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2021 Mitsubishi Mirage review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Mitsubishi Mirage highlights

Customer rating

RepairPal reliability 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

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The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage is a low-priced, efficient compact four-door hatchback

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the Japanese brand's entry-level small hatchback. One of the lowest-priced vehicles in America, the Mirage comes into the 2021 model year with revised front and rear styling, including a new grille design and updated LED tail lights. Mitsubishi has also equipped all Mirage trim levels with a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. These updates help the Mirage better compete with vehicles like the Nissan Versa and Kia Rio. Mitsubishi offers the Mirage in four trim levels, including the new Carbonite Edition (CE), which is designed to add a sportier style to the small car with a unique grille and contrasting red accents. With one of the smallest engines available in a production car, the Mirage achieves impressive fuel economy, but the engine is quite noisy and doesn't deliver much power or performance. The interior feels somewhat cheap compared to other vehicles in this class.

All Mitsubishi Mirage years

Not sure what year to select? Learn about each Mitsubishi Mirage generation from 2014 to 2024

What is new for the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage?

  • The Mirage is available in a new trim called the Carbonite Edition.
  • The GT trim has been discontinued for 2021.
  • Mirage trims have been upgraded with Lane Departure Warning as standard equipment this year.
  • The ES trim now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment.

2021 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
  • Cruise Control
  • Cloth Seats
  • Power Mirrors
  • Traction Control
  • Side Airbags
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Rear View Camera

LE:

SE:

Carbonite Edition:

Mitsubishi Mirage photos

What We Like

Fuel economy: One of the most fuel-efficient cars in America, the Mirage is rated at 39 mpg combined by the EPA.

During its road test, Edmunds was able to match the 39 mpg during the 115-mile evaluation route. With a relatively small fuel tank, the Mirage can travel about 359 miles between fuel stops.

Storage: The Mirage serves up a reasonable amount of cargo space behind the rear seats, at least enough for a few small bags. The rear seats can fold flat to help accommodate larger items. Pockets in the doors, cupholders, and additional cubbies provide space for smaller items; however, there is no center console storage.

Technology: The new 7-inch touchscreen display is standard on all trims of the Mirage. There is no factory navigation feature available, but the system works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which can provide on-screen navigation. The Mirage is equipped with forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection—lane departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights are available.

What Needs Improvement

Performance: With just 78 horsepower, the Mirage is the lowest-powered new car in America, and the performance shows. Getting up to highway speed can be a chore, and in Edmunds' testing, the Mirage took 12.7 seconds to reach 60 mph, one of the slowest they've tested. The steering is vague, making it difficult to stay in the lane at speed.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4.8 out of 5

4 customer reviews

RepairPal reliability rating

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

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

LE 2WD 4D Hatchback

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear Spoiler
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control

Optional Features

  • Cloth Seats
  • Parking Sensors
  • Remote Start
  • 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

151.4"

Width

65.6"

Height

59.4"

Leg room

F 41.7"/R 34.2"

Head room

F 39"/R 37.2"

Front tires

P165/65SR14

Rear tires

P165/65SR14

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2021 Mitsubishi Mirage FAQ

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