are remarkably slender, and the front windshield is certainly wide enough. You will never have to guess how far your front bumper is from a curb.

7. Easy Access Into/Exit From the Front Seats

The door frames up front make sliding into and out of the front seats rather easy. This is not exactly the case in the rear, but shorter rear seat passengers shouldn't have too much of a problem with getting in and out.

8. The Line-Topping GT Trim

If you can afford it and are set on buying the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage, consider upgrading to the line-topping GT trim. This trim comes with sleek xenon headlights, heated front seats, and 15-inch alloy wheels.

9. The Optional Manual Transmission

For those who refuse to drive an automatic, there is a manual option. The 5-speed manual transmission can be equipped on the ES or SE trim levels and provides the Mirage with a good amount of power without sucking too much on the gas.

10. Brakes Feel Secure On the Highway

While driving around on the highway, the Mirage's brakes feel pretty secure. The vehicle can make an emergency stop from 60 to 0 mph in about 121 feet, which is good for this segment. The only problem with the brakes is that they aren't as stable at slower speeds.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Cons

1. A Rough Engine

The standard 1.2-L 3-cylinder engine on the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is a rough runner. Regardless of what speed you are driving (or even if you are idling), the engine shakes, rattles, and rolls. There is relatively no deadening of the engine noise.

2. Sluggish Acceleration

Acceleration is, to put it nicely, dull. For a vehicle weighing in at just about 2,000 pounds, you'd think it would sprint a bit faster. However, the 1.2-L 3-cylinder engine barely manages to get from 0 to 60 mph in 11.7 seconds, which is one of the worst times in this class.

3. Interior Looks Cheap

Even for an economy vehicle, the interior is way too cheap-looking. The seats look ready to give way after just a few years, and the plastic pieces seem prone to breaking off and wearing down over time. While you might be saving money in the short run, you could potentially be spending more on repairs in the long-run.

4. Too Much Road Noise

In addition to the ruckus caused by a fussy engine, you're going to have to put up with a significant amount of road noise. Vibrations reverberate throughout the cabin when you drive over even the smallest of bumps in the road. Be prepared to turn your music up.

How it Stacks up to the Competition:

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage vs. 2018 Ford Fiesta

The 2018 Ford Fiesta offers a chic interior and superbly sporty handling. The base S trim has a starting MSRP of just about $1,000 more than the Mirage and is loaded with a lot of safety and tech features. The biggest downside is that it, too, lacks seat and ride comfort.

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage vs. 2018 Honda Fit

The 2018 Honda Fit is one of the top-notch vehicles in the segment for this model year. The Fit gets an astounding fuel economy, has a massive array of features, and has a best-in-class cargo capacity. Of course, the downside is that you will pay several grand more than you would for the Mirage. However, you get what you pay for on the Fit.

Conclusion

While the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage might be attractive based on its price tag alone, there are better options out there. If Mitsubishi wants to stay in the competition, they are going to have to put serious effort into making the Mirage more than just a basic economy vehicle.