2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review

Name: 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review
Brand: Mitsubishi
Price: 12998 USD
Rating: 3.7 (26 reviews)

Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE Sedan Exterior Shown

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$12,998 - $14,998

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Mitsubishi Mirage G4 model years

2017

Mitsubishi Mirage G4 for Sale

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Impressive fuel economy with CVT
One of the least expensive cars on sale
High level of warranty coverage

Cons

Acceleration is very slow
Rough and noisy engine
Excessive road noise at highway speeds
Low-buck interior, even for this class of car

What’s new

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4's ES trim level now comes with the 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth and a rearview camera.

Vehicle overview

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is the sedan stablemate to the Mirage hatchback. And just as with the hatchback, the main reason to consider buying the G4 is its inexpensive price. When new, it's one of the cheapest cars you can buy.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 ES 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$121/mo

$179/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

If you're on a tight budget, the Mirage represents a viable new-car option as well as the warranty coverage and financing benefits that come with it. Just know that you're also getting one of the least appealing cars to drive right now. It's slow, uncomfortable and unrefined.

If your budget allows, we suggest going with more practical and desirable subcompact hatchbacks, such as the Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris iA. The Mirage might be inexpensive, but rival subcompact sedans still offer more car for the money.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Though its name might suggest otherwise, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is pretty much what it appears to be. It's an inexpensive subcompact sedan that will get you from point A to point B, and that's about it. Refinement, power and desirability are all lacking.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (1.2L inline-3 | CVT automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Mitsubishi Mirage has received some revisions, including refreshed exterior bodywork, new interior materials, optional smartphone integration, revised suspension tuning and engine power. Our findings remain broadly applicable to the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, however.

Driving

Combining a tiny three-cylinder engine with a CVT is a recipe for slow-moving transport. The underdamped suspension causes the car to skitter across midcorner bumps. The brakes at least work well.

Acceleration

The Mirage weighs just a bit more than 2,000 pounds, but its engine is not up to the task. A zero-to-60-mph "sprint" drags out in a laggardly 11.7 seconds. Merging and passing require extra caution.

Braking

Around town, the brake pedal feel is jumpy and hard to modulate. Our panic-stop test took 121 feet from 60 mph. That's respectable, although stability was lacking.

Steering

The steering is slow and lacks feel, and we can't remember the last time we felt so many kickbacks through the steering wheel.

Handling

The Mirage offers little handling grip from its skinny tires, and the chassis is easily upset by any kind of midcorner road imperfections. It's also highly susceptible to crosswinds.

Drivability

Even the slightest push on the gas pedal causes the CVT to drastically increase engine rpm, making the Mirage lurch at low speeds. The engine is loud during acceleration and generally unpleasant to listen to.

Comfort

The Mirage's front seats are surprisingly comfortable, although the door armrests are made of rock-hard plastic. Over rough roads, the Mirage's ride quality is unduly harsh.

Seat comfort

The seats are cushioned enough for long stints, though they look flimsy and the cloth material feels cheap. There's no center armrest, and door armrests are plastic.

Ride comfort

On smooth roads, the Mirage's suspension feels adequate, but even the smallest bumps can be felt and heard. Serious vibration comes into the cabin.

Noise & vibration

The three-cylinder engine sounds rough even at idle. Wind noise is fairly well controlled, but the vehicle is boomy and seems to have a complete lack of sound deadening.

Interior

The interior controls work well for the most part, and if you're familiar with Mitsubishi products you'll recognize some of the shared parts. There's more space inside than you'd think, and it's easy to get in and out up front.

Ease of use

This is about the most basic interior you'll see these days. The driving position is high, and you can't adjust the distance of the steering wheel. The push-button ignition is oddly located to the left of the steering wheel.

Getting in/getting out

Pretty much perfect step-in height up front plus large doors make things easy. The rear doors are small, though. The rear seatback is quite upright, and you need to duck your head to avoid the roof.

Roominess

Excellent headroom up front and surprisingly good elbow room. In back, knee- and footroom are pretty good considering the size of the car.

Visibility

Roof pillars are narrow up front for good sightlines, but the rear pillars are thicker, somewhat reducing blind-spot visibility.

Quality

Other than the interior controls, the whole car feels cheap, as if it's made out of tin. If you tap the roof liner, you hear metal. There aren't soft-touch surfaces anywhere, and there were some interior rattles over harsh pavement.

Utility

While small and lacking small storage space, the Mirage uses its interior space efficiently and is even competitive with cars one class bigger.

Small-item storage

The center console cupholders don't hold bottles in place, and there isn't much in the way of bins. The door pockets are well-sized, and there's a handy key fob pocket.

Cargo space

The trunk is large for the class, but it has a small opening. The 60/40-split folding rear seats ensure you have access to what little space is available.

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 models

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is a subcompact sedan offered in two trim levels: ES and SE. Both trims utilize the same engine: a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. The ES gives you the choice between a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while the SE is only available with the CVT.

Standard features for the base Mirage ES trim include 14-inch steel wheels, a rear spoiler, automatic headlights, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a tilt-only steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB port.

Optional for the ES is the Smart Phone Display package. It adds 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a slightly smaller 6.5-inch touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

The Mirage SE includes all of the above, along with keyless ignition and entry, foglights, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a height-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats.

Stand-alone options include various aerodynamic flourishes, added interior lighting, rear parking sensors, and utility items such as cargo nets and mud flaps.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#5 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 from 2008-2022.}

$419/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.53x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

9.1%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4.

5 (46%)

4 (15%)

3 (15%)

2 (8%)

1 (16%)

3.7

26 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

2018 Mirage SE

CEM, 02/12/2017

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

After owning 4 of these, 2 hatchbacks and 2 sedans, One was a 5 speed manual, rest were the CVT. The only warranty claim on any of them was a cracked armrest on the door. The manual is more fun to drive and get more MPG. Only problem is if you want a loaded car you are forced to get the CVT. Reviewers online hate the car ( Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, ect) but owner give …

Just what the Dr Ordered

Markatmoc, 08/14/2018

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 ES 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

I drive roughly 100 miles a day. I needed and wanted a car that got good Gas Mileage. I was not looking at a mirage G4 at first, I thought I wanted a Hatchback or small SUV, I was looking at the outlander, then i tried the Mirage HAtchback, it was ok i was impressed by the gas mileage numbers, but thought it was a bit small for what i needed, so then I was shown the Mirage G4, I looked …

Enough with the bs

Dirk, 06/18/2019

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 ES 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

This is a great, no frills A to B sedan that puts money back in your pocket. My wife and I own a 2014 Hatch and a 2017 G4, both reliable, cheap to insure, maintain, and own. Sure, its slow and not a Cadillac of luxury, but thats not you own one. You own it because you can put 200k miles on one and spend a small amount doing it.

Best bang for your buck!!

Mikeyt1818, 04/18/2017

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

I am never one to listen to Consumer Reports. They have no clue! This car is amazing! I'm getting 38.2 MPG with mixed driving on the crowded South Florida roads. I am 6'2 and this car is quite roomy. Plenty of room in the backseat as well. Great technology like backup camera, bluetooth, automatic climate control. Very comfy seats. Wonderful warranty. Looks nice in the wine red color I …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, so we've included reviews for other years of the Mirage G4 since its last redesign.

See all 26 reviews of the Mitsubishi Mirage G4

Write a vehicle review

2018 Mirage G4 Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$14,395
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	35 MPG
Cost to Drive	$121/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Mirage G4 models:

Rearview Camera: Displays a view of what's behind the Mirage when you engage reverse gear.
Hill Start Assist: Prevents rolling back when starting off on a hill. The car behind you, and your rear bumper, will love it.
Active Stability Control: Helps maintain car control during emergency maneuvers.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Marginal
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Acceptable
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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