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Matt Brogan21 Jul 2014
REVIEW

Mitsubishi Mirage sedan 2014 Review

Cheap to buy and cheap to run, the budget-friendly Mirage with a boot is priced to please

Mitsubishi Mirage LS (sedan)
Road Test

Bigger than the hatch, the Mirage sedan arrives to compete with light segment stalwarts like the Toyota Yaris and Holden Barina. Priced from $14,490 (plus on-road costs), the four-door Mirage comes with three-cylinder petrol power only, but has a roomy interior and nearly as much boot space as a Holden Commodore. With tech and safety levels comparable to the best in class, the latest Mitsubishi has plenty to offer budget-savvy buyers.

At a time when many car makers are turning their back on small sedans, the arrival of Mitsubishi's Mirage sedan comes as something of a surprise.

But less so when you discover the Mirage sedan is quite roomy inside, and has nearly as much luggage space as a Holden Commodore (450 litres vs. 496). It's also appears more maturely styled and better screwed together than its hatch derivative, with improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) properties to boot.

The continuously variable transmission (CVT) seems slightly better matched to Mirage's 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, with less slurring at step-off and less of a tendency to 'hunt' for the right ratio once cruising.

It's something we've noted as an issue previously in the hatch, and one Mitsubishi assures us will be addressed when the hatch is face-lifted before the year's end.

Power output of 57kW and 100Nm at 4000rpm appear insubstantial compared to the Mirage sedan's immediate rivals (the Nissan Almera has 75kW/139Nm and Honda City 88kW/145Nm). However, with a kerb weight of just 940kg, performance is adequate, both around town and on the freeway.

Of course you'll need to pile on a few revs to access this performance (peak power arrives at 6000rpm), and it's here that NVH begins to suffer. The engine is raucous when worked, though the off-beat thrum of the triple does have some charm about it, much like Ford's EcoBoost three-pot found in class-rival Fiesta (hatch).

The Mirage sedan, sold as Attrage in some markets, and tested here in high-grade LS spec, is said to consume on average just 4.9L/100km. Our real world figure of 6.6L/100km wasn’t far off the mark, achieved through a week of mostly city driving.

Mitsubishi says the Mirage sedan’s 0.29Cd drag coefficient helps in keeping fuel use low, though the CVT’s tendency to run to high ratios as soon as road speed allows also helps.

On road, the 15-inch alloy wheels are kept roadside-down by MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam rear. The spring and damper rates have been re-tuned to match the extra mass of the sedan, although in practice feel inconsistent and a little wobbly when challenged by a mix of complex bends and surfaces.

On the plus side the ride is cushy, and the turning circle impressively tight: at 9.6m it’s a cinch to park. The electric-assisted steering is well-weighted, but with no parking beepers or a camera – and a large boot to see past – reverse parking requires some guesswork.

The Mirage sedan stops well thanks to a disc/drum combination (355mm front and 203mm rear). The pedal is nicely modulated and with anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, brake-assist traction and stability control is as well assisted as you’d expect a five-star ANCAP rated car to be.

Inside it’s relatively roomy, and in addition to the large boot, there’s enough space for at least four adults. Though there’s seating for five, and three-point seatbelts for all, in reality the backseat is most suited to three children.

Keeping the kids in check are top-tether (in all three rear positions) and ISOFIX (in the rear outboard positions) child-seat anchor points. Curtain airbags are also standard, alongside front and side airbags.

Entry to the cabin is helped by wide-opening doors and decent apertures, while the hip-point is high enough to be comfortable. The seats sit high enough to provide a good view of the road (even from the backseat), and don’t impact too much on ergonomics; or the driver’s relationship with the pedals and tilt/reach adjustable steering column.

On the downside, those same large doors feel light and tinny, and need a decent slam to shut securely. It’s the only real quality quibble we discovered in the Mirage sedan, which for the price feels, and looks, well assembled.

We also liked how easy it was to connect with our smartphone (iPhone 5 in this case), and how simple the four-speaker audio system, climate control and trip computer was to operate.

The top-grade Mirage LS also includes keyless entry and push-button start, power windows and mirrors, auto headlights and wipers and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

At $17,490 (plus on-road costs) the top-grade sedan is a bit of a stretch, especially in view of its immediate competition. But if you can do without the bells and whistles, and change gears yourself, then the cheap to buy and cheap to run Mirage sedan really does have price on its side.

2014 Mitsubishi Mirage LS pricing and specifications:

Price: $17,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol
Output: 57kW/100Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 116g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked: Not so much:
>> Entry price of ES variant >> NVH when pushed
>>Real-world fuel economy >> Light and tinny doors
>> Spacious cabin and boot >> Tricky rearward vision
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Written byMatt Brogan
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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
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Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
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Price, Packaging & Practicality
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Behind the Wheel
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X-Factor
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