2015 Mitsubishi Mirage Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Mitsubishi’s little car that can enters 2015 with a few cosmetic touches over its all-new debut last year, but is otherwise essentially...

Mitsubishi’s little car that can enters 2015 with a few cosmetic touches over its all-new debut last year, but is otherwise essentially unchanged. The additions amount to new chrome interior accents for the base DE, and for the top-shelf ES new upholstery and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. All standard, but that’s it for changes. Features and options otherwise are expected to remain exactly the same for the same low entry fee, and drivers holding no illusions about this budget hatch say the Mirage more than handles their needs.

Yes, it looks and feels every bit its asking price—which is to say, cheap. The plastics are hard and plain, the style could throw you through a '90s time warp for all 12 seconds it takes to reach highway speeds, and its driving character is aptly described as "treacherously fun," but where the Mirage truly shines is in cost-to-own relative to all it can do. It offers just over 17 cubic feet between the seats and hatch, but a full 47 cubes can be opened up by folding down that rear bench—and don’t be surprised if fuel economy ends up being more like 50 mpg, even though it’s a pure gas-fueled machine.

But those aren’t the only magic tricks in the Mirage’s toolkit. Equipment is something that gets high praise from drivers, too, with the base DE coming with features like keyless entry, automatic climate control and a stereo system that includes USB and auxiliary audio inputs. Upgrade to the ES and you’ll fetch keyless ignition, cruise control, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity as well as the option for a navigation system bundled with a rear-view camera. But that’s the only option package exclusive to the ES—Mitsubishi is otherwise kind enough to offer everything else available to either trim.

Whatever the shell’s stuffing, the engine is the same 1.2-liter 3-cylinder putting out 74 hp and lb-ft of torque, with the same choice of either a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). The manual is estimated at 34 mpg city/42 highway but reportedly manages closer to 50 mpg in some situations, whereas the CVT is pretty true to its 37/44 estimate.

The Mirage definitely doesn’t make it to highway speeds before 11 seconds with either transmission, but true to its illusionist name, drivers are so engaged by the ride there are no complaints about feeling pokey except for passing on the highway with the air conditioner running. One driver suggests getting an aftermarket rear sway bar to improve the car's twitchy wobble with sport tires to maximize overall performance. Others say it’s all just part of the fun. What’s clear is drivers don’t get the Mirage to feel isolated from the road, but to feel every exhilarating moment before returning to work-a-day life.