2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review

“The Mirage G4 has a pleasing amount of features, but the lack of refinement is a deal breaker.”
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by Calvin Kim
Edmunds Editor

Edmunds expert review

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.

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.

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What's new for 2018

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

We recommend

One of the key benefits of the Mirage is in its comparatively inexpensive price tag, so stick to the base ES trim level. It comes with a touchscreen interface, a rearview camera and Bluetooth connectivity this year, which enhances its appeal. The more you spend on the Mirage, the more it's going to make sense to buy a different kind of car.
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Trim levels & features

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.

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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.

Edmunds expert review process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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