2015 MITSUBISHI Mirage

After one month with a 2015 Mirage CVT

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I started looking for small cars with great gas mileage when my 14 year old Hyundai Sonata hit 180,000 miles and I knew I was going to start facing some significant repair costs. I liked the Chevy Spark but it was almost impossible to find one in the $8,500 or less range that hadn't been used as a rental. I liked the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris, but anything in that price range seemed to always have at least 50,000 miles on it. I Briefly looked at a Smart Fortwo with less than 10,000 miles on it, but just couldn't bring myself to take that kind of size hit. I saw a 2015 "Sapphire blue" Mitsubishi Mirage with 14,000 miles on it. After a test drive and a little dickering I got it out the door at $8750. Here are my thoughts after 30 days with the Mirage. Is it as loud, slow, and unresponsive as the professional reviewers have labeled it? No. It's louder, slower, and less responsive than my old Sonata was, but it also gets almost exactly twice the miles per gallon. The key to owning the Mirage is all in expectations. If you're expecting a car that gets 45 mpg while still being able to do a 9 second quarter, handle like it's on rails and haul you and 4 other people around at 75 mph in the quiet comfort of a Mercedes 500 series, I'm thinking you may have a long search for your next car. My Mirage has had no trouble getting on highway entrance ramps at 35 mph, then accelerating to 65 by the end of the ramp in order to merge with traffic. Does it accelerate like my 6 cylinder Hyundai? No, but I've never had to put my foot to the floor to get it up to speed like some reviewers claim either. I do occasionally find myself checking to make sure all my windows are completely up when I'm doing 65-70 because there's a bit more wind noise than I'm used to, but it's not like it's loud enough to affect a conversation, or listening to the stereo. And of course the bottom line for me is that I'm getting 45 mpg consistently in real world driving with this car, which saves me almost 1/3 of my monthly car payment in gas over what I was spending with the Sonata. Now if I can get 185,000 miles of trouble-free driving on the Mirage like I did on the Sonata, I'll be more than thrilled with my purchase. One side note- the CVT transmission does take a little getting used to. The absolute key to this transmission is keeping your right foot steady. Slow, steady increases in accelerator pressure lets the CVT rev the engine up smoothly and relatively quickly, and then drop down the same way. Hitting the accelerator hard gives you the "rubber band effect" where your engine revs but you don't accelerate for a second, then suddenly catch up. The CVT also has an odd habit of "clunking" slightly when you come to a complete stop before the car settles into a fairly smooth idle. My opinion of the 2015 Mirage after 30 days is that this company did an amazing job engineering a car to get 45 mpg while still letting a person drive normally, in reasonable comfort.

Incredible value.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

I went in to look at the 2017 model, but found that they had a 2015 leftover buried on the lot. It took a while for them to get it out (they didn't know they had it). It turned out to be a CVT (I wanted a stick) ,but I took it out anyway. After reading all the negative PROFESSIONAL reviews, I however was very impressed. (The so-called PROS act like this is the worst thing since the black plague.) It has plenty of room ,it drives well ,rides good, handles well, sure it's all hard plastic inside, but it looks good and seems to be put together pretty good. Yes it does have some tire noise, and wind noise. But it is no more intrusive than some other cars I've had ( focus). Acceleration (lol) is rather leisurely. It has PW,PL,PM,CVT,TRAC. CONTR.,ABS,CLIMATE CONTROL,NICE STEREO W/ USB CON.plenty of cargo room ,good room for 4 adults (5 no way) and a great warranty. I decided to go for it. It had 41 miles on it, sticker was $14,905 (too much, it is 2 model years old after all, there was no 2016). After some minor back and forth I was out the door at $9,400!!!!!!!!!!!. For a brand new car? Amazing!! I have since driven the car over 2,000 miles and I like it even more. The CVT takes some getting used to, but I'm adjusting. I'm getting 38-43 mpg without trying. No it's not a Lexus, but it's not meant to be . It's basic transportation at a good price. I didn't drive the 2017 (it's supposed to be better) I don't know. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THE PROFESSIONALS SAY. Try it for yourself, it might not be your cup of tea. But it might impress you. If you can get a good deal go for it. I hope this will help you make an educated decision. I went in ready to hate, but came out with a car . Good luck with your search.

I'm hooked!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 43

My little white Mirage is very economical and pretty fun to drive. I can get 42-46 with mixed driving. It goes way down with a head wind, but I usually find a truck to draft when that happens. I go from 37 to 42 when I draft at about 65 mph. I would have gotten a 5 spd if one would have been available, but am glad I got the CVT. When you get used to it you can kind of make it 'shift' and get your highway rpm's to about 2200 and save fuel. On hilly 2 lane roads I can get 48 mpg if I'm not in a hurry. I pop it in and out of neutral a lot. I also like the trans brake and really think it will save the brake pads. It has tire pressure monitors, hands free phone, high quality sound, auto, ac, PW,PB, alloy wheels and 100K warranty for $11,600 out the door! (Plus sales tax) I just went to Louisville a couple weeks ago (850 mile RT). It cost about $40 in fuel. My mileage check will be over $400! I did some drafting and didn't use the Cruise Control, but I'm a little OCD about my mileage now! Nearly the same mileage as a Prius and 1/2 the initial cost! My 'normal' commute is 160 miles RT. I used to need 11 gallons every other day in my Century, now its about 7.5! I had to fix a flat today, I was pleasantly surprised at the jacking points. The tire monitor probably save me a tire. My first couple miles is on gravel and I may not have noticed the rear tire was flat if not for the light. I'm hooked! Would recommend and re-purchase if a deer or other accident were to total it!

The bad news about mirage...............

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 3

While in road trip, while riding 2 250 LB, 1 200 lb in rear passager, 2 150 LB front, 200 LB cargo. Very accelerate slow and suspension may not hold that weight while heavy braking.

Great little car, critics aren't always right

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

Critics hate this car. Critics aren't always right. A lot of critical reviews of this car malign the handling and ride. First the handling feels somewhat detached, but it is precise. Critics tend to want cars to handle like a sports car, which is fine if you're driving short distances and limited amounts of time but it becomes fatiguing over time. The nice easy steering and soft suspension make this great for long commutes. I can drive this longer distances than my Fusion without feeling stiff. It is a very comfortable car for its size to drive a long distance. Seats are decently comfortable. I'm not exactly a small guy and I typically drive larger stuff like say a Grand Marquis or F150. I'd even call it enjoyable to drive. If I had to say anything negative, the biggest drawback is acceleration. I hear a lot of complaints about the road noise. While the engine isn't terribly refined the factory supplied tires are geared towards economy, so they're noisy. Once they wear out and you put some softer touring tires on or ones with better tread pattern, it would be a lot quieter. I've noticed that on the right highway surface even at higher speeds it's fairly quiet in terms of wind noise. The car offers a lot for the money. When you compare what you get for the money you get more features with the Mirage and a better warranty. Like your Bluetooth, automatic climate control, automatic transmission, push button start, power locks, power windows, power mirrors for driver and passenger sides, AC? Imagine getting all of them for under $12000, including fancy rubber floor mats, unnecessary chrome highlight package and alloy wheels. Fuel economy will easily best it's rated number with the CVT, my wife and I took a road trip over hilly terrain last week and got 48mpg with the AC on (which has climate control too). Serviceability of the engine compartment is good, there is plenty of room, the design is straightforward. Cargo capacity is quite good if you fold the seats down. The rear seat is serviceable if needed. While it has some quirks the controls are easy to use and adjust to. The cruise control and the radio controls on the steering wheel took the most adjusting as did the rear wiper (but I only own one other vehicle with a rear wiper and it's an 88 Aerostar). Given the fact you can put yourself in a new one for less than the cost of almost any new car, many used ones and given its long standard warranty, it deserves more of a look. It offers fantastic fuel economy and great options for the cost. This is an excellent starter car for a first time driver (they won't be able to drag race), or just a sensible extra car with a great warranty.

FANTASTIC CAR! FITS MY REQUIREMENTS PERFECTLY!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Being a recently retired automotive professional, I did a lot of research to get the biggest bang for my buck on a brand new car. I had quite a bit of experience on automotive reliability (42 years in auto parts sales). I knew Mitsubishi was second to none in that category. I wanted a vehicle that would let me enjoy life on a budget, yet be comfortable and meet my driving needs. That's what led me to the Mitsubishi Mirage. I'm saving lots of money every time I travel, whether I'm zipping to town or on a trip. I purchased an ES model with 5 speed manual. I traveled to Albany Ga. to get the exact one I had in mind. The dealer there made me feel like family and far exceeded my expectations. This was the second brand new car I ever purchased. The first when I was 18 years old, now this one at age 66. I have found the quality and reliability to be exceptional. The clutch is smooth and effortless. Transmission shifter has a close positive gate. As for handling, It may seem a little awkward to start, but no two vehicles drive exactly alike. With a little experience, if you can modify your behavior, you may just fall in love with the Mirage's steering and suspension. Some have criticized the noisy engine. On mine, you can only hear the exhaust lightly howling when accelerating out onto the highway. ( Personally, I like that) When coming to a stop, sometimes I feel like the engine has stopped running (It's that smooth and quiet). Fit and function of controls are very conveniently located and easy to use. The comfort level of the seats seem better to me on the ES model, as they are slightly softer with premium materials, and the drivers seat also adjusts up and down to conform to the drivers height. The interior is exceptionally roomy and close to that of many midsize cars of today. I think the power level of the engine is sufficient. Living in the Appalachian mountain area of extreme North Georgia, I have no problem climbing hills or passing other vehicles, but I do know how to use that 5 speed transmission when doing so. If you are capable of doing any of your own service work, both major and general components that may need attention at some time are fairly simple and easily accessible. No professional reviewers address that. I understand the professional reviewer's comments on this car. Who else gets to drive and evaluate every car on the market. What's right for you may not be right for the next person. These are just a few of my comments to help others to know what the Mirage is all about. So far....I'm lovin' mine!

An economical purchase

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

For the cost of the vehicle, you cannot find better value. This is the second one we have purchased this year.

Love, love, love this car

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I just bought both a new 2015 Mirage and a new 2015 Lancer within the last 3 months. I really love both cars. My kiwi green Mirage is super cute, fun to drive and turns heads everywhere it goes. It has plenty power, rides and drives like a much bigger, more expensive car. It came well equipped with traction control, climate control, a nice stereo and more. Plus the 45mpg is awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better deal $12,800 tax, title, tag and out the door.

About average

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

This car needs enhancement and improvement: horsepower, torque, rims, and suspension. They are sluggish to accelerate highway with pulling 500 LB trailer and stock suspension too bouncy.

The best fuel efficient car around!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Just bought a '15 brand new with a 5 speed stick DE model for $9588.00 plus tax. Unbelievable! Huge sale brought me into the fold and the car doesn't disappoint. The car is packed with standard feature and Is easy to drive. Professional reviewers mention how the handling and performance are sub par but in reality the car is fine on the road. Sure it could be tuned to be tighter but it is fine. Maybe the '17 model will include a USA tuned suspension. Acceleration with the 5 speed is fine and the car is totally geared towards fuel efficiency. On the first tank of gas the car pegged 46.3 miles per gallon in mixed driving. I find the car super easy to drive and it's very comfortable on the inside. The dash design is good and materials are par for the class. The seats and auto climate controls are far above class average. If your going to drive a small car you hope to get above 40 mpg. In the Mirage you actually get that high mpg at a low price in a good package. The car is a great value and I'm glad I waited to get one. I almost bought one in the fall for around $11,500 but I waited and lucked out. Now that I own one I would say anywhere between 9500 and 11500 would be a fair price for the Mirage. On the upper end ES model prices can get up there pretty high and I would question the value of those models seeing that they have all the same mechanics as the DE model. The DE model come standard with power windows locks and mirrors. It also has a/c and a good stereo. Look for a bargain and get yourself a Mirage.

Amazing car for the price!!!!!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I read plenty of relatively poor reviews by the official car rating companies, as well as relatively positive rating by consumers before deciding to buy my Mitsubishi. I decided to trust the consumers and I am very glad I did. I love my car, and I am very happy I bought it. I knew going in that it is not a luxury car nor will I win many interstate races with it. I have a 60 mile / day commute to work so I bought it for that reason. I have been incredibly impressed with the gas mileage, I am always getting 45 miles / gallon and much of that is over dirt roads and back road driving. I live in Vermont and I have had no major issues with driving the car in the weather. It isn't great in the snow but it isn't that bad either. As far as the poor acceleration, I disagree, I have had plenty of power and acceleration for the type of driving I do. I don't slow down on the hills etc. I am impressed with the 3 cylinder engine. It is a little noisy as your driving it, but I am usually listening to music anyway, so I don't notice it. By the way, very nice stereo system. If you are looking for an inexpensive car with incredible gas mileage and I think plenty of power despite the small engine, I highly recommend this car.

Professional Reviewers??

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I too read the professional reviews then on youtube I decided to view MOTORWEEK's review of this car as they have been honestly reviewing cars for over 30 years as they too had qualms about this car which totally changed when the review was complete! This is one awesome little car! I really love my KIWI GREEN little Kermit! For a 3 cyl car it has plenty of pep! The fuel economy is nothing short of spectacular! I have never owed a car that got 40(+) mpg mind you in city driving. It fits everywhere. For the price with the rebates plus the warranty & Mitsubishi's reliability you can not go wrong! I just can not figure out why people go with the other Japanese car companies when this is Japan's real secret!! The handling is fine, the ride is fairly smooth as the car easily fits my 2 dogs, 2 kids, me & my wife. For the price of the DE I bought the car is well-equipped with A/C w/auto control, A/T, Tilt, AM/FM CD, Blue Tooth, Electric Remote Mirrors, P/S, P/B, ABS P/W, 7 air bags plus so much more!! The Mirage is anything but a mirage...you won't go wrong!!!

Six Months Later...

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 40

Just wanted to update my original review because a lot has happened since January! I've driven to Cincy and Nashville from Indy so I have a little more knowledge about my Mirage. I read A LOT of professional reviews and one of the many things they criticized was the acceleration. Long distance driving was fine except I wish I did have cruise control. My leg got pretty tired after 200+ miles in the same position. Again, moving with traffic (or passing it) was not a problem. I drive 22 miles to work each day and I have no problem moving in and out of rush hour traffic either. After driving my mom's 2015 Chevy Cruze I will say my car doesnt' take off as quickly as hers, but I haven't had a problem merging into traffic. I also read a lot about handling. Easy fix! I bought a $10 wheel cover and I can't believe the difference in the handling. (The steering wheel is a little on the skinny side so sometimes it felt like the car was getting away from me. Turns out it's all about the "grip".) There was also something said about braking, which mentioned coming to a complete stop from 60 mph. Really! If you find yourself doing that more than once in a while, you need to retake Drivers Ed! My sturdy little racecar has taken a beating. I've been rear-ended, my windshield cracked by a rock flying off a truck and I've run over a couple of pretty huge curbs. I have a few scratches, but no major damage. Gas mileage is awesome, parking is so easy and my cargo space was adequate when traveling with my two grandsons and all their belongings last month. The interior has survived several spills (including nacho cheese on the carpet) and cleaned up very nicely. Overall, buying this car has turned out to be an unexpected blessing. Like I said back in July, ignore the haters! I'm still loving my Mirage! (Read my original review below) Three weeks ago I walked into the Suzuki/Mazda/Mitsubishi dealership (after having totaled my beloved 2004 Suzuki Vitara) needing a cheap car quick! I don't care about features and technology and bells and whistles, I just need a reliable piece of transportation for getting to and from work and comfortable enough for my twice yearly 1,300 mile road trip to visit my grandbabies . The dealer told me he had a 2015 Mirage with 1,200 miles on it. My salesman took me for a test drive, but I was too busy chatting to pay attention to the actual "ride". (Duh...I know! ) Anyway, it was a cold, snowy night and I just wanted to get the car and get the heck out of there, so I signed on the dotted line and rolled out. It wasn't until I got home and pulled up reviews on my phone that I started having big time BUYERS REMORSE! After reading the "professional" reviews, I thought to myself, what have I done?! (*$%#@) Then I found "real people" reviews and instantly felt better. Yes, the tires are teeny and the ride can be a little bumpy. For sure I get blown around on the highway on a windy day (did in my Vitara too). Yep, the interior is a little cheap and no it doesn't look like a Maserati. BUT, for someone like me this car is PERFECT! I actually don't mind the plastic interiors because I'm a tad messy and I prefer wiping to scrubbing! I love the gas mileage, the ease of using the wipers, radio/cd player, adjusting the heat, etc. Parking is a breeze! Mine is Infrared with black racing stripes (yeah, it's a little funky!) So, if you're looking for a high performance, chick/dude magnet with nav systems, wings and landing gear--this ain't it! If you want a reliable car that you can drive forever with a 10 year, 100,000 warranty that gets 37 MPG--then yes, this vehicle is all that! Ignore the haters! Read the consumer reviews and judge for yourself. I'm loving my Mirage!

Car of my Dreams!!!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I love love love my 2015 Mirage. It can zip around through traffic. It gets wonderful mileage for my commute. I turn up the music and cruise in my red, fun car!!!!

Great little car with even better mileage!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

OK, this car probably isn't for everyone but it is a great car for those who want a basic and reliable vehicle. Forget about what the "professional" and "expert" reviewers say. Not everyone wants all the frills in the world and some like us view them as a negative. Not everyone wants a touch screen to control every system in the car. If you are this way then this car is worth a look. My girlfriend's old car recently started having issues with needing one repair after another and then 3 major ones hit at once and the cost of doing all these would have been about double the value of the car. It was time to move on and get her a new car. She wanted a basic small subcompact. I had been looking into these as I do a lot of driving and like small cars like this for the handling and economy. All the owners had nothing but good things to say about them. We looked at several other cars but she didn't fall in love with any of them. I thought the low cost, features, and warranty of the Kia Rio were good but she didn't like the car. It had too many features such as a touch screen and the like that she didn't want. It was love at first sight with this one. It had basic intuitive controls that were easy to operate and the manual transmission model drove smooth and has plenty of power. We did not test drive the automatic/CVT model. I see other reviews categorizing this car as sluggish so maybe they are reviewing that transmission option. The transmission in this one has appropriate gear ratios and has plenty of power. The engine is TIMING CHAIN driven which is almost unheard of in a cheap 3 cylinder car like this one and has variable valve timing which produces a nice flat torque curve. The engine is being further improved in 2017 with the addition of roller lifters/cams for slightly more power and economy. Some engineering went into this one. The car has room for 4 adults and doesn't bog down with the extra weight. You wouldn't take a long vacation in this car with 4 people but there is room for a suitcase or two in the back hatch. You could also fit several file boxes back there. The car has one of the longest warranties in the industry. It meets or exceed that of Kia/Hyundai in every category. It is also great on gas. We seem to get around 36 in town and 48-50mpg on the highway. I suspect this might improve as the engine breaks in more. Again, this little guy has plenty of power. I drove it home on the interstate and it didn't slow down on even some pretty large hills. I was maintaining speed and passing trucks in 5th gear without even really pushing it. The "Eco" light never even went off. Apparently this car switches to a more aggressive tuning that isn't as good on gas when you really punch it and this light goes off. The engine is a little loud during acceleration but this isn't the end of the world. It definitely idles very smooth which wasn't the case for past 3 cylinder cars that shake quite a bit. Obviously the engine is better balanced. The interior isn't fancy but simple which is appealing if you ask me. Not everyone wants a complex touch screen to turn on the ventilation, radio, and more. No, this isn't a fancy car and there are other good competing options you should look at for other cars in this price range compared to cars of this segment in decades past. The Kia Rio certainly fits the bill. This was purchased at Springfield Mitsubishi/Springfield Imports in Springfield, MO. I highly suggest this location if it is near you as it was a low-key experience and you didn't feel you were in a mind game with the dealership the entire time.

Rental Car Experience

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating:

Much to the surprise of the rental car company, I recently requested the Mirage when on a 5 day vacation to the Bay Area. After having noticed the discrepancy between professional and consumer reviews, I had to see for myself what the real story was with this car. That, and I am a fan of basic, high MPG transportation. My car was an uninspired silver DX with black interior and the CVT automatic and not much else. I took the car over winding highway 17 to Santa Cruz and than back to San Jose via the most challenging, pot hole filled winding roads. The steering and suspension isn't ideal for higher speed corners such as those found on Hwy 17. It sways a great deal and the steering is sloppy. It never lost grip, but I wouldn't want to do an evasive maneuver. What was surprising was that the little 3 had decent power and the CVT did a good job of keeping it in the power band. I've read that the suspension was designed for 3rd world roads and on my trip home over the rutted back roads, I'd have to agree. It did a nice job of soaking up bumps and only hit the suspension stops once. It also has a wonderfully tight turning radius which makes low speed driving in cramped spaces a joy. This isn't a car to drive on winding roads quickly, but if you aren't in a hurry, it's quite alright. I also too the car on longish (hour each way) trip up to the North Bay and it performed admirably and kept up with the swift Bay Area traffic without fuss. In all, I covered 200 miles and got 40MPG as measured at the pump on fill up. I'd estimate my average hwy speed at 60 - 65 with a max speed of low 70's. It's an honest little car with personality. Hopefully the revised 2017 will address the handling issues. If you're not out to impress people or want to make an anti-flashy statement, the little Mirage is worth a look. Were I shopping for an inexpensive car, I'd give it serious consideration. I hope it's a success for Mitsu. Cheap gas won't last indefinitely and when it inevitably goes up again, this car could be a rock star.

Great Car in a small package

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

If you are looking for all the bells and whistles you should look elsewhere, but if you want a great warranty, reliability, fuel economy, and easy parking this is the car for you. I had a Ford Escort back in the day and loved it. Eventually got a Ford minivan but my kid toting days are over. I don't haul a lot of stuff and I have no kids at home, so this car was great. I take long road trips and the fuel economy is great. 52 mpg at some points. Costs me very little in gas and now that I am experiencing my first Erie, PA lake effect winter in this car I am loving it. I was very afraid of getting stuck but bought my snow tires in October and have not been stuck yet. I didn't even shovel this morning after a 4-6 inch snow storm and got out of my driveway without a hiccup. My Chevy Malibu I traded in for this car was stuck all last year. No snow tires, but it was a heavier car. Gas mileage on that was horrible and the interior was cheap and plastic. And I paid more for that car even with it being 3 years old. This was a brand new car with a 5 year 60,000 mile basic warranty. Compare that to the normal 3 year 36,000 mile on most cars. That was the biggest selling point. I could afford a brand new car with no worries for 5 years and have no car payments. It's small but very much a great car. Go ahead and pay more for the Chevy Cruze (which has nothing on it for their base price) and see the cheapy plastic interior and how many times you need it serviced. And our Mitsubishi dealer here in Erie could not be better. They get 5 stars. Gave me a loaner for an oil change. Who does that? They treat you as well as the person who bought a $30,000 car. The Mirage is not the fanciest car, but it does the job and does it well. No complaints here.

Great car

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

This is a great extra car.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

This car is great basic transportation. I have an Evolution 8 with just over 226000 miles and bought the Mirage to drive while I do some major part swapping on the Evolution 8. After adjusting my driving habits from a 300 Hp ride to a 74 Hp economy car I have no complaints. All cars have different handling characteristics and should be driven accordingly. While this car is capable of doing just over 100mph I recommend keeping it under 75mph. I do not know why the professional ratings are lower than consumers. They are either out of touch or do not have realistic expectations when it comes to basic transportation.

Buy it already!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Bought this car over the phone in New Hampshire on a Sunday afternoon. Two days later I rented a car drove from CT to pick it up and drive back. The only thing I knew about this car was it was affordable with great mpg's, had very poor professional reviews but extremely positive consumer reviews. The first time I sat in it was after the transaction as complete and I was driving home. I was blown away on my 3 + hour trip back with how awesome this car is! Everything that the professional reviewers say with the exception that it does feel "slightly" top heavy in highway speed turns as totally false. This car is a blast! Did 70-75 mph all the way home, hardly touching the pedal and got 47.6 average mpg! It feels like a much bigger car and is way bigger than you think inside. I love this car, I feel it is very well built a blast to drive and with the gas mileage, it's almost like driving for free! Mine is an ES model with CVT .

great gas mileage 52 miles per gallon on a manual

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

My wife took the car out we had it for a month great on gas mileage we have the manual transmission we put 5000 miles on it and getting 52 miles per gal miles per gallon on the interstate doing 80 miles an hour to 85 miles an hour we took a trip in it went to Colorado in it from Louisiana handles real good in the mountains special for a manual transmission what you need in the mountains looks real great we got the DE added cruise control to it and fog lights not much extra. In town we are getting 40 miles per gallon in town. Going to update on May 3 2016 We manage doing the speed of 60 on a Hwy of 55 and started getting 65 miles per gallons . Now in town we are averaging 45miles gallons. Good car.

Perfect for those who just wanna get there CHEAP!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I LOVE this car. I have had it for ten months and have put nearly 25k miles on it, so I now feel as though I am in a position to comment on it here. I bought the Mirage mostly for the same reason people bought VW Beetles back in the '60s or Chevy Chevettes in the '70s. Not for performance or handling, not for comfort or style. But for economy. The comparison of the Mirage to the original Beetle or the Chevette is not an unwarranted one. Adjusted for inflation, the Mirage, the Beetle, and the Chevette cost about the same amount. In 1970, the Bug was about $2000; in 1976 the Chevette was near $2,800...both of which would be right around $12,000 today. Though I don't think the VW or the Chevy came with automatic climate control and power windows as standard equipment...in fact, they weren't even OPTIONS! The average transaction amount for a new car nowadays is somewhere north of $30,000, so if a person is spending less than half of that they can expect to leave a few things "on the table". This is not a fault with the car, but rather just COMMON SENSE! Is the car a bit noisy? Yes. Does it handle well? Not really. Does it accelerate like a rocketship? Nope. Many other reviewers lament these facts (unfairly), but the Mirage simply isn't designed for any of that. Though the one thing it IS designed for it does very well. It is cheap to buy, cheap to insure, and VERY, VERY cheap to run. Most critics of the Mirage simply expect too much for the car's incredibly low price point. My 5-speed ES model was a shade over $14,000. Could I have bought a 37k-mile 2011 Corolla with that money? Sure. But I wanted a new car with a warranty and without a previous owner's cigarette burns and dog smell on the seats. And I didn't want the Corolla's 30-ish mpg, either. Over the 25k miles I have driven, I have averaged about 48 mpg...that is not an exaggeration! Driven correctly, these cars are almost unbelievably thrifty. Creature comforts are in line with a 21st century car...even an economy car. Fog lights, passive "F.A.S.T. key" ignition, nice stereo, Bluetooth, alloy wheels, automatic climate control, power everything, etc, etc. I have had ZERO problems with the Mirage, and all it has needed is oil changes. Not everyone wants or needs the classic "A-to-B" car anymore, and there are those among us who feel that we, as a species, should have evolved well beyond such humble cars by now. But for those of us that DO still just want to get there without having a $500-a-month car payment, I really can't recommend the Mirage highly enough. As an economy car in a bad economy, it truly has no equal. ***Original poster here. Just an update on the Mirage. It has been outstanding! The car has needed nothing but oil changes, a set of front brake pads, and a set of tires over the 35,000 miles I have driven it. Still averaging around 48 mpg.*** ***Original poster again. Another update on my 2015 Mirage, which I have now owned for almost two years. I just rolled over 50,000 miles, and the car is as solid and trouble-free as the day I bought it. No repairs of any kind have been needed, just oil changes. Still averaging right around 48 mpg. Would I buy it again? YOU BET!***

My adult son called it a clown car

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 1 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 2 Safety Rating: 2 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating:

Had the Mirage for a week as a rental. Engine is noisy and buzzy. If you need to pass with the A/C on you had better get a running start. Handling wallowed on expressway off ramps. Driving position very uncomfortable. Two airline size carry on's would not fit in trunk they had to rest in the back seat. My Corolla gets 7 mpg less but I would take over the Mirage anytime. I wouldn't recommend this car to my worst enemy!

Great bang for the buck

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 5

I bought this little Mirage DE in Mystic Black with the 5SPD and I couldn't of been happier. With rebates (Previous Mitsu owner, year end rebates, rebate from my job being partners with Mitsu) My final price was just over $11,000. Only option was blue tooth. Good: I drive 75 miles a day, so gas mileage was important, I average 42 mpg highway/traffic, and I don't have a light foot. trying to drive conservatively and a long highway trip I actually reached almost 52 mpg. As long as you stick in your lane and don't feel like you need to weave in and out of traffic, it keeps up just fine. The seats are supportive, and the ride is comfortable enough. I am 5'11" and there is plenty of headroom. The piano black trim inside helps break up the matte black plastic so it doesn't look that bad. I do like how this car has 7 airbags and climate control. 10 year/100k mile powertrain warrantee and free oil changes for life are a plus from Mitsubishi. Bad: Suspension is soft though and some has some body roll. I wish the car came with a armrest. The Bluetooth works but when I play music through it, Pandora from my phone, the sound is low quality/tingy (AUX cable works better and my music sounds better then Bluetooth). Also I have the Bluetooth that is not apart of the steering wheel. Learning to use the Bluetooth button on the dash is like learning morse code. You have to press it once, twice, three times, hold for one , two, three, three seconds all to do 6 or more different functions. I just stopped using it for music, just to take calls. If you get the DE model, make sure you can live with the seat not being able to adjust up and down. I am 5'11" and where it is at is ok, but any taller, I think it would be inconvenient. Overall: This is a fun little car to drive, you wont win any races but for the price, gas mileage, great warrantee, its worth it. Critics seems to be harsh on this car, but then again they are not usually concerned with the fact some people just want basic car that is reliable, and get them to work/school and back, and are not trying to set amazing lap times on a race track.

Hated it at first..luv it over a year later!! :-)

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I bought this car for it's excellent gas mileage and with a 74 hp engine didn't expect much..this little car can and will move and move fast..if your not afraid to drive it!! I have had it 24 months now and hv 28k miles on it.. and it has been 100% reliable..for what it is Im very happy..great little economy/commuter car..one thing I was shocked to see..it has a timing chain instead of a cheap rubber belt like most new cars now days have..this car might not be the best looking or best performing. But it definitely 100% gets the job done..still surprised at how zippy it is..it will flat out move if I'm not payn attention to speedo I'll be on highway outside of town doin 90/95 and not even know it. Says 140mph on speedo and I can confirm I was almost there once. Just to see if it could. I got scared and let off at 120mph..but still had not bottomed out my pedal. I had those squirrels workn hard!! Lol

I love my hatchback

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I have owned a Mirage for the past 4 months now. I traded in my Ford Focus ST for two of them, one for me and one for the wife. Let be honest in saying I couldn't be happier with my car. When I first drove it I thought ok it's fun to drive but it's just ok, the price point is right and my wife and I need a gas efficient inexpensive car so we made the purchase going these are ok; however three days later I realized that this little car is amazing, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not, it's not a 6 cylinder mustang with a shouty exhaust pretending it's a v8 race car. It has room enough for four people comfortably and five in a pinch when four buddy's and I make a lunch run. It has 2 ways to connect my iPod for tunes and a CD player for good measure. As far as the masses of people who say this vivacious little go cart is under powered, I have to disagree; I have the 1.2L standard transmission and have had zero problems accelerating off a stop light or getting up to highway speeds. That being said I have not driven the cvt model and can't attest to how it drives. The trim is adequate for the price and the controls are exactly where I feel they should be. The seats are very comfortable and the only thing I could ask for is an arm rest. I have not treated my mirage like a weak little city car I fold down the seats and put several hundred pounds of tile in it for home improvements; I've taken it up logging roads unpacked, unpaved, and very up hill. This car has very much changed my view of vehicles and practicality, I don't miss my Focus, in my opinion the Mirage is more fun to drive it handles like a go cart you can do a u turn on a two lane road with out going off on the shoulder, you can park it literally anywhere, and finally they under sell the gas mileage I usually see 42mpg city and about 44mpg highway, my highway driving in Washington state is normally at 70mph. All in all this is my favorite vehicle that I have owed and the only changes I plan to make are adding fog lights and a roof rack.

" 2 for 1"

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating:

my wife bought a 2015 mirage in April our oldest boy like it so much he just bought one to use as a commuter car his round trip to work and home is 67 miles which so far amounts to less than 2 gallons of regular fuel a day.....excellent car for rush hour traffic great a/c bluetooth hands free communication and he says he can hardly tell whether the engine is running it is so quiet

Most "Honest" car on the market

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 41

Don't believe all the negative reviews from the media. The Mirage may be the most "honest" vehicle on the market today. Simple, reliable transportation with a quality drivetrain that delivers excellent mileage. The 3A92 motor is a very good motor designed for longevity. Timing chain instead of a belt with a double overhead cam. You shouldn't be able to wear out either the 5 speed or CVT. Other than replacing the clutch on the manual and changing the gear oil it should last a really really long time. The CVT is way over engineered for the Mirage. The JATCO Cvt7 is designed for up to 150hp and the Mirage has 74hp. Yes, with the CVT it can be kinda slow off the start but the Mirage just isn't designed to be a performance car. Once rolling along I've had no issues with passing. If you've ever owned a Colt, Metro, Fiesta, Swift, Echo, Aveo or any other low cost subcompact you'll love the Mirage. Is it perfect? No. The ride is soft and handling is a little wonky but I've gotten more than 50mpg on the highway. Better than hybrid mileage for less than 1/2 the cost of a hybrid. The haters are gonna hate this car no matter what. I'll just keep smiling at every fill up knowing that my cost per mile factoring in mileage & price of the vehicle just can't be beat! It's been 7 months now and I still love my Mirage. It's been flawless in it's operation and no issues have popped up. Once the updated 2017's come out I'm thinking about buying a second one used with a 5 speed. Update-It's been 14 months of problem free ownership. Has 74hp been enough? Yes, but if I lived in an area where A/C usage was required constantly it would be more of a struggle. Overall, my opinion still stands. Great inexpensive, efficient car. Not exciting, not powerful, not a sports car, just good basic frugal transportation.

Best buy for the money.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I've seen this vehicle take slot of heat on reviews so I felt obligated to chime in. I'll be brief. Good for the money. Tires and brakes went in the two years at 25k miles. It's a lil cheap, a lil funny looking. The acceleration is fine. The vehicle serves it's purpose well, I'd buy it again. One note: put your car seat in the back before you buy it, to see how it fits. It's akward. Nbd. I'd buy it again

2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES w/ Navigation

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I bought my 2015 Mirage ES with Navigation about 2 weeks ago and had to make a 3 hour drive back home from the dealer on I-495 (belt way) and had no issues going 75mph and keeping up with traffic. I averaged 50mpg on the drive back. The ride is amazingly smooth for such a small car!!! I love the Navigation and Back Up Camera that I got as the $900.00 option package and it also has the $695.00 Sport Appearance Package which really makes it look sharp. My co-worker purchase a 2015 ES with Navigation back in November 2014 and 5,000 miles later not one issue we both love our Mirage's!!! I got mine in Starlight Silver and my co-workers is Infared. The Interior is really spacious and the trunk is very roomy!!! I had my choice of many cars and I knew hands down this was the car for me and I couldnt be happier. All of the negative reviews this car has is just plain stupid. It is full of features, power windows, locks, mirrors, push button start, navigation, back up camera, cd, dvd, automatic climate control, fog lights, fast key with keyless start, button access, ABS, Hill Hold Assist, TC, Stability Control and much much more!!! You cant go wrong with any Mirage!!!!

Best for Buck

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

In the 10K class of new cars (only looking at stick, as with small engines all other trannies have bad performance), I have looked at: 1. Chevy Volt. Totally rejected due to Onstar and the inability to truly disable it even when unsubscribed. No spying is desired. 2. Nissan Versa. Off the line performance sucks bad, even though it has a bigger engine. It seems like they have detuned it so that you can't peel out. I wouldn't want to cross 4 lanes with this one. Car is most comfortable but feels heavy and gets bad MPG. 3. Mitsubishi Mirage. Best bang for buck. Great acceleration for size of engine/MPG with stick. Seats could be a little more comfortable, but not bad.

Forget the critics...

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

...this little car does the trick!I love this car. I've had it for four months now, and I was worried at first because of all of the negative professional reviews I'd read online. It has great gas mileage, gives me a smooth ride, and I'm able to fit a surprising amount of stuff in the truck for such a tiny car! Ok -- acceleration isn't stellar, but it's not nearly as bad as the professional reviews make it out to me. I can easily maintain 70-75 on the highway without a problem. The interior is great; comfortable seats, nice controls for stereo, temperature, etc. I should add: I'm a 23 year old female who just graduated from college, and this is the first car I've owned myself. So I'm not super picky about everything being perfect -- just looking for a good car to get me from point A to point B. This car really does the trick, and for the price point I couldn't be happier.

So glad I went with this car!

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I've owned a 1998 mirage, still have it at 150, 000 plus miles it's still running great. This is one of the reasons that made me initially interested in the 2015 mirage. Things I love: Compact, easy to park and turn around, I can't even begin to describe how much the MPG impacts me, it's amazing, I got 42.5 mpg just city driving so far, I can't wait to take it on a longer trip to see how it does. I love the temperature setting, you can adjust it as low as 61 and I think as high as 89, i can't remember I haven't had to use the heat setting yet (summer in AZ). I got the ES model with the bluetooth, cruise control, drivers seat adjusts in height, I love that feature, it's not as low to the ground that way, makes it easier to get in and out of. I love the fact that I don't have to use the remote if I don't want to, I can simply push the button my car and get in, as long as I have the fast key remote on me. I LOVE my new car!!!! I was listening to other people telling me what I should get etc. and so glad I went with my gut feeling and got what I know and trust. Plus, you cannot beat the warranty. Now for the cons: No center console, but I can probably fix that problem and buy something to work as others have, especially for long trips it would be nice to have that. It has all sorts of warning lights that come on when there is a problem. I like those, however I already dislike the TPMS light for low tires, I'm having an issue with that coming on even though the dealer just filled my tired 2 days ago, so back to the dealer I go with that issue. That wouldn't sway me from buying this car, just an annoyance. The back seat isn't real big, it's ok for children but I don't think adults would be to comfy on a long trip. It does take a bit to get used to the steering, my first day it was horrible I felt like I was all over the place. Now, I've got that figured out and happy with it. I would definitely buy it again and recommend if you are wanting something small, great on gas and a great warranty.

Love my 2015 Mirage ES CVT

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

I wanted a cheap, but good on gas, vehicle. I bought my 2015 Mirage ES CVT for $14,119 ( plus tax/title/ect ). This is my 1st import, I have always bought American, but they had NO vehicle that compared to the Mirage in price with options and gas mileage. The power to get up to speed is fine, no Chevy with a 454, but it gets the job done. I'm a BIG guy at 300lbs and my wife is 175lbs. We just took a round trip from Mid Michigan to southern Arizona ( 4600 miles total ) with our little Mirage. Now I have to admit, it needed a little more HP going up some steep mountains. It made it, but gas mileage dropped to 36mpg. Averaged 42MPG overall on the trip. I average closer to 50MPG currently. UPDATE: 15600 on the odometer now. The gas mileage has improved. I now average 55+ mpg on the hwy doing 55mph. Getting 45-47 in town.

Follow Up On Mirage ES CVT

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 2 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 5

I did my research...oh did I do my research on this car. I am truly grateful for all those owners that posted their honest opinions, likes and dislikes which were more informative than the jaded opinions of the professional reviewers. I am of the generation that wished for a simpler, inexpensive car that got great gas mileage with roll down windows (less to break down unless you had my new Chevy Monte Carlo at the time which got lousy gas mileage and on which everything broke). If I could have fit this car into that one Corvair body year I liked it would have been perfect. I absolutely love this car. I've seen Consumer Reports trashing this car (more than once). I'd like to think I have reasonable expectations when buying a new car (I've have over 10 in the last 45 years during that time driving about 40,000 miles per year) knowing what are the plusses and minuses of each so I don't know if I can be accused as having low expectations and/or if Consumer Reports has some sort of issue with their own evaluations of vehicles. It's almost as if they're being prissy about it as if they're being put-upon by having to explain to us lesser mortals what should be obvious to everyone. Well, it may be obvious to them, but not to me. If I want something that is a definitive sports car I'll get a Corvette; if I want something that defines luxury maybe one of those in the class of a Lexus, top-end Hyundai, etc. I wanted something this time as an economical alternative to the wife's very nice SUV as a practical matter. For 14 thousand, contrary to Consumer Reports, the car handles well-enough, has enough power if you drive it intelligently on the road (I used to own the original Volkswagen normally aspirated diesel which taught you to be aware of your driving conditions and to think ahead), the CVT works well with the non-hybrid 3 cylinder without the heavy added costs and complexity of a hybrid, has proximity sensors and a decent radio with mapping and Bluetooth. Of all things, the fit and finish is better on this car than ALL of my previous new ones-and cripes, it's made in Thailand. But then I did take the time on the lot to look for the one that looked the best to me in terms of fit and finish and took it for a test drive. Yes, it doesn't have a center console but with the space savings I found I didn't need it. Yes, it doesn't have Corinthian leather, but it saves me attempting to patch it when the dog attempts to claw it to death. Yes, it doesn't like potholes and bumps. But on a decent road it rides as well as the wife's SUV. Yes, it leans on turns and I would have preferred to have a sway bar, but not dangerously so unless you are stupid enough to try to drive it like a sports car. Yes, it has 14 inch tires and I would have preferred 15 inches. But it actually drives pretty good in the snow. Yes, because the car is so light it doesn't like strong crosswinds and the CVT intrudes in the cockpit. So what? I'll take that for 50 mpg with the air off. And it has "gasp" a spare tire unlike the low end Hyundai and the newer model version of my previous Optima. You get a can of useless flat tire repair for that. But to my immense irritation, it didn't have hooks to hang laundry like on my last car. After grousing about that to the wife for about a week I ordered a hanger from Amazon that attaches to the back of the front passenger seat. All is good. Update request by Edmunds: Car itself has been perfect....except the steering wheel has discolored...maybe my sweat is corrosive...the CVT has been properly matched with the engine and is very smooth...for a 3 cylinder noise and vibration is better than most of the 4 cylinders from other cars in that class...and I test drove most of them...doors have stayed aligned unlike previous cars and there are absolutely no creaks or rattles...I have never had that with any other car and there are some really bad roads in NJ...I hate the standard Dunlops...they do not hold air well...they are ok in the snow and for handling but once they wear out I will replace them...It's not just these Dunlops...the Dunlops that I have had on other cars with different sizes that came standard I have had problems with also so it seems to me there is a quality control issue...either they didn't hold air or blew out from small potholes...it will either be Michelins or some other manufacturer when replaced...I still can't understand Consumer Reports and other "professional" reviewers trashing this car...one of the few objective evaluations I have seen of this car came from MotorWeek...and from individual assessments from actual owners found on the 'net...I do like the ground clearance the car has consider it is a small car which works well in snow unlike a earlier Honda I had that acted like a snow plow...

Better than the Pros think

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

We owned a Honda FIT for years and loved it. But when it came time to get a new car, my wife got to choose and picked the Mirage DE 5 speed manual. One year and 14000 miles later we have no regrets. Combined with great maneuverability, the proximity sensors make tight parking a breeze. The small engine does work hard at the new freeway speeds of 70 mph. Our mileage drops to about 41 mpg at those speeds. But at speeds at 60 mph or below, we routinely average true mpg of 50 or even higher. (Note the mpg on the dash does often read a few mpg too high) Because of the higher ground clearance, the performance in the snow is surprisingly good and better than the FIT.

Professional Reviews vs Customer Ratings

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is the best car for the price I have owned other than the original normally aspirated Volkswagen Rabbit diesel. My priority was mpg and I'm getting about 54 for this 2014 leftover. The build on this car is tight with all seams aligned. The CVT is not dangerously slow. You just have to think a little ahead in certain circumstances as I did with my Volkswagen. The ride is as good as the 2011 Optima I traded in. This is a very light car so there is some wind buffeting but I'll take that considering the mpg. Comfortable seating. No harsh vibration from the engine at idle. At least on my car, the engine is smooth and the noise level is only intrusive at hard acceleration. Good radio.

secound Mitsubishi mirage in the family

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought a 2014 Mirage and loved it so much my wife bought a 2015. these cars get great gas milage. they are great in the city and are comfortable on the highway. for the price you cant beat it. so don't jest read the reviews of those so called professional reviewers. take one for a test drive and remember its great value for the money and has a great warranty

2015 Mirage ES

Performance: 1 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I have gotten 48 MPG as long as I stay at 55 mph or less. Don't use cruise control at freeway speeds 65+ mph or up mild to steep hills. The CVT transmission is like a slipping clutch and cruise control is not designed to handle this. It will reach RPM's over 4500 and kill your gas mileage instantly. The transmission itself can not handle 65+ mph. The gas mileage has been as low as 30 MPG at speeds of 65 mph. I should have bout the 5 speed. The Mirage is everything the Geo Metro should have been except that horrible CVT transmission. I don't know what kind of highways they test mileage on but even a level road at 65+ will not get you even in the 40's with or without cruise control.

The most fuel saving non hybrid go-kart ever!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought the 2015 Mirage in Oct and I do not regret it. Before buying it, reviewers, including Edmund really put the car down. I feel most of them were unfair with the reviews. This car is no louder, rougher, or less quality built compared to other subcompacts cars out there and I drove quite a bit before deciding on the Mirage. Yes it is a little loud when revving, yes it can be bumpy on a bad road, yes it is small and compact but at $13,000 base, it's loaded enough and fun! I got it for a better price with some effort. Think of it as a Modern Geo Metro, better built!