Propelled by a compact three-cylinder engine and packed with tried-and-tested safety features such as six airbags and electronic stability control, the Mitsubishi Mirage may be one of Australia's cheapest new cars, but it's got the basics well and truly covered. The hatch models have also been upgraded to match the up-spec sedan, meaning it's now more refined and better equipped. Overall, it's good value for under $12,000.
Don't ask me why, but I was expecting 'cheap and nasty' with the Mitsubishi Mirage. It is, after all, one of Australia's most affordable cars. In an age where you can buy a new Mercedes-Benz A-Class for around $36,000, the new car playing field has well and truly changed.
In hindsight I was half right. It is cheap... but to its credit the Mirage is far from nasty.
The compact Thai-built hatch is actually a rather engaging city runabout, thanks in large part to its distinctive 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine. Yes, it's a bit rough and a bit loud at high revs – despite the extra sound deadening equipment Mitsubishi has now fitted, but does a decent job in view of its direct competition.
The manual gearbox is not as precise as some we've sampled elsewhere in the class (Up!, Celerio), but it offers a good gear spread that is well suited to the engine's decent dose of mid-range torque. In most cars of this size the dash from the traffic lights is rather hum-drum, but because the Mirage feels relatively meaty in its middle reaches, the sprint to 60km/h is oddly involving.
For city drivers, however, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is probably a better option. Sampling the 'auto' in the Mirage LS sedan I found it easier to coax along – and every bit as brisk – especially in stop-start city traffic.
As a city runabout the Mirage's compact footprint makes tight alleyways and shopping centre carparks easy to negotiate. It's not only easy to park, but the light steering and tight turning circle (9.6m) also make snaking around other cars waiting in line a snap. Cheeky!
Despite the lack of reversing camera or parking sensors the Mirage is still quite easy to place. Its compact size allows it to slot into even the tightest of spots, while still leaving loads of room to open the doors (and boot).
Seat comfort is good, thanks to plush cushioning, though there's no real contouring to the back seats. The front pews also lack a little support, perhaps indicative of the cost savings required to get the Mirage to market so cheaply. I also found the back seat a little cramped for adults, but kids seemed to manage just fine.
The Mirage rides smoothly over rougher patches of road and soaks up all but the angriest of pot holes well. On the flip side the handling tends to suffer slightly, the Mirage presenting a fair amount of body sway during fast lane-changes, and when tackling tighter corners.
Though we're not sure too many Mirage drivers will be out to win a rally. For most it's standard features that sway the deal, and in both models that list is quite extensive. Bluetooth connectivity is offered on both grades (ES and LS), as are power windows and mirrors, cloth seats, air-conditioning, six airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control.
The higher-spec LS model adds 15-inch alloy wheels to the deal (the ES has 14-inch steel rims), as well as cruise control, single-zone climate control, privacy glass and steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio system.
Of course practicality and flexibility are a top priority for light cars buyers. To this extent the Mirage hatch offers 235 litres of cargo space and the sedan a whopping 450 litres. The 60:40 split-fold rear seats further improve the amount of space available, though if you're really chasing cargo volume, the sedan is the obvious winner.
For our week with both Mirage variants we saw an average fuel consumption figure of 5.5L/100km. The manual gearbox in the smaller hatch seemed to drink a little more fuel than the CVT of the larger sedan, but even so it is possible to travel more than 630km between fills. The Mirage's small wheels make replacing tyres cheap, and with 12months / 15,000km between visits to the service department, 12 months included roadside assistance and a five-year / 130,000km warranty the value equation is really pretty good.
The Mirage is also eligible for Mitsubishi's Diamond Advantage capped-price servicing scheme. The first four services are covered under the plan, each costing $290.00.
In many ways the Mirage exceeded my expectations. Admittedly these were pretty low, but on balance – and considering the price – the little Mitsi does pack plenty in. It won't be to everyone's taste, sure. But as a first car, a runabout, or a vehicle for someone looking to downsize, is a simple and affordable light car that won't leave you disappointed.