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2018 Mitsubishi Mirage review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Mitsubishi Mirage highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Low starting price
  • Good warranty coverage

Cons

  • Slow acceleration
  • Excessive road noise
  • Cheap interior

Mileage (EPA estimate)

33 city, 41 highway, 36 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

7 photos
Price
Year
Mileage

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the lowest-priced new vehicles in America

Boasting a low starting price and impressive fuel efficiency, the Mirage is the entry point to the Mitsubishi lineup. The compact four-door hatchback remains primarily unchanged for the 2018 model year, with the only updates coming to the base-level ES trim, which gets a larger 7-inch display screen, Bluetooth® connectivity, and a rearview camera. In addition to the ES, Mitsubishi offers the Mirage in SE and GT trim levels. All trims feature the same 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which delivers a paltry 78 horsepower. While there is a sacrifice in performance, the Mirage does shine when it comes to fuel economy. Its EPA estimate is an impressive 43 mpg on the highway, making the small Mitsubishi the most fuel-efficient non-electrified model in America. Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov. Aside from price and fuel efficiency, the Mirage feels very basic, with a budget-minded interior and noisy cabin. As one of the lowest-powered new vehicles in America, the Mirage lacks the performance level of its competitors, such as the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, and Honda Fit.

All Mitsubishi Mirage years

What is new for the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage?

  • The ES trim now comes with Rear View Camera and Bluetooth Technology as standard equipment.

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage trims

Curious how Mitsubishi Mirage trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

ES:

  • 78-hp, 74-lb-ft of torque 1.2L
  • Rear Defroster
  • Cloth Seats
  • Power Mirrors
  • Traction Control
  • Side Airbags
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Rear View Camera
  • Rear Spoiler

SE:

GT:

Mitsubishi Mirage photos

5 reasons to buy the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

What We Like

Fuel economy: Rated at 39 mpg combined by the EPA with the optional continuously variable transmission, fuel economy is one of the Mirage's high points and the small car is the most efficient in its class.

Fuel economy drops slightly with the standard manual transmission. Unfortunately, the performance trade-off is drastic. The Mirage is woefully underpowered and has to work hard just to accelerate to highway speed.

Utility: The Mirage provides a reasonable level of utility—more so than some of its competitors—with 17.2 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats. The rear seats are split and easily fold flat to increase the total cargo area to 47 cubic feet, with plenty of room to accommodate some larger items. Storage space in the cabin is less impressive, with no standard center console storage and little bin space for smaller items.

Technology: Mitsubishi added a larger 7-inch display screen to the base-level ES trim for 2018, but oddly enough, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto connectivity requires upgrading to the smaller 6.5-inch screen. With either display, navigation is not available—in-car directions require a smartphone connection. Bluetooth connectivity is standard across the board, and there are steering wheel controls for audio and communications.

What Needs Improvement

Comfort: The Mirage's cabin is very noisy, with a loud engine that sounds rough at idle and considerable road noise at speed. There seems to be a complete lack of sound deadening, and there are some noticeable rattles when the pavement gets rough. The front seats are relatively comfortable, with decent legroom and headroom, but rear passengers will find the space cramped, especially for adults.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4.3 out of 5

6 customer reviews
4
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Mitsubishi Mirage an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Mitsubishi Mirage 7th out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Mitsubishi Mirage

Mitsubishi Mirage features and specs

ES 2WD 4D Hatchback

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Manual Transmission
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear Spoiler
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Parking Sensors
  • Rockford Fosgate Sound

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

1.2L

Horsepower

78

Torque (ft-lbs)

74

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

9.2

Wheelbase

96.5"

Overall length

149.4"

Width

65.6"

Height

59.4"

Leg room

F 41.7"/R 34"

Head room

F 39.1"/R 37.3"

Front tires

P165/65SR14

Rear tires

P165/65SR14

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Manual 5

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage FAQ

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* Price excludes taxes, title, registration, and fees. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.​

Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

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