Devon test drives a budget commuter car from Mitsubishi (Used)

If cheap and cheerful are what you are looking for in a car, then the Mitsubishi Mirage should be on your short list. However, with so many good second hand options out there for the same price does buying one prove to be a false economy?

Performance: It makes due with a tiny 1.2 three-cylinder which offers zippy acceleration around town and on light highway driving. The sole purpose of buying the Mirage is its low running costs and it does costs peanuts to run.  

Ride & handling: Mildly updated for 2017. Ride comfort has always been a positive for the Mirage but handling has been lackluster at best due to the overly soft suspension. This time around things aren’t bad and they aren’t great still, but for the price who can complain? The steering is still numb though.

Refinement: The 1.2 three-cylinder emits a distinct hum when accelerating that only becomes annoying when revved hard. It doesn’t really help either that the engine never sounds relaxed at highway speeds making long journeys tiresome. There’s enough wind noise to make you think that one of the doors isn’t fully shut.

In the cabin: The dashboard layout is pretty much straight forwards. Some of the graphics in the touch screen infotainment system looks like this car was built to a price. Many of the menus can be distracting and take a little bit of effort to navigate through. The front seats offer decent comfort but the steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach. Rear seat passengers will beg to share some of the space out in legroom. The boot is about average for this class.

Equipment: All trims come well equipped. GT trim adds rear-view camera, bi-xenon headlamps and push button start. The most sensible is the ES trim if you are looking for the Mirage to be a commuter car. Others will be much more satisfied with the SE which also adds alloy wheels, push button start and Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile device. The less you pay for the Mirage the better. If you’re willing to dish the cash for the GT you’ll loathe it for the simple fact that there are much better options for the same amount of cash.

Overall: The Mirage is one of those cars that you’ll pick one because it was affordable to buy with decent discounts. It costs peanuts to run and has been mildly improved over its previous generation. However, it still falls short of more expensive but much better overall options. There are plenty of second hand options out there that are just as good and they are more flexible. You’d buy this because let’s face it. It’s a cheap car to buy and run, plus it’s very reliable. What more do you need in a commuter car?

Likes: Low running costs. If you’re looking for a cheap commuter car this is money in the bag. Standard features list is impressive for the price.

Dislikes: It’s not very satisfying to drive. The GT trim almost seems like an false economy.

Devon’s Pick: Choose the SE trim because you get decent kit at a decent price. Paying any more than that is just plain silly.

Devon test drives a budget Mitsubishi (Used)

Mitsubishi has been on a rocky roller coaster here in the U.S. Many have thought the company would finally disappear like Suzuki did last year. Little did anyone ever think that Mitsubishi still had some fight within the company. They've recently released the new Outlander and are also working on the next the generation Lancer. So it was no surprise that Mitsubishi offered the Mirage here in the U.S. as a volume seller to bring more traffic into their showrooms. It's a cheeky small car that goes toe to toe with the Chevy Spark and Scion IQ. It's a cheap small car with plenty of luxury features to choose from. Is this enough to bring buyers back to the ailing brand? Or is it all just a lost cause?

Performance: The Mirage only comes with one engine and that's a 1.2-liter three-cylinder which produces 74hp. Around town the Mirage feels zippy and light which is what most Mirage owners will use this vehicle for. Take the Mirage outside of the city and you'll have to work the engine hard to get any kind of pace out of it. The standard five-speed manual makes the most of what the engine has to offer. The CVT feels like it saps what little power the engine has and often leaves you cold until the revs build up again.

On the road: The Mirage soft suspension allows it to soak up bumps and some road imperfections. However the car tends to thump over potholes and there's way too much body roll in corners. Steering is light and easy around town while at higher speeds it becomes vague and numb feeling. Part of the whole appeal of the Mirage is the distinct thrum that comes from the three-cylinder engine when you rev it hard. At times it becomes loud and never really settles at highway speeds. This makes long journeys in the Mirage longer and more tiresome than we'd like. The manual gearbox is slick shifting. Wind and road noise will be welcome companions on the highway.

Behind the wheel:  The dashboard has a simple layout. Everything is easy to navigate and easy to use. Drivers will however have a hard time getting comfortable. The steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach and you can only adjust the angle of the seat base not the height. Visibility is so-so thanks to thick side pillars and a small rear windscreen. There's enough space for four inside the cabin. A fifth person would be pushing it. The rear seat is really only designed for two passengers. Boot space isn't great but offers enough for a week's worth of shopping for one. The high load lip makes loading heavy items a little tedious.

Equipment: The Mirage comes standard with power door locks and side view mirrors. A remote keyless entry system comes standard and a rear spoiler. You'll have to step up to the top of the range to get alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless start system. Optional on the top of the range is navigation system, LED illumination package and unique exterior package.

Buying & owning: We aren't really sure if the Mirage offers a convincing case when you look at the Scion IQ and Chevy Spark. The Mirage is obviously a cheap car but it doesn't really scream value when you compare it to its keen rivals. Running costs will be low while resale value is unknown at this time.

Quality & Safety: The Mirage is a budget car and there's no hiding that fact when you sit inside. It's a shame because the Chevy Spark feels a tad bit higher in interior quality along with the Scion IQ.  The plastics used in the interior feel sturdy and long lasting. They don't really look all that eye appealing. Reliability should be average as with most Mitsubishi products. All Mirage vehicles come with stability control and brake assist to help keep you out of harm's way. Side curtain airbags are fitted as standard too in the event of an accident. Security isn't great but you get an immobilizer.

City cars are supposed to be cheap but also offer some kind of redeeming feature to them. Both the Chevy Spark and Scion IQ offer more of an engaging driving experience around town and can hold its own ground on the highway. The Mirage can do the same but it doesn't feel exciting to drive. There's too much body roll and the steering feels almost nonexistent at higher speeds. Wind and road noise enter the cabin at high levels and the overall packaging of the Mirage is rather disappointing. It's not the best city car you can buy but it does offer decent running cost and the price tag is well justifiable. Sadly this won't be the hallow car Mitsubishi desperately needs.  

Likes: Low running costs. Low price of entry. Easy to drive around town with roomy interior for four.

Dislikes: City cars should be fun to drive and sadly this one is not. Wind and road noise at highway speeds. Steering and handling become sloppy beyond city limits. CVT transmission should be avoided at all cost.

Devon's Pick:  Mirage DE MT is the pick of the range. It's the cheapest and offers the best value overall. You get all the features that you'll ever really need in a budget car and with the five-speed manual gearbox you'll be able to really make the most of what the tiny engine has to offer. The ES trim offers a few extra bits but takes the value factor away. It pushes the price to closer to roomier and much better rivals.  



The worse cars of 2017 (with our critique of course!)

Worse cars of 2017



Mitsubishi Mirage
Likes: It’s cheap to buy and cheap to run. The hatchback has a decently sized boot and the standard kit list is generous.

Dislikes:  Dislikes: It's rubbish to drive; engine is weak and has idle vibration. Steering feedback is almost nonexistent and the styling (in sedan form) is a little too goofy for our tastes.

Overall: This is the vehicle for someone that wants to get from point A to B. Everyone else will benefit from the second-hand car market.



Mitsubishi i-MiEV 
Likes: Cheap electric car that’s easy to live with.

Dislikes: It takes literally forever to recharge. The range is not even great compared to the Nissan Leaf. It’s clumsy to drive on faster paced roads and its interior is cramped.

Overall: The only reason to buy this is because it’s cheap. Everyone else will benefit the most from the Nissan Leaf.



Fiat 500L 
Likes: It’s roomy interior with attractive starting price. Standard features are pretty generous.

Dislikes: The sole turbo engine isn’t up for the job. Running costs are so-so and reliability is very iffy.

Dislikes: You can get a 500L with a nice discount but it doesn’t seem worth it.



Chrysler 200
Likes: The exterior styling is very sleek. The 3.6 engine is the sweet spot of the range. It’s not as bad to drive as the previous generation.

Dislikes: The transmission is too jerky and build quality is iffy. Fit and finish is worrisome as well as resale value.

Overall: The 200 is no longer in production and you can pick up many with deep discounts. Despite the deep discounts your investments aren’t well protected and reliability issues should be factors to consider before buying.



Mercedes CLA 
Likes: It’s more stylish than the Audi A3 and certainly roomier as well. AMG version has incredible power, while the entry-level four-cylinder is flexible enough.

Dislikes: The larger alloys produce an overly firm ride. Mercedes is stingy on standard kit and a well kitted CLA is overpriced. Interior fit and finish isn’t even up to Mercedes standards, not to mention the interior is just way too cramped.

Overall: Stick with the Audi A3 which is a more compelling package. It may not have the appeal of the CLA but you get more bang for your buck with the Audi.