2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Pros vs Cons

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact, four-door hatchback with a lot to offer. The Mirage is an economy car that is also a money saver at the gas pump. It's small and easy to maneuver, but it still provides plenty of cargo space in back. Drivers looking for basic, affordable transportation should give the Mirage some serious consideration.

What's New for 2020?

Mitsubishi streamlined the trim-level options for 2020. The RF trim package has been dropped this year. Automatic climate control is now standard on every model. This feature is rare at the price point of a new Mirage. Other than those minor changes, the 2020 models are mostly the same as their 2019 counterparts.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Pros

1. An Efficient Engine

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage has four trim levels that are all equipped with the same engine. The 1.2-liter I3 engine is small but efficient. It cranks out 78 horsepower and 74 pounds-feet of torque. It may not sound like much, but it's plenty enough to power this small, light vehicle. The engine wasn't designed for acceleration, however, it was engineered for peak efficiency. In this, it succeeds fantastically.

2. Impressive Fuel-Economy Rating

The Mirage offers one of the best fuel-economy ratings in its class. This is one of the best reasons to select a Mirage over the competition. Equipped with a manual transmission, the Mirage gets 33 miles-per-gallon in the city and 41 miles-per-gallon on the highway. A Mirage with an automatic transmission fares even better. It offers an EPA-estimated rating of 36 miles-per-gallon in the city and 44 miles-per-gallon on the highway. These numbers are impressive and really hard to beat for a non-hybrid vehicle.

3. Excellent Maneuverability

The Mitsubishi Mirage is small and easy to maneuver. It's also easy to get in and out of parking spaces. The Mirage is front-wheel drive in all variations. This little hatchback has a tight turning radius and great steering dynamics. Steering is tight and accurate with a decent amount of road feedback.

4. Ample Storage Space

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage may be a compact car, but it's big on cargo space. This makes it a very convenient and practical car to own for just about anybody. The rear area has around 17 cubic feet of storage space. If more room is needed, the back seats can be folded down. This increases the overall cargo area to a handy 47 cubic feet of space.

5. The Well-Designed Interior

This may be an economy car, but Mitsubishi has incorporated a lot of smart design choices for the interior. It's roomy and offers a lot of space for passengers up front or in back. The seats are comfortable and offer 6-way adjustments as a standard feature. The LE and GT models even get heated seats up front, something rarely found on vehicles in this price range. The instrument cluster and various controls are all attractive and laid out in a smart fashion.

6. Modern High-Tech Features

Mitsubishi kept the price low, but they didn't skimp out on the modern, high-tech features. The excellent infotainment system has a 7-inch display screen. Higher trim levels have a 6.5-inch screen for audio and smartphone-link functions. All models have a USB port for charging and connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are offered here as well.

The audio system has your standard AM/FM radio, CD player and MP3 player. There is also Bluetooth integrated connectivity on tap for this system. Many features can be accessed with voice commands. Voice-recognition technology ensures that only the driver's voice will be responded to. Many controls are also located on the steering wheel for the driver's convenience.

7. Lots of Available Convenience Features

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is the only vehicle in its class that currently offers automatic climate control as a standard feature. There are a lot of standard features here that you won't often find on compact economy cars. Micron air filtration keeps the air clean inside of the vehicle. A rear-view camera on all models increases the driver's awareness of their surroundings. Remote keyless entry is standard on all trims and push-button start is available on the higher trim levels.

8. The Safety and Security Features

Mitsubishi took great care to make sure every Mirage driver and their passengers will be safe. Every safety feature is standard across all models. There are three-point seatbelts for every occupant of the Mirage. Mitsubishi has also equipped the car with more airbags than many competing vehicles in this class. You get advanced, dual-stage airbags, side airbags and a driver's knee airbag up front. Side curtain airbags add a level of protection for everyone.

Mitsubishi used their RISE body construction for the Mirage. The front and rear were made to absorb the energy of an impact. A strong framework is crafted around the occupant area for protection. High-tensile steel reinforcement beams are also placed in strategic locations to shield passengers against harm in the event of an accident.

Every model of the Mitsubishi Mirage offers active-stability control. This system keeps the appropriate power going to each wheel to maximize traction. Better traction means better handling, especially when there's rough weather or slick pavement. The Mirage also has hill-start assist and a tire-pressure monitoring system. An anti-theft engine immobilizer gives owners some protection against would-be car thieves.

9. Mitsubishi Reliability

Mitsubishi has a great reputation for building solid cars. The Mirage is a reliable car that should provide years of service to its owners. Mitsubishi also backs up their 2020 Mirage with one of the best warranties in the business. The basic warranty covers your Mirage for 5 years and 60,000 miles.

The Mirage powertrain is actually covered for 10 years and 100,000 miles. This kind of coverage is hard to find in this class of vehicle. The Mirage is also warrantied against corrosion for 7 years or 100,000 miles. Last of all, Mitsubishi offers roadside assistance for 5 years regardless of how many miles you've put on the vehicle. This kind of coverage sets the Mirage apart from its competition.

10. It's a Great Value

The great value presented by the Mitsubishi Mirage may be the best reason to choose one over another vehicle. It comes in at a better base price than most cars in its class with comparable features. It also offers one of the best fuel-economy ratings in its class and one of the best warranties in the business. The Mirage is a smart, economical purchase.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage – The Cons

1. The Noisy Engine

The Mirage may be a great car, but it's not perfect. It has some of the same downsides that you'll see on many small economy cars. The engine is efficient, but it's also noisy. What's worse is that you can hear most of this noise while inside of the vehicle. The engine really groans loudly when pushed hard. Engine vibrations can even be felt throughout the cabin at really high speeds.

2. Lots of Road Noise

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage doesn't have very good sound proofing. It's not just the engine you'll hear while driving. You and your passengers will hear pretty much every outside noise, vibration and bump in the road.

3. Acceleration Could Be Better

The engine was built for efficiency and good fuel economy. In those categories, it succeeds. The acceleration, however, can be a bit sluggish. This is particularly noticeable when trying to pass vehicles at highway speeds. Still, the Mirage provides reliable and extremely affordable transportation.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

The latest Mitsubishi Mirage faces stiff competition from some excellent vehicles. Three of its top competitors include the 2020 Honda Fit, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic and the 2020 Mini Cooper. The Honda Fit offers more horsepower and a more refined ride than the Mirage. The Mirage still offers a better value. Mitsubishi's hatchback has better fuel economy, more cargo space and a lower base price.

The Chevrolet Sonic offers a significant increase in horsepower and much better acceleration. The Mirage once again comes in at a lower price point. The Mirage has better fuel economy and better warranty coverage. The Mitsubishi also has a smaller turning ratio and is easier to maneuver.

The Mini Cooper has a unique European style that has gained it a cult following. The latest Mini has a more refined interior when compared to the Mirage. Once again, the competition bests the little Mirage in acceleration and horsepower. The Mirage, however, is much lower in cost and once again has better fuel economy. No matter what vehicle the Mirage is compared to, one theme keeps being repeated. The Mirage is simply the better overall value.

Conclusion

The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is an excellent buy. It's affordable from the start and comes equipped with some nice convenience features. It will also continue saving the driver money by providing outstanding fuel economy. It offers the kind of modern technology normally found in higher-priced vehicles. The Mirage is also a safe vehicle. It provides good standard safety features and innovative construction methods. If you're looking for affordable transportation, the Mirage is hard to beat.