2023 Mitsubishi Mirage

Small hatchbacks are a dying breed in the US; just witness the demise of hatchbacks like the Honda Fit, the Toyota Yaris, and the Chevrolet Spark. One of the very few left is the Mitsubishi Mirage, but our review of the 2022 model was less than glowing. It's clearly a starter car that's economical and cheap, but there's nothing to excite or inspire. Comfort isn't great, and you may feel dwarfed and vulnerable among the Rams and Silverados on the highway. Essentially the same car since it arrived in the USA as a 2014 model, it's been facelifted repeatedly but not redesigned, so the bones underneath are now very old, and the poor general refinement reflects that fact. It doesn't have the budget-starter-car segment all to itself, though, as there's the Kia Rio 5-door too, but other than these two, you're essentially out of options - Mini, Nissan Leaf, and the upcoming Fiat 500e may be similar in size, but they are far more expensive and premium, have electrified powertrains, or are 'boutique' in design. With the starting price of the Mitsubishi Mirage being just north of $16k and with an excellent warranty, it appeals to the miser in you. Should you still consider it if the better-equipped Rio is just $1,500 more expensive?

The Mitsubishi Mirage's MSRP starts at only $16,245 for the base ES trim. The LE will cost you $16,845 and the Black Edition (BE) goes for $17,445, while the SE's price is $18,145. Ralliart models cost the same as the SE. These prices don't include any extras or the $1,095 destination charge.

Its 2021 facelift might have modernized it on the outside, but the Mirage is a decade-old design and it shows on the road. It's a throwback to a bygone era, leaving us with very few positive things to say about the driving experience. The unrefined engine sound and intruding road noise are bothersome even at city speeds. The weak 76-hp three-cylinder engine revs relentlessly to get the car going, and it's joined by whine from the CVT and excessive wind rush and road noise as speeds increase. It's out of its depth on the highway, where there's also no power in reserve for passing or merging. The ride is bumpy and uncomfortable and the steering is imprecise, so the car leaves us cold as a driving experience, relegating it to a strict A-to-B car with no satisfaction to be had getting there. That may seem harsh, but this car isn't designed for comfortable commuting.

There's little to recommend the Mirage over a bigger, more refined, and better-driving rival such as the Kia Rio. It is good value for money and, for just a smidge over $16k, it must be commended for giving you a roomy trunk, a class-leading warranty, a decent infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, superb fuel economy, and basic driver assists. But it all comes undone when the wheels start rolling and it's a car you grin and bear on the move, not enjoy, due to the asthmatic engine, whiney CVT, and high noise levels. As long as you're very clear that, in terms of the driving experience, this is the next step up from walking, it does the job at a bargain price.

We'd rather go for the Kia Rio if the budget stretches that far, but stick to the base Mirage ES if it doesn't. At least you get smartphone mirroring, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic braking, cruise control, and keyless entry, so the value-for-money proposition is great. Just keep in mind that the dearth of power and poor refinement means it's strictly an urban runabout; the Mirage will do well as a short-trip, rental-type vehicle.