Used 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback Consumer Reviews
Used Mirage for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Most "Honest" car on the market
Bryan, 08/09/2015
updated 12/16/2024
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
123 of 123 people found this review helpful
Don't believe all the negative reviews from the media. The Mirage may be the most "honest" vehicle on the market today. Simple, reliable transportation with a quality drivetrain that delivers excellent mileage. The 3A92 motor is a very good motor designed for longevity. Timing chain instead of a belt with a double overhead cam. You shouldn't be able to wear out either the 5 speed or CVT. Other than replacing the clutch on the manual and changing the gear oil it should last a really really long time. The CVT is way over engineered for the Mirage. The JATCO Cvt7 is designed for up to 150hp and the Mirage has 74hp. Yes, with the CVT it can be kinda slow off the start but the Mirage just isn't designed to be a performance car. Once rolling along I've had no issues with passing. If you've ever owned a Colt, Metro, Fiesta, Swift, Echo, Aveo or any other low cost subcompact you'll love the Mirage. Is it perfect? No. The ride is soft and handling is a little wonky but I've gotten more than 50mpg on the highway. Better than hybrid mileage for less than 1/2 the cost of a hybrid. The haters are gonna hate this car no matter what. I'll just keep smiling at every fill up knowing that my cost per mile factoring in mileage & price of the vehicle just can't be beat! It's been 7 months now and I still love my Mirage. It's been flawless in it's operation and no issues have popped up. Once the updated 2017's come out I'm thinking about buying a second one used with a 5 speed. Update #2-It's been 14 months of problem free ownership. Has 74hp been enough? Yes, but if I lived in an area where A/C usage was required constantly it would be more of a struggle. Overall, my opinion still stands. Great inexpensive, efficient car. Not exciting, not powerful, not a sports car, just good basic frugal transportation. Update #3-The Mirage continues to deliver reliable, efficient ownership. 27,000 miles now with no issues. Combined overall MPG has been right at 40. Still love this little car. Update #4-It's been over 2 years of trouble free ownership. 36,000 miles now with no issues. I've replaced the front tires but other than oil changes and two air filters no other maintenance items. We continue to love our Mirage! Update #5-Just hit the 50,000 mile mark and 3 years of trouble free ownership. Replaced the rear tires and cabin air filter since last update. Other than regularly scheduled oil changes no issues whatsoever. Still highly recommend this little car for basic, inexpensive, efficient transportation. Update #6-now over 83,000 miles and 4 1/2 years of trouble free ownership. Replaced the front tires, got a front end alignment. Regular oil changes and replaced the engine air filter. No issues whatsoever. Continues to deliver great economy with rock solid reliability. Update #7-06/13/22 It's been over 6 1/2 years 120k+ miles and zero mechanical problems. On the 3rd set of tires, 2nd set of front brakes, originals still in the rear. CVT fluid has been changed once. Regular oil changes every 5000 miles, still the original spark plugs. Runs great and is ultra reliable. Update #8: The Mirage continues to deliver problem free reliable service. No mechanical issues and just regular oil changes. It's due for a new set of plugs but that's it. Cost of maintenance on the Mirage has been virtually zero outside of regular maintenance items. Best bang for the buck if you just want no nonsense, reliable, economical transportation. Update #9: 12/14/23. Just a little over 125k miles now with no issues. Fuel mileage is still excellent and no mechanical problems whatsoever. I'm still on the original set of spark plugs along with the original rear brakes. Over 8 years of ownership now with no problems. Update #10: Another year of no issues with the Mirage. Didn't put a ton of miles on it this year just turned over 130k miles. Going to complete a drain and fill of the CVT and change the oil. New Spark Plugs are on the list in the next few months. Still running the OEM plugs. It gets me everywhere I want to go reliably with great mpg's.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Perfect for those who just wanna get there CHEAP!
Speed-Timer, 10/23/2015
updated 01/06/2021
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
94 of 95 people found this review helpful
I LOVE this car. I have had it for ten months and have put nearly 25k miles on it, so I now feel as though I am in a position to comment on it here. I bought the Mirage mostly for the same reason people bought VW Beetles back in the '60s or Chevy Chevettes in the '70s. Not for performance or handling, not for comfort or style. But for economy. The comparison of the Mirage to the original Beetle or the Chevette is not an unwarranted one. Adjusted for inflation, the Mirage, the Beetle, and the Chevette cost about the same amount. In 1970, the Bug was about $2000; in 1976 the Chevette was near $2,800...both of which would be right around $12,000 today. Though I don't think the VW or the Chevy came with automatic climate control and power windows as standard equipment...in fact, they weren't even OPTIONS! The average transaction amount for a new car nowadays is somewhere north of $35,000, so if a person is spending less than half of that they can expect to leave a few things "on the table". This is not a fault with the car, but rather just COMMON SENSE! Is the car a bit noisy? Yes. Does it handle well? Not really. Does it accelerate like a rocketship? Nope. Many other reviewers lament these facts (unfairly), but the Mirage simply isn't designed for any of that. Though the one thing it IS designed for it does very well. It is cheap to buy, cheap to insure, and VERY, VERY cheap to run. Most critics of the Mirage simply expect too much for the car's incredibly low price point. My 5-speed ES model was a shade over $14,000. Could I have bought a 37k-mile 2011 Corolla with that money? Sure. But I wanted a new car with a warranty and without a previous owner's cigarette burns and dog smell on the seats. And I didn't want the Corolla's 30-ish mpg, either. Over the 25k miles I have driven, I have averaged about 48 mpg...that is not an exaggeration! Driven correctly, these cars are almost unbelievably thrifty. Creature comforts are in line with a 21st century car...even an economy car. Fog lights, passive "F.A.S.T. key" ignition, nice stereo, Bluetooth, alloy wheels, automatic climate control, power everything, etc, etc. I have had ZERO problems with the Mirage, and all it has needed is oil changes. Not everyone wants or needs the classic "A-to-B" car anymore, and there are those among us who feel that we, as a species, should have evolved well beyond such humble cars by now. But for those of us that DO still just want to get there without having a $600-a-month car payment, I really can't recommend the Mirage highly enough. As an economy car in a bad economy, it truly has no equal. ***Original poster here. Just an update on the Mirage. It has been outstanding! The car has needed nothing but oil changes, a set of front brake pads, and a set of tires over the 35,000 miles I have driven it. Still averaging around 48 mpg.*** ***Original poster again. Another update on my 2015 Mirage, which I have now owned for almost two years. I just rolled over 50,000 miles, and the car is as solid and trouble-free as the day I bought it. No repairs of any kind have been needed, just oil changes. Still averaging right around 48 mpg. Would I buy it again? YOU BET!*** ***Original poster. Nearing 80,000 miles over my three years of ownership, and the Mirage continues to impress. Still getting around 48 mpg, and all the car has ever needed is brake pads, tires, oil changes, and bulbs. If you want inexpensive, simple, reliable, and efficient...like I did...the Mirage is a great bet. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, and that really is the best compliment any driver can give a car. ***Original poster. Just under 100,000 miles now, and the mileage has dropped off a bit. Used to be 45 to 55 mpg (averaging 48), now 40 to 50 mpg (averaging 44). I am not surprised by this at all as it is simply due to mileage and normal wear (plus larger, non-LRR tires). Mileage may improve a bit after I do the 100k mile service on the car. Engine now consumes a small amount of oil between changes. I wore out the driver's seat and had to replace it. The Mirage has been absurdly reliable, and still has only required 'consumables'. No leaks, no squeaks, no smoke, no rattles, no problems. Not even so much as a "check engine" light. Starts EVERY time. This vehicle has redefined automotive reliability for me! I fully expect to get another 100,000 miles out of it. ***Original poster again. The car now has 165,000 miles and is still going strong. Other than a broken clutch cable at 113,000 miles it has needed nothing other than maintenance. The Mirage is one of the most reliable cars on the market.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage for sale near you
Showing 3 of 78 listings
- ES 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $7,99596 mi away
- ES 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,616104 mi away
- DE 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,995119 mi away
See all 78 listings
Follow Up On Mirage ES CVT
distantthunder, 04/28/2015
updated 11/30/2020
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
105 of 107 people found this review helpful
It's a 12014 leftover as as an fyi. I did my research...oh did I do my research on this car. I am truly grateful for all those owners that posted their honest opinions, likes and dislikes which were more informative than the jaded opinions of the professional reviewers. I am of the generation that wished for a simpler, inexpensive car that got great gas mileage with manual roll down windows. If I could have fit this car into that one Corvair body year I liked it would have been perfect. I absolutely love this car. I've seen Consumer Reports trashing this car (more than once). I'd like to think I have reasonable expectations when buying a new car (I've have over 10 in the last 45 years during that time driving about 40,000 miles per year) knowing what are the pluses and minuses of each so I don't know if I can be accused as having low expectations and/or if Consumer Reports has some sort of issue with their own evaluations of vehicles. It's almost as if they're being prissy about it as if they're being put-upon by having to explain to us lesser mortals what should be obvious to everyone. Well, it may be obvious to them, but not to me. If I want something that is a definitive sports car I'll get a Corvette; if I want something that defines luxury maybe one of those in the class of a Lexus, top-end Hyundai, etc. I wanted something this time as an economical alternative to the wife's very nice SUV as a practical matter. For 14 thousand, contrary to Consumer Reports, the car handles well-enough, has enough power if you drive it intelligently on the road (I used to own the original Volkswagen normally aspirated diesel which taught you to be aware of your driving conditions and to think ahead), the CVT works well with the non-hybrid 3 cylinder without the extra weight, added costs and complexity of a hybrid, has proximity sensors and a decent radio with mapping and Bluetooth. Of all things, the fit and finish is better on this car than ALL of my previous new ones-and cripes, it's made in Thailand. But then I did take the time on the lot to look for the one that looked the best to me in terms of fit and finish and took it for a test drive. Yes, it doesn't have a center console but with the space savings I found I didn't need it. Yes, it doesn't have Corinthian leather, but it saves me attempting to patch it when the dog attempts to claw it to death. Yes, it doesn't like potholes and bumps. But on a decent road it rides as well as the wife's SUV. Yes, it leans on turns and I would have preferred to have a sway bar, but not dangerously so unless you are stupid enough to try to drive it like a sports car. Yes, it has 14 inch tires and I would have preferred 15 inches. But it actually drives pretty good in the snow. Yes, because the car is so light it doesn't like strong crosswinds and the CVT intrudes in the cockpit on heavy acceleration. So what? I'll take that for 50 mpg with the air off. And it has "gasp" a spare tire unlike the low end Hyundai and the newer model version of my previous Optima. You get a can of useless flat tire repair for that. But to my immense irritation, it didn't have hooks to hang laundry like on my last car. After grousing about that to the wife for about a week I ordered a hanger from Amazon that attaches to the back of the front passenger seat. All is good. As an update which was requested Update request by Edmunds: the CVT has been properly matched with the engine and is very smooth...for a 3 cylinder noise and vibration is better than most of the 4 cylinders from other cars in that class...and I test drove most of them...doors have stayed aligned unlike previous cars and there are absolutely no creaks or rattles...I have never had that with any other car and there are some really bad roads in NJ...I still can't understand Consumer Reports and other "professional" reviewers trashing this car...one of the few objective evaluations I have seen of this car came from MotorWeek...and from individual assessments from actual owners found on the 'net...I do like the ground clearance the car has consider it is a small car which works well in snow unlike a earlier Honda I had that acted like a snow plow...Third update requested by Edmunds: If you want me to say something as if it's a negative review that agrees with the professionals...oh yes...the "professionals"...it "ain't" happening...no squeeks or rattles from their genius testers were using vehicles that were pounded to a fair thee well on in their "tests"...again...when an economy car has been so railed against by a so-called consumer agency and it has worked so well for me at my age and perspective I begin to wonder if it's not the cars but the people that evaluate them that should be called into question. Re: requested Edmunds update 11/26/20...still perfect.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Amazing car for the price!!!!!
Arne, 02/23/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
42 of 42 people found this review helpful
I read plenty of relatively poor reviews by the official car rating companies, as well as relatively positive rating by consumers before deciding to buy my Mitsubishi. I decided to trust the consumers and I am very glad I did. I love my car, and I am very happy I bought it. I knew going in that it is not a luxury car nor will I win many interstate races with it. I have a 60 mile / day commute to work so I bought it for that reason. I have been incredibly impressed with the gas mileage, I am always getting 45 miles / gallon and much of that is over dirt roads and back road driving. I live in Vermont and I have had no major issues with driving the car in the weather. It isn't great in the snow but it isn't that bad either. As far as the poor acceleration, I disagree, I have had plenty of power and acceleration for the type of driving I do. I don't slow down on the hills etc. I am impressed with the 3 cylinder engine. It is a little noisy as your driving it, but I am usually listening to music anyway, so I don't notice it. By the way, very nice stereo system. If you are looking for an inexpensive car with incredible gas mileage and I think plenty of power despite the small engine, I highly recommend this car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The most fuel saving non hybrid go-kart ever!
rooaru, 12/31/2014
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
66 of 67 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2015 Mirage in Oct and I do not regret it. Before buying it, reviewers, including Edmund really put the car down. I feel most of them were unfair with the reviews. This car is no louder, rougher, or less quality built compared to other subcompacts cars out there and I drove quite a bit before deciding on the Mirage. Yes it is a little loud when revving, yes it can be bumpy on a bad road, yes it is small and compact but at $13,000 base, it's loaded enough and fun! I got it for a better price with some effort. Think of it as a Modern Geo Metro, better built!
Six Months Later...
Edie Coleman, 02/09/2016
updated 08/09/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
32 of 32 people found this review helpful
Just wanted to update my original review because a lot has happened since January! I've driven to Cincy and Nashville from Indy so I have a little more knowledge about my Mirage. I read A LOT of professional reviews and one of the many things they criticized was the acceleration. Long distance driving was fine except I wish I did have cruise control. My leg got pretty tired after 200+ miles in the same position. Again, moving with traffic (or passing it) was not a problem. I drive 22 miles to work each day and I have no problem moving in and out of rush hour traffic either. After driving my mom's 2015 Chevy Cruze I will say my car doesnt' take off as quickly as hers, but I haven't had a problem merging into traffic. I also read a lot about handling. Easy fix! I bought a $10 wheel cover and I can't believe the difference in the handling. (The steering wheel is a little on the skinny side so sometimes it felt like the car was getting away from me. Turns out it's all about the "grip".) There was also something said about braking, which mentioned coming to a complete stop from 60 mph. Really! If you find yourself doing that more than once in a while, you need to retake Drivers Ed! My sturdy little racecar has taken a beating. I've been rear-ended, my windshield cracked by a rock flying off a truck and I've run over a couple of pretty huge curbs. I have a few scratches, but no major damage. Gas mileage is awesome, parking is so easy and my cargo space was adequate when traveling with my two grandsons and all their belongings last month. The interior has survived several spills (including nacho cheese on the carpet) and cleaned up very nicely. Overall, buying this car has turned out to be an unexpected blessing. Like I said back in July, ignore the haters! I'm still loving my Mirage! (Read my original review below) Three weeks ago I walked into the Suzuki/Mazda/Mitsubishi dealership (after having totaled my beloved 2004 Suzuki Vitara) needing a cheap car quick! I don't care about features and technology and bells and whistles, I just need a reliable piece of transportation for getting to and from work and comfortable enough for my twice yearly 1,300 mile road trip to visit my grandbabies . The dealer told me he had a 2015 Mirage with 1,200 miles on it. My salesman took me for a test drive, but I was too busy chatting to pay attention to the actual "ride". (Duh...I know! ) Anyway, it was a cold, snowy night and I just wanted to get the car and get the heck out of there, so I signed on the dotted line and rolled out. It wasn't until I got home and pulled up reviews on my phone that I started having big time BUYERS REMORSE! After reading the "professional" reviews, I thought to myself, what have I done?! (*$%#@) Then I found "real people" reviews and instantly felt better. Yes, the tires are teeny and the ride can be a little bumpy. For sure I get blown around on the highway on a windy day (did in my Vitara too). Yep, the interior is a little cheap and no it doesn't look like a Maserati. BUT, for someone like me this car is PERFECT! I actually don't mind the plastic interiors because I'm a tad messy and I prefer wiping to scrubbing! I love the gas mileage, the ease of using the wipers, radio/cd player, adjusting the heat, etc. Parking is a breeze! Mine is Infrared with black racing stripes (yeah, it's a little funky!) So, if you're looking for a high performance, chick/dude magnet with nav systems, wings and landing gear--this ain't it! If you want a reliable car that you can drive forever with a 10 year, 100,000 warranty that gets 37 MPG--then yes, this vehicle is all that! Ignore the haters! Read the consumer reviews and judge for yourself. I'm loving my Mirage!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Forget the critics...
Olive, 07/09/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
28 of 28 people found this review helpful
...this little car does the trick!I love this car. I've had it for four months now, and I was worried at first because of all of the negative professional reviews I'd read online. It has great gas mileage, gives me a smooth ride, and I'm able to fit a surprising amount of stuff in the truck for such a tiny car! Ok -- acceleration isn't stellar, but it's not nearly as bad as the professional reviews make it out to me. I can easily maintain 70-75 on the highway without a problem. The interior is great; comfortable seats, nice controls for stereo, temperature, etc. I should add: I'm a 23 year old female who just graduated from college, and this is the first car I've owned myself. So I'm not super picky about everything being perfect -- just looking for a good car to get me from point A to point B. This car really does the trick, and for the price point I couldn't be happier.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Better than the Pros think
jwbrooks, 04/16/2015
updated 04/19/2021
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
28 of 28 people found this review helpful
ORIGINAL (We owned a Honda FIT for years and loved it. But when it came time to get a new car, my wife got to choose and picked the Mirage DE 5 speed manual. One year and 14000 miles later we have no regrets. Combined with great maneuverability, the proximity sensors make tight parking a breeze. The small engine does work hard at the new freeway speeds of 70 mph. Our mileage drops to about 41 mpg at those speeds. But at speeds at 60 mph or below, we routinely average true mpg of 50 or even higher. (Note the mpg on the dash does often read a few mpg too high) Because of the higher ground clearance, the performance in the snow is surprisingly good and better than the FIT.) --------------- (UPDATE) Now after 4 years and 67,000 miles, I am still pretty positive about the car. The true lifetime mgp is 44.2 mpg, a slight drop mostly because we have taken a few long trips pushing the speed limit a bit. The only real repair issue was a faulty heater core that was replaced under warranty. My major complaint is that the stock tires will not last much more than 30,000 miles. I am just about to purchase the third set at just over 67,000 miles. I will be trying an after market brand with a mileage guarantee. The winter traction continues to impress me, even with worn tires and minimal tread. Living in the snow belt just a few miles from the Canadian border gives me lots of opportunities to test cold weather driving. It is a budget car, and should not be compared to cars costing almost twice as much. The current resale value is about 1/2 what a comparable Honda Fit would be, so it is not the best choice if you plan to trade every few years, but for a long term hold it is a low cost option for people who value the environmental plus of getting almost 50 mpg without the cost of a hybrid.
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
So glad I went with this car!
Dawn C, 07/09/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
26 of 26 people found this review helpful
I've owned a 1998 mirage, still have it at 150, 000 plus miles it's still running great. This is one of the reasons that made me initially interested in the 2015 mirage. Things I love: Compact, easy to park and turn around, I can't even begin to describe how much the MPG impacts me, it's amazing, I got 42.5 mpg just city driving so far, I can't wait to take it on a longer trip to see how it does. I love the temperature setting, you can adjust it as low as 61 and I think as high as 89, i can't remember I haven't had to use the heat setting yet (summer in AZ). I got the ES model with the bluetooth, cruise control, drivers seat adjusts in height, I love that feature, it's not as low to the ground that way, makes it easier to get in and out of. I love the fact that I don't have to use the remote if I don't want to, I can simply push the button my car and get in, as long as I have the fast key remote on me. I LOVE my new car!!!! I was listening to other people telling me what I should get etc. and so glad I went with my gut feeling and got what I know and trust. Plus, you cannot beat the warranty. Now for the cons: No center console, but I can probably fix that problem and buy something to work as others have, especially for long trips it would be nice to have that. It has all sorts of warning lights that come on when there is a problem. I like those, however I already dislike the TPMS light for low tires, I'm having an issue with that coming on even though the dealer just filled my tired 2 days ago, so back to the dealer I go with that issue. That wouldn't sway me from buying this car, just an annoyance. The back seat isn't real big, it's ok for children but I don't think adults would be to comfy on a long trip. It does take a bit to get used to the steering, my first day it was horrible I felt like I was all over the place. Now, I've got that figured out and happy with it. I would definitely buy it again and recommend if you are wanting something small, great on gas and a great warranty.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Reliability
- Value
Buy it already!
douglas lafferty, 11/04/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
26 of 26 people found this review helpful
Bought this car over the phone in New Hampshire on a Sunday afternoon. Two days later I rented a car drove from CT to pick it up and drive back. The only thing I knew about this car was it was affordable with great mpg's, had very poor professional reviews but extremely positive consumer reviews. The first time I sat in it was after the transaction as complete and I was driving home. I was blown away on my 3 + hour trip back with how awesome this car is! Everything that the professional reviewers say with the exception that it does feel "slightly" top heavy in highway speed turns as totally false. This car is a blast! Did 70-75 mph all the way home, hardly touching the pedal and got 47.6 average mpg! It feels like a much bigger car and is way bigger than you think inside. I love this car, I feel it is very well built a blast to drive and with the gas mileage, it's almost like driving for free! Mine is an ES model with CVT .
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I'm hooked!
Ted, 07/27/2016
updated 03/07/2025
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage Rockford Fosgate Edition 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
24 of 24 people found this review helpful
My little white Mirage is very economical and pretty fun to drive. I can get 42-46 with mixed driving. It goes way down with a head wind, but I usually find a truck to draft when that happens. I go from 37 to 42 when I draft at about 65 mph. I would have gotten a 5 spd if one would have been available, but am glad I got the CVT. When you get used to it you can kind of make it 'shift' and get your highway rpm's to about 2200 and save fuel. On hilly 2 lane roads I can get 48 mpg if I'm not in a hurry. I pop it in and out of neutral a lot. I also like the trans brake and really think it will save the brake pads. It has tire pressure monitors, hands free phone, high quality sound, auto, ac, PW,PB, alloy wheels and 100K warranty for $11,600 out the door! (Plus sales tax) I just went to Louisville a couple weeks ago (850 mile RT). It cost about $40 in fuel. My mileage check will be over $400! I did some drafting and didn't use the Cruise Control, but I'm a little OCD about my mileage now! Nearly the same mileage as a Prius and 1/2 the initial cost! My 'normal' commute is 160 miles RT. I used to need 11 gallons every other day in my Century, now its about 7.5! I had to fix a flat today, I was pleasantly surprised at the jacking points. The tire monitor probably save me a tire. My first couple miles is on gravel and I may not have noticed the rear tire was flat if not for the light. I'm hooked! Would recommend and re-purchase if a deer or other accident were to total it! I still like the Mirage and now have 35,000 miles on it. I recently put a little center console in it. It was on Amazon for about $50 and is a great addition. I just replaced the factory tires yesterday. To get the 165/65/14 tires would have been $85 per tire but getting 175/65/14 tires was only $55 each. So be sure to ask! I haven't had a single bad experience with my Mirage and would replace it with another if it were totaled. Update: Nothing new, I still like the car at 55,000 miles. I've had no problems to date. The tires I installed at 35000 miles are wearing better than the factory tires but initially caused by mpg's to drop to 38 for a couple thousand miles. They were not the 'low rolling resistance' type. I did a little bit of internet research and found this is normal. Due to the price difference the cheaper tires will still cost less per mile to run. I am still running the factory brakes and they have plenty of life left. I am very easy on brakes though. My 2000 Silverado 2500 with 150K has it's original brakes! The Bluetooth is great for listening to audio books on my commute and making hands free calls. I would still replace it with another and saw a grayish one at the dealership that looked sharp. I am kind of interested in the Kia hybrid though but do want to run the Mirage to 200K. Now I have 72000 on the egg and still think it’s great. Getting ready to put the second set of tires on it soon. There have been no problems and I don’t notice any loss of performance or efficiency. It’s still a keeper and I would definitely look at getting another one if I were to wreck this one. It’s still looks new though! I’m at 105K now and the car still performs as new. No issues at all, I haven’t done a thing to it except tires and oil changes. Still getting 40+ and still like it. I am very interested in seeing how long it lasts before it becomes unreliable. I’m still on factory brakes and battery also. Now at 123,000 (August 2019) and still runs great and gets 40+ mpg. I did put front brakes on and will soon get the cvt fluid changed. No other maintenance besides oil changes and tires. My price per mile for operating this car is very low! Hoping for another 125,000 miles out of it before I have to start car shopping again. February 2020 update: Now at 140k, nothing new to report. Still runs great and gets 42 mpg. Looks like a new car, tires wear evenly, no rattles or defects. I haven’t done the cvt fluid change yet but don’t notice any difference in shifting. I’m still a fan! August 2020, 155k. Still runs great. I did have the CVT fluid changed at the dealer and I replaced the belt myself. It had started squealing some. It’s quiet now and I probably could have tightened the old one had I known the car doesn’t have a spring loaded tensioner. But Rockauto has the belts plenty cheap. I got a new air filter and cabin air filter on the same order as well as new wiper blades. I will probably get new spark plugs installed before 200k. It looks like it’ll be a bit of a job so I’m not sure if I’ll do it or let a mechanic. It still runs and drives great and I usually get 42 mpg. Hopefully it’s only half done and it’ll go 300 k economically! August 2021, pushing 190k! Still running great, I did have the dealer replace the plugs, also had a wheel bearing replaced there. It really looks and runs like new! 42 mpg is still happening quite a bit. I think it’ll go another 100k easily! 200k now in February 2022, still going strong, fuel mileage is not quite as good, 40 rather than 42, maybe a tune up is in order. No rattles or other signs of it’s age or mileage, still happy and impressed. August 2022, 215K, still very reliable, will probably schedule a time up soon. It kind of sputters a little when I have a big headwind. Tire wear is still even, riding on original rear brakes, no repairs since the wheel bearing quite a while back. I’m on the lookout for a used one with less miles so I can use it as a commuter if this one ever dies! I found one for my aunt a few years ago but they are scarce. February 2023, 230K, still a great car, 42mpg regularly, no rattles, no leaks. I did replace the plugs when I noticed it was cutting out, very easy job and restored power to the little motor! I’ve switched to 5w30 from the recommended 0w20 because of some possible lifter noise. It hasn’t affected the mileage and the lifters are quieter. I’m expecting another 100k+ trouble free and would love to stumble onto a used mirage to replace it then. Big update: I had to put a new to me junkyard engine in the car. The original one lost compression in cylinder 3 at 250,000 miles. I got the motor for $900, installation and some new parts was $1300, new motor mounts and the other front wheel bearing was another $700. So I’ve recently put $3000 into maybe a $2000 car! If I get another 70-100000 miles out of it I’ll be pretty happy. It’s running great and still getting 40+ mpg. Before the motor swap I had put 4 new tires and an alignment. It still looks good inside and out. 3/5/25 update: 268,000 miles on the car, about 15000 miles into my new to me junkyard engine. All is well, it was running rough and threw a code for catalytic converter a few months back. Luckily there is a bolted connection between the two cats. I separated the two and did some “adjustments” to both to allow better air flow. I had easy access to each cat so it was a cheap way to see if I really had plugged cats. Put it back together and it’s running great. I still have the code but it’s running well and getting the expected mpgs so I’m just going to run it! I am still averaging about 41 mpg. Heat and air work well also. I put rear brakes and drums on recently also. You have to adjust the parking brake and do a little bit of metal removal on the new brake shoes to get the drum to fit! Forums and YouTube helped!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Professional Reviews vs Customer Ratings
distantthunder, 04/01/2015
updated 10/02/2020
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
39 of 40 people found this review helpful
This is the best car for the price I have owned other than the original normally aspirated Volkswagen Rabbit diesel. My priority was mpg and I'm getting about 54 for this 2014 leftover. The build on this car is tight with all seams aligned. The CVT is not dangerously slow. You just have to think a little ahead in certain circumstances as I did with my Volkswagen. I out-accelerate heavier SUVs. This is a very light car so there is wind buffeting but I'll take that considering the mpg. Comfortable seating. No harsh vibration from the engine at idle. Better than most 4 cylinders in similar cars tested. Engine is smooth and the noise level is only intrusive at hard acceleration. Good radio. Update requested by Edmunds 4/2/2019: CVT is very smooth. Air conditioning and heating more than adequate. Car has remained "tight" with no squeaks and rattles with all seams still aligned. It doesn't especially like bumps and potholes but for what the vehicle gives me in mpg I'll "suffer though it" unlike the pansies at CR and the other car mags. I've had plenty of larger & heavier cars that rode worse than this. The car is nimble enough for both turns and off ramps if you don't try to drive it like a sports car. Ride in the snow was surprisingly good with decent underside clearance unlike my other other small cars that acted like a snow plow. Update requested by Edmunds 10/2/2020: Car remains tight with no squeaks or rattles. Car has been perfect. No issues.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love my 2015 Mirage ES CVT
jiminmichigan, 07/07/2015
updated 07/08/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful
I wanted a cheap, but good on gas, vehicle. I bought my 2015 Mirage ES CVT for $14,119 ( plus tax/title/ect ). This is my 1st import, I have always bought American, but they had NO vehicle that compared to the Mirage in price with options and gas mileage. The power to get up to speed is fine, no Chevy with a 454, but it gets the job done. I'm a BIG guy at 300lbs and my wife is 175lbs. We just took a round trip from Mid Michigan to southern Arizona ( 4600 miles total ) with our little Mirage. Now I have to admit, it needed a little more HP going up some steep mountains. It made it, but gas mileage dropped to 36mpg. Averaged 42MPG overall on the trip. I average closer to 50MPG currently. UPDATE: 15600 on the odometer now. The gas mileage has improved. I now average 55+ mpg on the hwy doing 55mph. Getting 45-47 in town.
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
secound Mitsubishi mirage in the family
Glenn Scramlin, 02/28/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2014 Mirage and loved it so much my wife bought a 2015. these cars get great gas milage. they are great in the city and are comfortable on the highway. for the price you cant beat it. so don't jest read the reviews of those so called professional reviewers. take one for a test drive and remember its great value for the money and has a great warranty
I still love my hatchback
Erik, 09/21/2015
updated 09/25/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I have owned a Mirage for the past year and a half now. I traded in my Ford Focus ST for two of them, one for me and one for the wife. Let be honest in saying I couldn't be happier with my car. When I first drove it I thought ok it's fun to drive but it's just ok, the price point is right and my wife and I need a gas efficient inexpensive car so we made the purchase going these are ok; however three days later I realized that this little car is amazing, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not, it's not a 6 cylinder mustang with a shouty exhaust pretending it's a v8 race car. It has room enough for four people comfortably and five in a pinch when four buddy's and I make a lunch run. It has 2 ways to connect my iPod for tunes and a CD player for good measure. As far as the masses of people who say this vivacious little go cart is under powered, I have to disagree; I have the 1.2L standard transmission and have had zero problems accelerating off a stop light or getting up to highway speeds. That being said I have not driven the cvt model and can't attest to how it drives. The trim is adequate for the price and the controls are exactly where I feel they should be. The seats are very comfortable and the only thing I could ask for is an arm rest (I seriously want one). I have not treated my mirage like a weak little city car I fold down the seats and put several hundred pounds of tile in it for home improvements; I've taken it up logging roads unpacked, unpaved, and very up hill. This car has very much changed my view of vehicles and practicality, I don't miss my Focus, in my opinion the Mirage is more fun to drive it handles like a go cart you can do a u turn on a two lane road with out going off on the shoulder, you can park it literally anywhere, and finally they under sell the gas mileage I usually see 42mpg city and about 46mpg highway, my highway driving in Washington state is normally at 70mph. All in all this is my favorite vehicle that I have owed and the only changes I plan to make are adding fog lights and a roof rack. ***Update*** It's now been two years since my first entry to this review; my car now has 27000 miles and my wife's car has 64000. Both cars continue to run just fine with zero issues. The gas mileage we are seeing continues to be excellent and actually seems to get better as the engine gets broken in! Can't say enough good things about this car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The best fuel efficient car around!
Rich, 03/11/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
Just bought a '15 brand new with a 5 speed stick DE model for $9588.00 plus tax. Unbelievable! Huge sale brought me into the fold and the car doesn't disappoint. The car is packed with standard feature and Is easy to drive. Professional reviewers mention how the handling and performance are sub par but in reality the car is fine on the road. Sure it could be tuned to be tighter but it is fine. Maybe the '17 model will include a USA tuned suspension. Acceleration with the 5 speed is fine and the car is totally geared towards fuel efficiency. On the first tank of gas the car pegged 46.3 miles per gallon in mixed driving. I find the car super easy to drive and it's very comfortable on the inside. The dash design is good and materials are par for the class. The seats and auto climate controls are far above class average. If your going to drive a small car you hope to get above 40 mpg. In the Mirage you actually get that high mpg at a low price in a good package. The car is a great value and I'm glad I waited to get one. I almost bought one in the fall for around $11,500 but I waited and lucked out. Now that I own one I would say anywhere between 9500 and 11500 would be a fair price for the Mirage. On the upper end ES model prices can get up there pretty high and I would question the value of those models seeing that they have all the same mechanics as the DE model. The DE model come standard with power windows locks and mirrors. It also has a/c and a good stereo. Look for a bargain and get yourself a Mirage.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Rental Car Experience
RannyV, 01/25/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Much to the surprise of the rental car company, I recently requested the Mirage when on a 5 day vacation to the Bay Area. After having noticed the discrepancy between professional and consumer reviews, I had to see for myself what the real story was with this car. That, and I am a fan of basic, high MPG transportation. My car was an uninspired silver DX with black interior and the CVT automatic and not much else. I took the car over winding highway 17 to Santa Cruz and than back to San Jose via the most challenging, pot hole filled winding roads. The steering and suspension isn't ideal for higher speed corners such as those found on Hwy 17. It sways a great deal and the steering is sloppy. It never lost grip, but I wouldn't want to do an evasive maneuver. What was surprising was that the little 3 had decent power and the CVT did a good job of keeping it in the power band. I've read that the suspension was designed for 3rd world roads and on my trip home over the rutted back roads, I'd have to agree. It did a nice job of soaking up bumps and only hit the suspension stops once. It also has a wonderfully tight turning radius which makes low speed driving in cramped spaces a joy. This isn't a car to drive on winding roads quickly, but if you aren't in a hurry, it's quite alright. I also too the car on longish (hour each way) trip up to the North Bay and it performed admirably and kept up with the swift Bay Area traffic without fuss. In all, I covered 200 miles and got 40MPG as measured at the pump on fill up. I'd estimate my average hwy speed at 60 - 65 with a max speed of low 70's. It's an honest little car with personality. Hopefully the revised 2017 will address the handling issues. If you're not out to impress people or want to make an anti-flashy statement, the little Mirage is worth a look. Were I shopping for an inexpensive car, I'd give it serious consideration. I hope it's a success for Mitsu. Cheap gas won't last indefinitely and when it inevitably goes up again, this car could be a rock star.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
Best for Buck
SuperTechie, 07/27/2015
updated 01/31/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
In the 10K class of new cars (only looking at stick, as with small engines all other trannies have bad performance), I have looked at: 1. Chevy Volt. Totally rejected due to Onstar and the inability to truly disable it even when unsubscribed. No spying is desired. 2. Nissan Versa. Off the line performance sucks bad, even though it has a bigger engine. It seems like they have detuned it so that you can't peel out. I wouldn't want to cross 4 lanes with this one. Car is most comfortable but feels heavy and gets bad MPG. 3. Mitsubishi Mirage. Best bang for buck. Great acceleration for size of engine/MPG with stick. Seats could be a little more comfortable, but not bad. I bought the base version as I did not want the proximity key/push button start that comes with the upgraded versions, since so many of the proximity keys have been hacked. It would have been nice to have the alloy wheels and cruise, but I feel much safer not having the proximity key.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great little car, critics aren't always right
YRLY59E@aol.com, 05/10/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
Critics hate this car. Critics aren't always right. A lot of critical reviews of this car malign the handling and ride. First the handling feels somewhat detached, but it is precise. Critics tend to want cars to handle like a sports car, which is fine if you're driving short distances and limited amounts of time but it becomes fatiguing over time. The nice easy steering and soft suspension make this great for long commutes. I can drive this longer distances than my Fusion without feeling stiff. It is a very comfortable car for its size to drive a long distance. Seats are decently comfortable. I'm not exactly a small guy and I typically drive larger stuff like say a Grand Marquis or F150. I'd even call it enjoyable to drive. If I had to say anything negative, the biggest drawback is acceleration. I hear a lot of complaints about the road noise. While the engine isn't terribly refined the factory supplied tires are geared towards economy, so they're noisy. Once they wear out and you put some softer touring tires on or ones with better tread pattern, it would be a lot quieter. I've noticed that on the right highway surface even at higher speeds it's fairly quiet in terms of wind noise. The car offers a lot for the money. When you compare what you get for the money you get more features with the Mirage and a better warranty. Like your Bluetooth, automatic climate control, automatic transmission, push button start, power locks, power windows, power mirrors for driver and passenger sides, AC? Imagine getting all of them for under $12000, including fancy rubber floor mats, unnecessary chrome highlight package and alloy wheels. Fuel economy will easily best it's rated number with the CVT, my wife and I took a road trip over hilly terrain last week and got 48mpg with the AC on (which has climate control too). Serviceability of the engine compartment is good, there is plenty of room, the design is straightforward. Cargo capacity is quite good if you fold the seats down. The rear seat is serviceable if needed. While it has some quirks the controls are easy to use and adjust to. The cruise control and the radio controls on the steering wheel took the most adjusting as did the rear wiper (but I only own one other vehicle with a rear wiper and it's an 88 Aerostar). Given the fact you can put yourself in a new one for less than the cost of almost any new car, many used ones and given its long standard warranty, it deserves more of a look. It offers fantastic fuel economy and great options for the cost. This is an excellent starter car for a first time driver (they won't be able to drag race), or just a sensible extra car with a great warranty.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Hated it at first..luv it over a year later!! :-)
robert Sherman, 09/27/2015
updated 10/06/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought this car for it's excellent gas mileage and with a 74 hp engine didn't expect much..this little car can and will move and move fast..if your not afraid to drive it!! I have had it 36 months now and hv 42k miles on it.. and it has been 100% reliable..for what it is Im very happy..great little economy/commuter car..one thing I was shocked to see..it has a timing chain instead of a cheap rubber belt like most new cars now days have..this car might not be the best looking or best performing. But it definitely 100% gets the job done..still surprised at how zippy it is..it will flat out move if I'm not payn attention to speedo I'll be on highway outside of town doin 90/95 and not even know it. Says 140mph on speedo and I can confirm I was almost there once. Just to see if it could. I got scared and let off at 120mph..but still had not bottomed out my pedal. I had those squirrels workn hard!! Lol
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES w/ Navigation
Kevin McKenzie, 08/01/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2015 Mirage ES with Navigation about 2 weeks ago and had to make a 3 hour drive back home from the dealer on I-495 (belt way) and had no issues going 75mph and keeping up with traffic. I averaged 50mpg on the drive back. The ride is amazingly smooth for such a small car!!! I love the Navigation and Back Up Camera that I got as the $900.00 option package and it also has the $695.00 Sport Appearance Package which really makes it look sharp. My co-worker purchase a 2015 ES with Navigation back in November 2014 and 5,000 miles later not one issue we both love our Mirage's!!! I got mine in Starlight Silver and my co-workers is Infared. The Interior is really spacious and the trunk is very roomy!!! I had my choice of many cars and I knew hands down this was the car for me and I couldnt be happier. All of the negative reviews this car has is just plain stupid. It is full of features, power windows, locks, mirrors, push button start, navigation, back up camera, cd, dvd, automatic climate control, fog lights, fast key with keyless start, button access, ABS, Hill Hold Assist, TC, Stability Control and much much more!!! You cant go wrong with any Mirage!!!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
After one month with a 2015 Mirage CVT
Dane, 09/29/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I started looking for small cars with great gas mileage when my 14 year old Hyundai Sonata hit 180,000 miles and I knew I was going to start facing some significant repair costs. I liked the Chevy Spark but it was almost impossible to find one in the $8,500 or less range that hadn't been used as a rental. I liked the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris, but anything in that price range seemed to always have at least 50,000 miles on it. I Briefly looked at a Smart Fortwo with less than 10,000 miles on it, but just couldn't bring myself to take that kind of size hit. I saw a 2015 "Sapphire blue" Mitsubishi Mirage with 14,000 miles on it. After a test drive and a little dickering I got it out the door at $8750. Here are my thoughts after 30 days with the Mirage. Is it as loud, slow, and unresponsive as the professional reviewers have labeled it? No. It's louder, slower, and less responsive than my old Sonata was, but it also gets almost exactly twice the miles per gallon. The key to owning the Mirage is all in expectations. If you're expecting a car that gets 45 mpg while still being able to do a 9 second quarter, handle like it's on rails and haul you and 4 other people around at 75 mph in the quiet comfort of a Mercedes 500 series, I'm thinking you may have a long search for your next car. My Mirage has had no trouble getting on highway entrance ramps at 35 mph, then accelerating to 65 by the end of the ramp in order to merge with traffic. Does it accelerate like my 6 cylinder Hyundai? No, but I've never had to put my foot to the floor to get it up to speed like some reviewers claim either. I do occasionally find myself checking to make sure all my windows are completely up when I'm doing 65-70 because there's a bit more wind noise than I'm used to, but it's not like it's loud enough to affect a conversation, or listening to the stereo. And of course the bottom line for me is that I'm getting 45 mpg consistently in real world driving with this car, which saves me almost 1/3 of my monthly car payment in gas over what I was spending with the Sonata. Now if I can get 185,000 miles of trouble-free driving on the Mirage like I did on the Sonata, I'll be more than thrilled with my purchase. One side note- the CVT transmission does take a little getting used to. The absolute key to this transmission is keeping your right foot steady. Slow, steady increases in accelerator pressure lets the CVT rev the engine up smoothly and relatively quickly, and then drop down the same way. Hitting the accelerator hard gives you the "rubber band effect" where your engine revs but you don't accelerate for a second, then suddenly catch up. The CVT also has an odd habit of "clunking" slightly when you come to a complete stop before the car settles into a fairly smooth idle. My opinion of the 2015 Mirage after 30 days is that this company did an amazing job engineering a car to get 45 mpg while still letting a person drive normally, in reasonable comfort.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
An economical purchase
Eddie Dale, 05/08/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
For the cost of the vehicle, you cannot find better value. This is the second one we have purchased this year.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Reliable and economical as my VW Rabbit diesel
Steve, 06/11/2020
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I'm a retired VW mechanic and have owned Rabbits, Jetta's and Dasher diesels and all averaged 45 to 48 mpg. Have owned other makes and models, mostly compact and subcompact models, all bought used. The last compact car I owned was a 2010 Toyota Yaris, base model, manual transmission and the best mileage I got was 42mpg. Good car but discovered after owning it for several months it had Toyota's 2AZ-FE oil burning engine. Stupid me, researching the engine after buying the Yaris. Toyota makes reliable engines but on this particular engine had a design flaw and on average after 50,000 to 60,000 miles the engine started to burn oil. The Toyota company had lots of unhappy customers who bought a Toyota with this particular engine. A quick online search will provide all the details on Toyota's screw up. Anyhow, I sold the Yaris and just wanted a small, economical car. Every subcompact and compact I checked out had lots of issues. Then I stumbled across a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage and didn't know anything about this model. Never owned or worked on a Mitsubishi product so after reading every review I could find I decided to check one out. I happened to be wintering in Florida at the time and found that 2015 Mirage for sale at a large car dealership in Pensacola. It had about 42,000 miles on it, was the base model with a manual transmission. Now I've read all the negative reports from a lot of the major auto magazines and was expecting I'd get a mile down the road on the test drive and would be heading back, handing the keys over and continuing my search. Didn't happen. Long story short, I bought the Mirage. All those negative reviews from Motor Trend, Car and Driver, etc. A bunch of bull. For a subcompact it has a nice ride, cabin noise was quieter than the Toyota Yaris I owned and all those reports about the sloppy steering and difficulty keeping it headed straight down the highway. Think maybe they had a few adult beverages before getting behind the wheel. The Mirage performed fine and it has the easiest shifting manual transmission I ever drove. I drove the Mirage back to Maine, cruising along at 75 on occasion and still averaged 45 mpg. Sure, on long upgrades I had to shift down to 4th gear but I still kept up with the maniacs on the interstate. My other vehicle is a 2010 Mazda 5 van and in all honesty, the Mirage is more comfortable, has a softer ride and less cabin noise so I could listen to the radio or my CD'S without cranking up the volume excessively as I had to do in the Mazda. So for $6500, I got a car that still had about 7000 miles or about a year and a half left on the factory powertrain warranty thanks to the transferable warranty which wasn't as much as a new model but still impressive for a used car. I've owned about a year and a half and have had zero problems. No rattles, creaks or weird noises. As for the three cylinder engine, the negative reports it vibrates to much. Sure, at idle it's not as smooth idling as a four, six or eight cylinder but it's not half as bad as those reviews. When idling there's no vibration through the steering wheel and nothing else inside the car is rattling. Once on the road it drives like it has a four cylinder, not as fast when accelerating but it's not the dog those so called professional test drivers claim. Because of the bogus reviews about the suspension being to soft, Mitsubishi stiffened the suspension so the 2017 and newer models now have a rougher ride. My suggestion, get the 2014 or 2015 model year. Bottom line. If you want a reliable, economical car, nothing beats the Mirage. And oh yes. Before driving the Mirage, I test drove a used Honda fit and a Chevy Spark. The Honda Fit was terrible. Loud cabin noise, jarring ride. Felt every crack in the road and the engine noise was loud which surprised me. As far as the Spark. What a piece of crap. Since purchasing the Mirage I happened to meet someone who also had a Mirage, a 2014 model and his job requires lots of driving and his car has over 140,000 miles and he's had no problems. Just tire replacement and brakes. That's it. So as the saying goes, don't believe everything you read online. By the way, I'm averaging 48 mpg and have gotten up to 56 mpg once and in the low 50's several times. So if you're shopping for a used subcompact, test them all. Think you'll be pleased if you test out a Mirage, especially when you can buy one for thousands less than the other makes. Go Mirage!!!
Professional Reviewers??
My Kermit, 02/15/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I too read the professional reviews then on youtube I decided to view MOTORWEEK's review of this car as they have been honestly reviewing cars for over 30 years as they too had qualms about this car which totally changed when the review was complete! This is one awesome little car! I really love my KIWI GREEN little Kermit! For a 3 cyl car it has plenty of pep! The fuel economy is nothing short of spectacular! I have never owed a car that got 40(+) mpg mind you in city driving. It fits everywhere. For the price with the rebates plus the warranty & Mitsubishi's reliability you can not go wrong! I just can not figure out why people go with the other Japanese car companies when this is Japan's real secret!! The handling is fine, the ride is fairly smooth as the car easily fits my 2 dogs, 2 kids, me & my wife. For the price of the DE I bought the car is well-equipped with A/C w/auto control, A/T, Tilt, AM/FM CD, Blue Tooth, Electric Remote Mirrors, P/S, P/B, ABS P/W, 7 air bags plus so much more!! The Mirage is anything but a mirage...you won't go wrong!!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Car in a small package
Rachel K, 01/18/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
If you are looking for all the bells and whistles you should look elsewhere, but if you want a great warranty, reliability, fuel economy, and easy parking this is the car for you. I had a Ford Escort back in the day and loved it. Eventually got a Ford minivan but my kid toting days are over. I don't haul a lot of stuff and I have no kids at home, so this car was great. I take long road trips and the fuel economy is great. 52 mpg at some points. Costs me very little in gas and now that I am experiencing my first Erie, PA lake effect winter in this car I am loving it. I was very afraid of getting stuck but bought my snow tires in October and have not been stuck yet. I didn't even shovel this morning after a 4-6 inch snow storm and got out of my driveway without a hiccup. My Chevy Malibu I traded in for this car was stuck all last year. No snow tires, but it was a heavier car. Gas mileage on that was horrible and the interior was cheap and plastic. And I paid more for that car even with it being 3 years old. This was a brand new car with a 5 year 60,000 mile basic warranty. Compare that to the normal 3 year 36,000 mile on most cars. That was the biggest selling point. I could afford a brand new car with no worries for 5 years and have no car payments. It's small but very much a great car. Go ahead and pay more for the Chevy Cruze (which has nothing on it for their base price) and see the cheapy plastic interior and how many times you need it serviced. And our Mitsubishi dealer here in Erie could not be better. They get 5 stars. Gave me a loaner for an oil change. Who does that? They treat you as well as the person who bought a $30,000 car. The Mirage is not the fanciest car, but it does the job and does it well. No complaints here.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
This is a great extra car.
Jerry Smith, 11/26/2015
updated 12/04/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage Rockford Fosgate Edition 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
This car is great basic transportation. After adjusting my driving habits from a 300 Hp ride to a 74 Hp economy car I have no complaints. All cars have different handling characteristics and should be driven accordingly. While this car is capable of doing just over 100mph I recommend keeping it under 75mph. I did add some spring stiffness blocks to the rear springs and handling improved significantly. I do not know why the professional ratings are lower than consumers. They are either out of touch or do not have realistic expectations when it comes to basic transportation.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
great gas mileage 52 miles per gallon on a manual
Pernell Robertson, 10/29/2015
updated 05/03/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
My wife took the car out we had it for a month great on gas mileage we have the manual transmission we put 5000 miles on it and getting 52 miles per gal miles per gallon on the interstate doing 80 miles an hour to 85 miles an hour we took a trip in it went to Colorado in it from Louisiana handles real good in the mountains special for a manual transmission what you need in the mountains looks real great we got the DE added cruise control to it and fog lights not much extra. In town we are getting 40 miles per gallon in town. Going to update on May 3 2016 We manage doing the speed of 60 on a Hwy of 55 and started getting 65 miles per gallons . Now in town we are averaging 45miles gallons. Good car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great little car with even better mileage!
Conor, 01/31/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
OK, this car probably isn't for everyone but it is a great car for those who want a basic and reliable vehicle. Forget about what the "professional" and "expert" reviewers say. Not everyone wants all the frills in the world and some like us view them as a negative. Not everyone wants a touch screen to control every system in the car. If you are this way then this car is worth a look. My girlfriend's old car recently started having issues with needing one repair after another and then 3 major ones hit at once and the cost of doing all these would have been about double the value of the car. It was time to move on and get her a new car. She wanted a basic small subcompact. I had been looking into these as I do a lot of driving and like small cars like this for the handling and economy. All the owners had nothing but good things to say about them. We looked at several other cars but she didn't fall in love with any of them. I thought the low cost, features, and warranty of the Kia Rio were good but she didn't like the car. It had too many features such as a touch screen and the like that she didn't want. It was love at first sight with this one. It had basic intuitive controls that were easy to operate and the manual transmission model drove smooth and has plenty of power. We did not test drive the automatic/CVT model. I see other reviews categorizing this car as sluggish so maybe they are reviewing that transmission option. The transmission in this one has appropriate gear ratios and has plenty of power. The engine is TIMING CHAIN driven which is almost unheard of in a cheap 3 cylinder car like this one and has variable valve timing which produces a nice flat torque curve. The engine is being further improved in 2017 with the addition of roller lifters/cams for slightly more power and economy. Some engineering went into this one. The car has room for 4 adults and doesn't bog down with the extra weight. You wouldn't take a long vacation in this car with 4 people but there is room for a suitcase or two in the back hatch. You could also fit several file boxes back there. The car has one of the longest warranties in the industry. It meets or exceed that of Kia/Hyundai in every category. It is also great on gas. We seem to get around 36 in town and 48-50mpg on the highway. I suspect this might improve as the engine breaks in more. Again, this little guy has plenty of power. I drove it home on the interstate and it didn't slow down on even some pretty large hills. I was maintaining speed and passing trucks in 5th gear without even really pushing it. The "Eco" light never even went off. Apparently this car switches to a more aggressive tuning that isn't as good on gas when you really punch it and this light goes off. The engine is a little loud during acceleration but this isn't the end of the world. It definitely idles very smooth which wasn't the case for past 3 cylinder cars that shake quite a bit. Obviously the engine is better balanced. The interior isn't fancy but simple which is appealing if you ask me. Not everyone wants a complex touch screen to turn on the ventilation, radio, and more. No, this isn't a fancy car and there are other good competing options you should look at for other cars in this price range compared to cars of this segment in decades past. The Kia Rio certainly fits the bill. This was purchased at Springfield Mitsubishi/Springfield Imports in Springfield, MO. I highly suggest this location if it is near you as it was a low-key experience and you didn't feel you were in a mind game with the dealership the entire time.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Reliability
- Value
" 2 for 1"
kerry fishman, 09/14/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
my wife bought a 2015 mirage in April our oldest boy like it so much he just bought one to use as a commuter car his round trip to work and home is 67 miles which so far amounts to less than 2 gallons of regular fuel a day.....excellent car for rush hour traffic great a/c bluetooth hands free communication and he says he can hardly tell whether the engine is running it is so quiet
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
Great bang for the buck
Meghan Puente, 10/14/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought this little Mirage DE in Mystic Black with the 5SPD and I couldn't of been happier. With rebates (Previous Mitsu owner, year end rebates, rebate from my job being partners with Mitsu) My final price was just over $11,000. Only option was blue tooth. Good: I drive 75 miles a day, so gas mileage was important, I average 42 mpg highway/traffic, and I don't have a light foot. trying to drive conservatively and a long highway trip I actually reached almost 52 mpg. As long as you stick in your lane and don't feel like you need to weave in and out of traffic, it keeps up just fine. The seats are supportive, and the ride is comfortable enough. I am 5'11" and there is plenty of headroom. The piano black trim inside helps break up the matte black plastic so it doesn't look that bad. I do like how this car has 7 airbags and climate control. 10 year/100k mile powertrain warrantee and free oil changes for life are a plus from Mitsubishi. Bad: Suspension is soft though and some has some body roll. I wish the car came with a armrest. The Bluetooth works but when I play music through it, Pandora from my phone, the sound is low quality/tingy (AUX cable works better and my music sounds better then Bluetooth). Also I have the Bluetooth that is not apart of the steering wheel. Learning to use the Bluetooth button on the dash is like learning morse code. You have to press it once, twice, three times, hold for one , two, three, three seconds all to do 6 or more different functions. I just stopped using it for music, just to take calls. If you get the DE model, make sure you can live with the seat not being able to adjust up and down. I am 5'11" and where it is at is ok, but any taller, I think it would be inconvenient. Overall: This is a fun little car to drive, you wont win any races but for the price, gas mileage, great warrantee, its worth it. Critics seems to be harsh on this car, but then again they are not usually concerned with the fact some people just want basic car that is reliable, and get them to work/school and back, and are not trying to set amazing lap times on a race track.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Incredible value.
Keith, 08/10/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I went in to look at the 2017 model, but found that they had a 2015 leftover buried on the lot. It took a while for them to get it out (they didn't know they had it). It turned out to be a CVT (I wanted a stick) ,but I took it out anyway. After reading all the negative PROFESSIONAL reviews, I however was very impressed. (The so-called PROS act like this is the worst thing since the black plague.) It has plenty of room ,it drives well ,rides good, handles well, sure it's all hard plastic inside, but it looks good and seems to be put together pretty good. Yes it does have some tire noise, and wind noise. But it is no more intrusive than some other cars I've had ( focus). Acceleration (lol) is rather leisurely. It has PW,PL,PM,CVT,TRAC. CONTR.,ABS,CLIMATE CONTROL,NICE STEREO W/ USB CON.plenty of cargo room ,good room for 4 adults (5 no way) and a great warranty. I decided to go for it. It had 41 miles on it, sticker was $14,905 (too much, it is 2 model years old after all, there was no 2016). After some minor back and forth I was out the door at $9,400!!!!!!!!!!!. For a brand new car? Amazing!! I have since driven the car over 2,000 miles and I like it even more. The CVT takes some getting used to, but I'm adjusting. I'm getting 38-43 mpg without trying. No it's not a Lexus, but it's not meant to be . It's basic transportation at a good price. I didn't drive the 2017 (it's supposed to be better) I don't know. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THE PROFESSIONALS SAY. Try it for yourself, it might not be your cup of tea. But it might impress you. If you can get a good deal go for it. I hope this will help you make an educated decision. I went in ready to hate, but came out with a car . Good luck with your search.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
Best buy for the money.
Jonathan B, 08/02/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I've seen this vehicle take slot of heat on reviews so I felt obligated to chime in. I'll be brief. Good for the money. Tires and brakes went in the two years at 25k miles. It's a lil cheap, a lil funny looking. The acceleration is fine. The vehicle serves it's purpose well, I'd buy it again. One note: put your car seat in the back before you buy it, to see how it fits. It's akward. Nbd. I'd buy it again
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
FANTASTIC CAR! FITS MY REQUIREMENTS PERFECTLY!
Dean Saxon, 05/10/2016
updated 11/17/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
Being a recently retired automotive professional, I did a lot of research to get the biggest bang for my buck on a brand new car. I had quite a bit of experience on automotive reliability (42 years in auto parts sales). I knew Mitsubishi was second to none in that category. I wanted a vehicle that would let me enjoy life on a budget, yet be comfortable and meet my driving needs. That's what led me to the Mitsubishi Mirage. I'm saving lots of money every time I travel, whether I'm zipping to town or on a trip. I purchased an ES model with 5 speed manual. I traveled to Albany Ga. to get the exact one I had in mind. The dealer there made me feel like family and far exceeded my expectations. This was the second brand new car I ever purchased. The first when I was 18 years old, now this one at age 66. I have found the quality and reliability to be exceptional. The clutch is smooth and effortless. Transmission shifter has a close positive gate. As for handling, It may seem a little awkward to start, but no two vehicles drive exactly alike. With a little experience, if you can modify your behavior, you may just fall in love with the Mirage's steering and suspension. Some have criticized the noisy engine. On mine, you can only hear the exhaust lightly howling when accelerating out onto the highway. ( Personally, I like that) When coming to a stop, sometimes I feel like the engine has stopped running (It's that smooth and quiet). Fit and function of controls are very conveniently located and easy to use. The comfort level of the seats seem better to me on the ES model, as they are slightly softer with premium materials, and the drivers seat also adjusts up and down to conform to the drivers height. The interior is exceptionally roomy and close to that of many midsize cars of today. I think the power level of the engine is sufficient. Living in the Appalachian mountain area of extreme North Georgia, I have no problem climbing hills or passing other vehicles, but I do know how to use that 5 speed transmission when doing so. If you are capable of doing any of your own service work, both major and general components that may need attention at some time are fairly simple and easily accessible. No professional reviewers address that. I understand the professional reviewer's comments on this car. Who else gets to drive and evaluate every car on the market. What's right for you may not be right for the next person. After almost 2 years of ownership I have absolutely no complaints. I'm still lovin' mine! Gas mileage is unbelievable!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2015 Mirage DE - fantastic car
Mirage owner, 10/12/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought new 2015 Mirage DE 5 speed for my daily driver. Price tag was under $10k off the lot. I have 8 months ownership now and close to 10,000 miles. Only major maintenance issue so far was bad rear alignment, which there is no adjustment for. Dealership replaced rear axle with a new one under warranty. I am 6'3" 240lbs and the car handles just fine with myself, wife and kids in the car. Plenty of leg and storage room. Excellent MPG. A little rough on the long highway trips because I have the base model with no cruise control, but aftermarket cruise is an option. I LOVE just about everything about there car but I will list the minor complaints instead of all the awesome stuff . Complaint #1 - car rolls a bit in the curves. Soft suspension helps with the bumps but the cornering kind of sucks. Complaint #2 - plenty of storage room for luggage, but no actual center console. You have 2 cup holders up front center, additional bottle holders in the front doors, a small center tray for change and items, 1 cup holder for the rear and the glove box. That's it. Aftermarket center consoles are available however. Complaint #3 - as is with most new vehicles, the factory Enasave tires don't last long. I drive under normal conditions and my tires are expected to need replaced around 20-25k miles. 14" tires aren't cheap and harder to come by in the states although some owners state 15" wheels can fit. Complaint #4 - standard CVT model has no soul. Complaint #5 - the AM/FM radio sucks for some reason, but the overall sound system is fine. CD, AUX and USB all work great. Done with the complaints. Go 5 speed manual if you want a little bit of fun. Overall this car cannot be beat in quality, price and efficiency. It does exactly what it was designed to do, and does it VERY well.
You bet I would buy it again.....
Linda B., 07/19/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
It is my opinion that the manual transmission is much better than the CVT. My 5 speed has great acceleration which seems to be a complaint with the CVT owners. I have had the car for 17 months and been to the mountains of Tenn. and up to the Adirondack Mountains of New York twice with 2 adults and 3 children and a big load of luggage with no problems what so ever with acceleration, mountain climbing or handling. When using the air conditioner you do lose some power but it really is not a problem even with the mountain driving. The car gets about 35 miles per gallon around town and about 48 miles per gallon on a trip. When using the air conditioner, those numbers drop by a couple MPG. The noise level with the windows up is no greater than in any other car I have ever driven. I love my car and have had absolutely no problems with it what so ever.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love, love, love this car
Jean, 05/08/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I just bought both a new 2015 Mirage and a new 2015 Lancer within the last 3 months. I really love both cars. My kiwi green Mirage is super cute, fun to drive and turns heads everywhere it goes. It has plenty power, rides and drives like a much bigger, more expensive car. It came well equipped with traction control, climate control, a nice stereo and more. Plus the 45mpg is awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better deal $12,800 tax, title, tag and out the door.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2015 Mirage ES & 2017 Mirage G4 SE
Kevin M., 01/15/2017
updated 07/17/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Hello :-) I own a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES CVT w/ Navigation. I purchased it brand new on July 24, 2015. I knew I wanted a Mirage after I went with my friend on November 19, 2014 and she purchased her brand new 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES w/ Navigation. I fell in love with the little car, there is just something endearing about them lol. Now after 18 months and 13,000 miles I still love it as much as the day I bought it and have had no issues to speak of. I owned a 2013 Hyundai Elantra before this and wanted something smaller and better on gas. I looked at the Nissan Versa, Chevy Spark, Honda Fit, Smart ForTwo and Ford Fiesta but none of them could match the MPG, features per dollar, warranty, and optional features. I did not want a bare bones subcompact, I wanted all the features I could get and that is where the Mirage shines. It gives buyers the option of a basic 5 Speed or a top trim CVT with all kinds of options not found in the class. My Mirage has basically all the options and accessoried that were available. Navigation & Back Up Camera Package ($900.00), Chome Package ($225.00), Color Keyed Bodyside Moldings ($155.00), Exterior Appearance Package ($695.00), Park Assist Sensors Front & Rear ($450.00), Cargo Package ($100.00), All Weather Floor & Trunk Mats ($175.00), Mitsubishi Gear Shift Knob ($120.00), Headlight & Tail Light Chrome Trim ($200.00) and more! As you can see the options on this little car are unreal & even the base trim has PW, PL, PM, A/C, Auto Climate Control, Floor Mats, Keyless Entry, AM/FM/CD & USB & Aux Hook Up & more. So in my eyes the Mirage was the perfect for me because alot of these customizable features were not available on any of the others and for a top trim model in the other cars it was thousands above my Mirage (I paid $16,500.00 after rebates & loyalty cash). It has been great on gas averaging 40mpg city, 45-48mpg highway and I can go higher if I try which is kind of fun to see how good on gas you can do while watching the MPG number on the gauge lol. It has been very reliable with only 1 issue and that was my Navigation System would sometimes lose its signal and Mitsubishi immediately replaced the whole unit under warranty with no fuss and I have had no other issues with it. Has no trouble starting on really cold mornings and it warms up super fast & these cars have a heat pad wrapped around the internal part in the engine to provide heat quicker to the passengers before the car warms up (can look this up online is where I found it). The hatch area is surprisingly roomy and deep which is nice so groceries dont roll out when you open the hatch. I have fit $250.00 worth of marketing in the trun with no problems and was even able to keep the cargo cover on and shut the trunk. Now if you fold the back seats down it really opens up for you like a mini SUV ready to swallow large items! Now lets talk about the 1.2 liter 3 cylinder with 74 horsepower (2017 models get a bump to 78 horsepower). When ai first drove the car it felt a little slow off the line but I quickly adjusted to it and now I dont even notice any difference. 3 cylinders have a unique sound to them when reving which sounds really neat and kind of tuff so its fun to rev the little engine up and the CVT does an amazing job holding the revs right around 3,700 to 4,000 rpm if you are climbing a steep grade say on the interstate (can hold 70 mph no problem). Even when reving the engine like this it still delivers around 38-39 mpg numbers no problem. The 5 speed manual is quicker (I drove one) but the CVT is the fuel economy king and I chose it based on that. The CVT also has idle neutral logic to save fuel when stopped and you will feel it shift into neutral at a stop and when you let off the brake to go you will feel a little bump as it goes back into drive for you (this all happens so quick and does not interfere at all). One of my favorite features is the Push Button Start and the Keyless Access Buttons on the Drivers Door & Hatch so you dont even have to use your FAST Key Fob to get in the car (just has to be with in like 2 feet of it). This is a super convenient feature and makes for easy access and it even has a little place above the cup holders that your FAST Key Fob is made to slot into and if in this slot the car will beep when you go to get out to remind you not to forget your keys. We just had about 5 inches of snow the other day and it had been so cold it all layed on the roads just as deep. Driving my Mirage in the snow with the factory 14 inch Dunlop Enasave Tires I felt very confident at how well it handled the snow with out sliding or slipping even on hills. I guess these skinny little tires make it easy to cut through snow because I felt very secure and just took my time. All and all if you are looking for a cheap new car with a lot of standard features, class leading mpg, great warranty and reliability then the Mirage is a great choice. Their owners love them.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
After almost half a decade, still a keeper
jo, 05/22/2019
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bought mine (2015 DE, manual transmission) when it was brand new. I live in Puerto Rico, so the car is exposed to the elements, in tropical heat and with plenty of back roads and hills. Like others have noticed the potholes are their major nemesis. Mechanically, I had to replace the clutch at 38,000 and the wheel studs at 56,000 otherwise the car has only needed basic maintenance. At 68,000 still working flawlessly, interiors are starting to show their age.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Perfect Car for the Frugal City Dweller
Eaton, 09/27/2018
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
3 year review:No mechanical issues so far. Great mpg. Turning radius is so tight, if you plan your day right you may never have to use reverse. lol.
Great little car
Marko, 06/30/2018
updated 07/02/2021
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have owned a Mirage for more than a year. After owning two lemons (an '06 Dodge Dakota and a '13 Ford Focus) my Mirage has been a great, reliable transport. It has gotten some negative press for being "cheap" or feeling like a 1990s subcompact, but that's its charm! Anyway, it does NOT have 1990s tech inside. It's got Bluetooth, power windows, keyless entry and start, cruise, aux jack, USB jack, A/C, all the stuff you need...It's much-lauded gas mileage is very true: I get high-40s mpg with my manual without trying very hard. (My commute is about 75% highway.) I would highly recommend the manual version (if you can find it)...it's fun to whip the 1,996-pound car around corners, and you can park this little beast anywhere. It FEELS like 1994 when you drive her, and who doesn't want to re-live 1994 in this day and age? It's acceleration is a bit sluggish, but that is to be expected in a 74-hp car. But I regularly pass vehicles on the highway without much trouble, and man are some of those drivers pissed!...I have no criticisms of this car beyond it NOT being a Volkswagen Golf GTI. I would, though, criticize Mitsubishi for trying to move a new Mirage at 15K or more. This little tinpot needs to be at a base-Nissan Versa price point or below. It is the best value for your money. Which brings me to another frequent comment: while inexpensive, this is not a car for poor people. It is a car for subcompact enthusiasts. I am not poor. *UPDATE* I have since turned my Mirage in for a newer Hyundai Accent. The Accent is a very good car, but I do miss the Mirage. There was nothing wrong with it; I just decided to swap a car with 80K miles that blew around on the highway for another with 6K miles that didn't. And that is one of only two criticisms I have for the Mirage: that it's unsteady in inclement weather on long commutes, and it's stick/clutch has an odd feel. (Regular Car Reviews didn't like it either.) I didn't notice the manual feel until I tried other ones, and while I was driving the Mirage, I was used to it and had no complaints. But both are subjective issues with nothing mechanically unsound. As for missing the car, I definitely do. It is a very enjoyable ride around corners and zipping through local streets. The Accent feels stately compared to it. Would I buy a Mirage again? Yes...but only the manual version. If it's an automatic, then yes it probably veers into "poor person's car" territory. A manual puts it into the subcompact hall of fame.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Pros and Cons
j, 11/28/2020
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I was just in a pretty serious MVC with this car after 5 years of daily driving (123,000km) and it’s a total loss. What I can say is that the safety features (e.g. airbags) saved my passenger and I from any serious injuries - we both walked away without a scratch, just some stiffness. Overall this car was pretty reliable. I live in northern Ontario where the temperatures drop below -40C in the winter and I never had to plug in this car, It always started - with the exception of a couple times (in summer/fall) where it didn’t want to go, and I had to jiggle the gas pedal a bit to get it started. Could have been due to condensation in the fuel line or “bad gas”. The car is surprisingly roomy - with the back seats folded down, I was able to lug a lot, and helped several people move over the years. The gas mileage seemed pretty good - I think I got about 500km per tank, but I didn’t keep meticulous records. At 6.3” of ground clearance it actually sits higher than a lot of other small cars, but I still had issues with the undercarriage after hitting some potholes - unavoidable in this area. The 100,000km bumper to bumper and 160,000km power train warranties were a god send so many times. But the warranty maintenance every 8000k cost an arm and a leg. My mirage needed a new engine at 40,000k which took about 3 months to come in. I was told I’d be fine to drive with the failing motor during that time but obviously I avoided any extended road trips and stayed within city limits. I always had issues with the brakes screeching, starting at 4000km. I was told it was because I drove on dirt roads and the dirt got into the brakes. The sound would improve after maintenance was done, but would come back shortly after. Pretty embarrassing to drive around town with screeching brakes. I had driven many other small cars (read: Toyota) on dirt roads with no issues. Also, the “eco” mode is a pain, as it turns itself on and off, especially when braking. So when the eco mode shuts off, the car kind of lurches. I could never get the swing of how to brake without this happening, and there is no option to turn off the eco mode. The 165/65/r14 tire size is an oddball, and they’re hard to come by, and more expensive. The car was pretty shaky on the highway, but it could be because I went up to a 175/65/r14 tire to save some bucks. However, the car did shake quite a bit over 100km/hr with the 165/65/r14 tires. Because its only a 3-cyl, the acceleration seriously lags when you’re running the A/C. So, for the most part I avoided turning it on, and just left the windows open. I also left the hub caps off because they were flimsy plastic and got scratched up right away. Overall, a reliable and affordable vehicle to get from point A to point B (minus the new engine, which thankfully was covered under warranty). It served me well and well within my budget. But it’s best to stay on the paved roads and avoid extended road trips on the highways. The shady and inconsistent acceleration and braking will mean that I’ll be searching for a Yaris or Micra this time around.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great little go kart
Mike, 07/09/2020
updated 01/17/2023
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I kept it for 150k miles until it got totalled from a deer, but it still drove and I wasn't hurt. It's not a fast car, or big, but it's great on gas and wicked reliable. No break downs, just normal maintenance (brakes, tires) we liked it enough to buy another.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
City scooter
Sue L, 07/21/2018
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Nothing fancy . Just good economical transportation. Great in the city. Very easy to turn around and fit into any parking spot.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Vastly underrated vehicle
Pete_in_Pa, 06/28/2017
updated 06/30/2022
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
If there were 6 stars, I'd give it 6, although I might wait to see the reliability after 100,000 miles. First, the very few negatives. Ride is a bit rough when going over township installed road bumps designed to slow down traffic, but that's to be expected with small cars. Noise level is not good, both wind and engine. Tire size is very unusual, leading to only 2 manufacturers and lack of discount prices, but that might change as the car becomes more popular in future. Now the good- INCREDIBLE gas mileage, by far the best even when compared with other subcompacts I've owned and currently own, every bit as good as advertised. Attention to detail is excellent; amount of cargo room as good as vehicles that get 2/3 the gas mileage or less. Handling/control very good. Interior room OUTSTANDING, better than mid size cars my company has rented for me when I travel, especially in back seat. Controls in logical places. Easy to service yourself when replacing filters, checking fluid levels, etc, which is not true with many small cars. A/C and heating are powerful. Warrranty is among industry's best- my Nissan Versa has a 36k mile warranty, and after owning it for over 60k miles I know why. If my wife will let me, I will buy a Mirage to replace her Versa when the time comes. Obviously if you have 3 young kids and 2 dogs, this is not a suitable vehicle for you, though I can easily carry 4 people or my wife and our 2 dogs in ours. I have yet to have grocery or other purchases that won't fit easily in this car, including when I buy enough to stock up the basement freezer or when I buy stuff at the home improvement store. When the back seats are folded down, as Robert DeNiro said in that movie, "you could fit two or tree bodies in dere". Great car, really. Update after owning almost 1.5 years: I now have a total of 40k + miles on it, of which I put on about 15k. No major repairs yet. Still love the car. Road noise continues to be worst feature. There are some additional tire brands available in this unique size, though most are made in mainland China. However, there is a company in Taiwan, Federal, that Walmart occasionally carries in this size and that is offered on the internet, that has been making tires for major US companies for half a century and when you can find those tires they are usually under $50. The company seems to only do a run in this size once every few months so the tire isnt always available. For those of you who are history buffs, Mitsubishi made the famous WW2 Japanese Zero fighter plane, one of the finest carrier based fighters of its era. Update June 2020: Now at 58k, not single warranty repair yet, only thing I've done is just replaced battery after 5 years as a precaution (Mitsubishi says original should last 6 yrs, I don't think it's worth the inconvenience if you get stuck in the winter), change oil, transmission fluid and air filters (did myself, dont even need a screwdriver). I will change brake fluid at 60k. Not a single repair so far. Update at 70k: Finally replaced front brakes (I think 1st owner did at 25k). Gas mileage just as good as when I first bought. Not one unexpected repair so far.
- Technology
- Performance
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2015 Mirage ES
aschreffler75, 01/11/2015
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
9 of 15 people found this review helpful
I have gotten 48 MPG as long as I stay at 55 mph or less. Don't use cruise control at freeway speeds 65+ mph or up mild to steep hills. The CVT transmission is like a slipping clutch and cruise control is not designed to handle this. It will reach RPM's over 4500 and kill your gas mileage instantly. The transmission itself can not handle 65+ mph. The gas mileage has been as low as 30 MPG at speeds of 65 mph. I should have bout the 5 speed. The Mirage is everything the Geo Metro should have been except that horrible CVT transmission. I don't know what kind of highways they test mileage on but even a level road at 65+ will not get you even in the 40's with or without cruise control.
No catchy title
mikebike, 04/12/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Shopped & drove several other vehicles/makes (including Hyundai since I traded in a 2005 Elantra), & am basically pleased, but more time/miles will have to pass before I give definite final review. As most customer reviews appear to agree, the gas mileage is great but pick up/acceleration is lacking but sufficient for all but emergency situations. Willing to put up with lower cost vehicle options for steady, reliable, economical, operation. Shopped a few other used car dealers, but couldn't find acceptable color or model (ES w/cruise control) till I went to a local Carmax. They had another similar vehicle, but I paid $99 shipping fee from another nearby Carmax because that vehicle had less miles & was cheaper (by much more than the $100 shipping fee). Used money from my retirement fund, so financing was all my own. Hope to make up some of the money paid out by gas savings. As long as you don't try to do tight lane passing, runs just fine so far.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love this car!
Sam, 03/11/2019
updated 09/19/2019
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car is great! This is my second one... bought another one after I was in an accident and the car got totaled out.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Car of my Dreams!!!
pam, 02/03/2016
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love love love my 2015 Mirage. It can zip around through traffic. It gets wonderful mileage for my commute. I turn up the music and cruise in my red, fun car!!!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Excellent little car
R.Lien, 01/14/2017
2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 4dr Hatchback (1.2L 3cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car because I was looking for small hatchback with great fuel economy. After test driving several other vehicles in this class I went with the Mirage mostly because it seems to be the perfect car for a shorter person...Meaning I'm 5'2" and no amount of adjusting mirrors or seats seemed to make the Nissan Versa or Honda Fit a realistic option for me when it comes to visibility. So if you're short like me, the Mirage is probably a great option for you. This car is pretty basic and bare bones, but that's all I need. It's not a super quiet ride, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it seriously gets close to 50mpg most of the time and my biggest complaint is that the clock runs slow and has to be reset frequently. I've driven the car in MN winter conditions with no issues and have driven up and down mountains in OR...It doesn't do great going up steep hills. Overall all, it's a much better car than I expected to get with my budget. I've been driving it for a year and a half now and have no regrets about my purchase.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value