2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review

Name: 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review
Brand: Mitsubishi
Price: 8995 USD

Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE Sedan Exterior Shown

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Used Mirage G4 for sale

$8,995 - $15,998

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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 when equipped with CVT automatic
One of the least expensive cars on sale
Generous 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

Minor changes to standard equipment
Part of the first Mirage G4 generation introduced for 2017

The 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is among one of the lowest-priced sedans on the market. Though you can option up with the latest in smartphone connectivity, larger wheels and an automatic transmission, the whole point of the G4 is to get you into a new car with the least amount of outlay. The Mirage's easy maneuverability is another plus, and the 10-year powertrain warranty provides reassurance for long-term ownership.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 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 $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$116/mo

$174/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

On the downside, the Mirage G4 comes with a small three-cylinder engine that produces 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers, as you can likely surmise, are among the lowest available and result in painfully slow acceleration. Other issues for the G4 include a sparse interior, minimal regard to refinement, and high levels of wind and road noise at highway speeds.

If the bottom line is your only criteria, the G4 is an easy choice. But we do suggest looking around. The Kia Rio, for example, is a much more substantial vehicle for nearly the same money, while Nissan's Versa sedan is more powerful and less expensive.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

5.9 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Mitsubishi Mirage GT hatchback (1.3L inline-3 | CVT automatic | FWD).

NOTE: The test Mirage hatchback differs slightly from the sedan, namely in its available cargo space and trim level structure. Our findings remain broadly applicable to the Mirage G4, however.

Scorecard

Overall	5.9 / 10
Driving	4.0
Comfort	4.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	8.0

Driving

4.0

Not all cars should be judged on outright performance, but the Mirage almost fails to provide the driver with the bare minimum needed for modern travel. Most drivers might be unwilling to push the Mirage as far as it needs to go to keep up, let alone have any fun.

Acceleration

3.0

It takes everything this 1.2-liter engine has, and then some, just to keep up. Merging onto a highway is almost hazardous. And acceleration, once at highway speeds, is glacial. The Mirage is woefully underpowered, clocking one of the slowest times we've ever seen to 60 mph: 12.7 seconds.

Braking

8.0

Although unimpressive on paper, these front disc and rear drum brakes feel quite good on the road. Braking force is easy to modulate at any speed, and the pedal gives more than adequate feedback. A panic stop felt like a nosedive, and the rear end wiggled and squirmed but was always stable.

Steering

5.0

The steering lacks the ability to self-center between 11 and 1 o'clock, meaning you need to guide it back to the center. You'll often be chasing the Mirage around in a freeway lane or somewhat clumsily navigating it along a twisty road. A 30.2-foot turning circle makes it extremely maneuverable in tight spaces at least.

Handling

8.0

If you can accept a fair amount of body roll, the Mirage turns in with reasonable quickness and is a nimble car around town. The narrow tires have enough grip to help hang on to precious momentum, and the stability control system is programmed well and doesn't interfere in everyday situations.

Drivability

4.5

The CVT automatic defaults to efficiency when it should help you wring what little power there is from the tiny engine. Going up hills is stress-inducing because the Mirage readily loses valuable momentum with the slightest lift of the throttle due to the CVT's calibration. Sport mode makes the responses needlessly jumpy.

Comfort

4.0

The amount of noise and vibration that infiltrates every second of driving the Mirage is shocking. The din overshadows the powerful climate control system and the reasonably comfortable ride. Had any other production engine been installed instead, the Mirage's fortunes may have turned around.

Seat comfort

5.0

With almost no bolstering to speak of and little support, the front seats are more like fabric-covered chairs than car seats, leading to fatigue in less than an hour. But the seat heaters are quick and powerful. The rear seats will do for short trips, but they are firm and fairly upright.

Ride comfort

6.5

The Mirage dispatches speed humps and singular highway dips with ease thanks to a fairly compliant suspension. But over an undulating surface, the Mirage shows itself to be underdamped, bounding up and down and even side to side. Broken surfaces can shake the little car pretty hard.

Noise & vibration

2.5

The Mirage is a very noisy thing. The engine sounds like a cement mixer, and wind noise is excessive. At idle, the car vibrates like it's misfiring. Once underway, wind noise becomes noticeable at moderate speeds and is loud enough at highway speeds to drown out the beleaguered little engine.

Climate control

8.0

While the low-contrast orange and black screen could be brighter, the interface is simple and easy to use. Both the air conditioning and heat are fast-acting and powerful, but the overly stylized center vents simply spill air into the cabin rather than direct it where you want it.

Interior

7.0

The interior won't win any design awards, but it has pretty solid basic functionality, with good visibility and user-friendly access and controls. Though it's easy to get in and out, it's not as easy to get comfortable. But there's decent space inside for such a diminutive car.

Ease of use

6.5

The interior is pretty straightforward. Most of the controls are self-explanatory and within easy reach. The seat heater switches are the only exception since they are located in the center console underneath the dash.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

The step-in height should be agreeable for most everybody. The doors are exceedingly light. While the front seats offer easy access, getting into the tighter rear seats might take a bit more thought and time.

Driving position

6.0

Taller drivers might find the seating position a bit too high. Anyone taller than 6 feet will be looking out through the top of the windshield. The seat bottom doesn't adjust much for height. And while the steering wheel does adjust for tilt, it doesn't telescope.

Roominess

7.5

There's a fair amount of room up front, but the lack of a center console can leave the passenger without an armrest on one side. Two rear passengers will have enough shoulder room, but legroom will be tight.

Visibility

7.5

Thanks to thin roof pillars and lots of glass, visibility out the front and to the sides is very good. The short front and rear overhangs make it easy to judge distances when parking. The rear-seat headrests substantially block the view out back, but they can be removed.

Quality

4.5

Though there were no squeaks or rattles in our test car — commendable given the amount of vibration from the engine — panel fitment and overall fit and finish were well below expectations. For starters, the fabric in the cargo area wasn't adequately attached, and there was visible paint primer around the fuel filler cap.

Utility

7.0

While cargo space is more than adequate and adds great practicality to the Mirage, storage for passenger items almost seems like an afterthought. In-cabin storage is sparse and not well laid-out.

Small-item storage

5.0

What storage space there is seems poorly thought out. Rear passengers will have to fight over even less storage space and should probably just keep anything on their laps or alongside them on the seat.

Cargo space

The Mirage G4's trunk can hold up to 12.3 cubic feet of stuff, which is a decent amount of space. Some rival sedans offer more. Split-folding rear seats help accommodate larger items, but the fabric in the cargo area isn't attached very well and easily snags on cargo.

Child safety seat accommodation

6.5

LATCH anchors are unmarked but easy enough to find thanks to the rough fit and finish of the rear seats. Larger car seats might not fit without sliding a front seat forward because there isn't a lot of room in the back seat.

Technology

8.0

There are cars costing three to four times what the Mirage does that don't offer the same smartphone connectivity. Therein lies the most appealing thing about this Mitsubishi. A solid stereo rounds things out, but with only one USB port, all of this tech seems like a last-minute addition.

Audio & navigation

8.5

An optional Rockford Fosgate sound system offers plenty of punch. Navigation is available only through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, both of which are compatible. The 6.5-inch touchscreen graphics aren't cutting-edge, but they're simple and straightforward.

Smartphone integration

8.0

Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, which is a pleasant surprise on a vehicle priced this low. Bluetooth audio is also supported. No connection issues were reported across any devices. But only one USB port is provided for the entire car.

Driver aids

7.5

Stability and traction control are offered. And while they cannot be fully disabled, they can be relaxed and are not overly intrusive. A backup camera is standard and useful but looks tacked on.

2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 models

The 2019 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 automatic.

Standard features for the base Mirage ES trim include 14-inch steel wheels, a rear spoiler, automatic headlights, cruise control, keyless entry, air conditioning, full power accessories, a height-adjustable driver seat, 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 automatic transmission-equipped ESs is the Smart Phone Display package. It adds 15-inch alloy wheels and a slightly smaller 6.5-inch touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

The Mirage SE includes all of the above, along with proximity entry, foglights, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 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 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4.

5 (50%)

4 (18%)

3 (14%)

2 (4%)

1 (14%)

3.9

28 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Pleased

M. McD., 05/20/2019

2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

another update: Lots of additional miles, no problems & consistent 42+ MPG in a mix of driving situations. Dollar for dollar, this is probably the best automotive value I have ever owned. Nothing exciting about this car unless squeezing every mile possible out of each penny in a surprisingly comfortable, utterly reliable little sedan excites you. We remain Very pleased with our G4. … UPDATE in June 2020: car continues to exceed expectations. After a job change, I needed a commuter for a 52 mile round trip to work. The G4 has been great. No repairs, low maintenance costs for the first 30K + miles & fuel economy over 40 mpg in a barrier mix of urban, suburban stop and go & highway driving. While the car is a bit loud when driving at highway speeds and when accelerating, this issue is offset by comfortable seating and a great ride quality for an economy car. We are very happy with our Mirage G4 SE. We wanted a car to run errands locally and (very rarely) to take an 80 mile round trip to visit relatives. We also needed the car to fit a tight parking situation & have a trunk that can hold a folding wheelchair. After looking at the Versa (dreadful unless optioned heavily) & the Yaris sedan (pretty good), we drove the G4 SE. The car rides better than the competition on typical suburban streets and has very comfortable seats. The SE trim includes upgraded seats and fabric as well as a driver’s armrest. The exterior is simple, but attractive. The pearl whit paint on ours is quite nice. The upgraded alloy wheels on the SE also look good and come with larger tires than the ES trim level. Acceleration is slow unless you really stand on the gas pedal. The engine drones during moderate acceleration but takes on a surprising growl above about 4100 RPM. I have no trouble getting up to speed on short on ramps, but highway passing requires a bit of advanced planning because 50 to 70 MPH acceleration is pretty slow. Fuel consumption is awesome: I average 41 MPG in mixed driving and have seen 50+ MPG during extended highway driving. Visibility is great, the headlights are strong and the wipers are effective and provide coverage of nearly the whole windshield. Snow traction is very good and during the brutal cold of last winter, the car had no trouble starting at -22 f and the heat was adequate even at arctic temps. The A/C is great too. I like the car much more after one year than I did when I first bought it. No problems/repairs for the first year and maintenance is cheap. Overall, great value for the money—we couldn’t be more pleased.

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 …

This car sips gas!!!!

Yankeefan, 02/16/2019

2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 ES 4dr Sedan (1.2L 3cyl CVT)

39.7 miles per gallon I'm averaging. Plenty of room for all 4 of us and I'm a pretty large guy. Great cargo room. Excellent features. A highly underrated car. For this price and with the gas savings it's a no brainer imo.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, so we've included reviews for other years of the Mirage G4 since its last redesign.

See all 28 reviews of the Mitsubishi Mirage G4

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2019 Mirage G4 Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$14,795
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	35 MPG
Cost to Drive	$116/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 put it in reverse.
Hill Start Assist: Prevents rolling back when starting 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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