2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

Since its fifth generation was introduced for the 2014 model year, reviews have been mixed about the Mitsubishi Mirage. Once upon a time, buyers could count on Mitsubishis being solidly built and downright powerful while not gouging their bank accounts.

These days, Mitsubishi still keeps the Mirage cheap, but it is not cheap in a good way. Sure, the starting MSRP for the 2020 Mitsubushi Mirage is an attractive $13,995, but is this vehicle even worth that much? Some say 'yes' while others roll their eyes and say 'hard pass.' But is the Mirage really that unworthy of an economy vehicle? Does it have any redeeming qualities? Why can't car gurus decide on whether or not it's a vehicle worth buying?

To be honest, there are some overarching concerns from buyers and car gurus alike. The biggest one is that the vehicle is slow to accelerate. The standard engine just does not get this vehicle moving that quickly, which can feel a bit unsafe on large highways where you have to weave in and out of five or six lanes. The engine is also a noisy one at highway speeds and while traveling uphill. On top of all of that, the vehicle looks as cheap as it feels. The quality of the materials used in its cabin construction are sub par, and you will find a lot of hard plastic surfaces.

On the plus side, you do get an affordable new vehicle that has an insanely generous limited powertrain warranty (of 10-years or 100,000 miles - whichever one you hit first). Also, getting 36 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway will keep things affordable at the pump.

That all being said, there are some noteworthy differences between the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage's four trim levels. Sure, they all share the same 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder engine, but what separates them one from the other? Is there one that is better than the other three? We will go over each trim level and how they compare and, in the end, let you know which one we think is going to give buyers the best deal if they do, in fact, decide to buy a Mirage.

Compare the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage ES vs LE Trims. What is the difference?

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage's line-up kicks things off with the base ES trim level. This trim, just like all the others, is powered by a standard 1.2-L MIVEC DOHC 12-valve inline 3-cylinder engine composed of an aluminum head and block. Together with the 5-speed manual transmission (or the CVT, which comes standard on the three higher trim levels), the Mirage gets 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque. The suspension is also standard across the line-up and is composed of MacPherson front struts and a rear torsion beam. There is rack and pinion steering with electric power assist. The ES rides atop 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers while the LE gets upgraded to 15-inch black painted alloy wheels.

Aside from the 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, on each of these vehicles you also get a basic warranty that lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles - whichever comes first. There is also an anticorrosion warranty that goes for 7 years or 100,000 miles. You also get either 5 years or unlimited miles of roadside assistance. Pretty generous, right?

Anyway, more about what you will find on the Mirage. On the outside of the ES, you get halogen headlights, LED taillights, and a LED high-mounted stop light. The front and rear bumpers are body-colored, as are the folding side mirrors, outer door handles, and the liftgate handle. There are also side sill garnishes, a rear spoiler, front variable intermittent windshield wipers, a rear intermittent wiper, rear window defrost with a timer, and all season tires slapped on the wheels. The LE adds to that black side mirrors and a Limited Edition (hence the name LE) badge, but little else changes.

On the inside of the ES, you will find things like a standard front map light and a cargo light to provide you with some illumination. The driver's seat is 6-way adjustable while the front passenger's seat is power-adjustable 4 different ways. There is a split-folding rear seat that opens up more cargo space when you need it, and there are head restraints at the front and rear outboard seating positions. The CVT's shift panel is painted in silver, and the driver gets a sunvisor with a vanity mirror. The fuel lid has a remote release that takes a bit of the hassle out of fueling up.

To add more to the list, the LE gives you an armrest for the driver's seat and black fabric with red accenting on the seat surfaces. The front seats get heating added on as a standard feature, and there is leather wrapping with red stitching on the steering wheel and gear shift knob. The interior door panels also have red accents, and there is a gloss black audio panel.

As far as convenience features go, these two trim levels are pretty similar. The ES comes equipped with a 7-inch audio display, a 4-speaker sound system, AM/FM radio, and HD Radio. There is also a standard rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity. You do get an USB port up front for connectivity. Other creature comforts inside of the ES include an ECO indicator, cruise control, a steering wheel with controls mounted on it for the audio and phone controls, automatic climate control, a micron air filter, rear heater floor ducts, and remote keyless entry. Other standard features include a 12-volt power outlet, a floor console with cup holders built in, bottle holders on each of the front doors, a glove box, and front assist grips for getting yourself in and out of the vehicle.

With the LE, the only additions you will find are the 6.5-inch smartphone-link display audio (SDA), smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a CD/MP3 player.

Finally, we have safety features, which are all the same across the whole line-up. They're also relatively basic, with the list feeling somewhat short, even by economy vehicle standards. The standard safety features that you get include hill start assist, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution in conjunction with the ABS, traction and stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, the LATCH system for child car safety seats, an anti-theft system with an engine immobilizer, and the RISE body construction.

Compare the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage LE vs SE Trims. What is the difference?

So, what can you get on the SE that doesn't come on the ES or LE? As it turns out, not much, really. It shares the bulk of its features with the ES while adding a few things on. It does go back to the 14-inch wheels that come on the ES, but the exterior does get a couple of additions made to it. Fog lights become standard on the SE, and the body-colored side mirrors gain integrated turn indicators. The only other hint you will get that these are two different trim levels just by looking at them on the outside is, of course, the SE badging.

Things are fairly similar on the interior as well. The SE does upgrade you to a meter cluster with chrome accents, and there is gloss black on the front window switch panels. Also, the inner door handles up front are done in chrome. A few extra creature comforts get tacked on as well. A voice recognition control gets mounted onto the steering wheel. There is also a FAST-Key entry system and push button start. However, this is the extent of the differences that you will find inside of the SE trim level.

Compare the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage SE vs GT Trims. What is the difference?

Normally, line-topping trim levels tack quite a bit of extra features on as a way to justify a big jump between prices. This, however, is simply not the case for the GT trim level. If anything, the additions made to it seem quite sparse, so there is not going to be a whole lot to discuss here.

The GT trim level does get upgraded to 15-inch two-tone alloy wheels, which come with all-season tires. Also, on the outside, you will find high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights situated on the front fascia. There is also the tell-tale GT badging that lets you know which trim level this is because, otherwise, you might have a difficult time telling the difference.

On the inside, you get standard heating on the front seats, but that is literally the only change between the SE and GT that is worth mentioning. The convenience and safety features are entirely the same, which is rather astounding for even an economy vehicle's line-topping trim level. You would think that Mitsubishi would be cramming at least several more convenience and safety features in, but, for whatever reason, they have chosen not to do so.

Which Trim to Choose?

Now that you know what to expect (and what to not expect) from the 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage's line-up, you have to ask yourself if this is going to be the right vehicle to fit your needs. Honestly, if you are okay with paying more to get more, you are probably going to want to look at some of the Mirage's competitors, as they have more to offer.

That is why we will tell you to stick with the base ES trim level if you are absolutely set on getting the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage. For the price, you get a fair amount of standard features. However, if you want to go up in trim levels, don't. There really is not a whole lot that gets added on to any of them, and that makes it impossible to justify the price bumps. Sure, the LE looks kind of cool on the inside with its red accents, but the material is still so cheap that it takes away from whatever sporty aesthetic Mitsubishi is trying to go for here. It simply just does not sell. Too many hard plastics, weak cloth upholstery, and not enough additional standard features make the LE, SE, and GT not worth buying.

The ES at least gives you the option of getting the CVT if you do not wish to drive the standard 5-speed manual transmission. Still, the engine feels drastically under-powered, and with how slow and noisy it can be, you will probably want to consider going with an entirely different vehicle. Since you cannot even get smartphone app integration as a standard feature on the ES trim level, you would probably be a bit happier with a totally different choice. But if the Mirage is what you want, save your money and stick with the ES trim level. It has just enough to make it worth your money, and the fuel economy will probably impress you.