1997 Mitsubishi Mirage Review
Price Estimate: $264 - $440
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- More attractive, roomy, and sporty than ever before.
Cons
- Traction control is not available, and the insurance cost is fairly high.
What’s new
The Mirage is totally redesigned for 1997, sharing little with the model it replaces. Mitsubishi claims that interior size has been increased and that NVH have been reduced.
For sale near Pooler, GA
Vehicle overview
Do our eyes deceive us, or is there something different about this latest Mirage? It somehow looks bigger, longer, wider than ever before. There seems to be more of everything: more passenger volume, higher levels of luxury, and yes, a higher price.
In case the first paragraph didn't clue you in, we should tell you that the Mitsubishi Mirage has been almost totally redesigned for the 1997 model year. Available as a coupe or sedan this year, in DE and LS trim levels, the Mirage is now better equipped to do battle with sales favorites like the Honda Civic and the Ford Escort.
The most noticeable changes are to the interior, where Mitsubishi replaces all-vinyl seats with cloth and vinyl upholstery. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but anyone who has spent a summer stuck to the interior of their car will know that we are serious when we say that this is one of the most important improvements made to the Mirage.
As previously mentioned, the Mirage is available in two trims; the entry-level DE which has a 95-horsepower 1.5-liter engine mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic. The DE sedan has a front stabilizer bar that helps the car move nimbly between potholes and slow-moving traffic, and both the DE coupe and sedan have a four-wheel independent suspension. LS models, which are meant to appear to a more fashion conscious crowd, have a larger engine which displaces 1.8 liters and makes 113-horsepower. Other upgrades include alloy wheels, a chrome-tipped exhaust, tilt steering, a stereo with integrated CD controls, and a covered center armrest.
We have always liked the Mirage, thinking it one of the better entry-level cars on the market today. The redesigned version doesn't look like it will diminish our thoughts about the car at all. The Mirage of our choice is the LS coupe equipped with ABS and the LS Value Pkg.; with these options the Mirage has almost every conceivable convenience, costs well under $15,000, and doesn't look like every other car parked at the mall.
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Mitsubishi Mirage Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Call it the GLC - Good Little Car
4.38 out of 5 starssvdbybld, 08/03/2004
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Sedan
Almost 100K now and still drive like
the day I bought it. Great car. I think
some people expect so much out of a
little car like this. I get 33 mpg, it
is a basic realiable car. People
complain about no power. HELLO IT IS A
1.5 LITRE IT IS NOT A HOT ROD.
Dam good economy car
4.38 out of 5 starscbwillsr, 07/18/2004
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 2dr Coupe
I have had this car for 7 years and
placed almost 200000 miles on it with no
engine complications. I have only
replaced a fuel filter, battery and
brakes during this time. The car has
started every time i have cranked it up.
"Happy with my Blacky"
4 out of 5 starsmimil3, 03/08/2003
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage LS 4dr Sedan
I have this car since brand new and all
i can say about it is that I LOVE IT,I
LOVE IT,I LOVE IT!!! very reliable,only
have changed tires,brakes and
battery .Just got to the100,000 miles
party and the baby is still going
strong as day one.I also have a 2000 vw
gti,glx,vr6 that i bought brand new and
paid $22,000 for it and let me tell
ya,its been nothing but a very … costly
NIGHTMARE!!! and its only 3 years old!!
Iam going to trade that thing for an
suv very shortly,but,guess who's
staying with me for ever? my little
mirage (blacky) of course!!!
Overlooked Little Gem
4.38 out of 5 starsbilt4_speed, 04/28/2002
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 2dr Coupe
1.5 engine in DE needs valve
adjustments every 15k miles. Tight,
rattle-free after 51K miles. Very
reliable, engine much peppier than it
was in 94 Mirage. Too bad salesman &
service personnel do not remind people
about the 1.5 needing valve adjustment.
1997 Mirage Highlights
Sedan
LS
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 28 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $128/month |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalPoor
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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