Background: Mirage is the front-wheel drive, subcompact offering from Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. It's also the company's least-expensive car. Mitsubishi introduced the first-generation Mirage in the 1985 model year. The vehicle was completely redesigned in the 1993 model year and again this model year. Mitsubishi means "three diamonds" in Japanese. Not surprisingly, the company incorporates three diamonds into its corporate logo. Mitsubishi is Japan's oldest production car manufacturer, assembling its first Model A in 1917.
Trim level: The Japan-built Mirage is sold in two trim levels. Each trim level is available as either a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. Entry-level Mirages have the DE designation while upscale models use the LS identification. We test drove the upscale, LS coupe.
New for '97: Third-generation Mirage coupes and sedans have been completely redesigned in the 1997 model year. Both models are wider than their predecessors and sedans are longer and taller than previous models. Engine, wind and interior road noises have also been reduced.
Price: The lowest priced Mirage is a five-speed DE coupe starting at $10,400. At the other end of the spectrum, an LS sedan with automatic transmission starts at $13,690. Our test-drive LS coupe with five-speed manual transmission started at $13,210. After factoring in a generous number of options, the bottom line totaled $15,498, including a $420 destination charge.
Safety features: Dual air bags and side-impact door beams come standard. Anti-lock brakes are optional in LS trim levels, but not offered in entry-level DE editions. Traction control is not offered. This third-generation Mirage has a much stiffer body structure, providing more protection and bumpers that collapse progressively in the event of a collision.
Standard features: Rear-window defogger; remote fuel, truck and hood releases; tinted glass; multi-point fuel injection, rack and pinion steering; halogen headlamps; power-assist front disc brakes and five-speed manual transmission come standard in both trim levels.
Optional equipment: Air conditioning, four-speed automatic transmission and a single compact disc player are optional in all trim levels. Power steering is optional in the DS coupe, but standard in other trim levels. Many options, such as cruise control, power windows and locks, tilt steering column and keyless entry, are available when ordering preferred equipment packages.
Engine: Both Mirage trim levels have their own distinct powertrains. Entry-level DE coupes and sedans come with a 1.5-liter, single overhead camshaft, twelve-valve, four-cylinder engine producing 92 horsepower. Uplevel LS coupe and sedans feature a more powerful 1.8-liter, single overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine delivering 113 horsepower. We test drove a Mirage LS with the 1.8-liter engine coupled with very smooth shifting manual transmission. This provided us with very lively pickup and acceleration for a relatively small powertrain.
Seating comfort: Headroom is average in both front and back, although leg room is tight in back (as with most subcompact coupes). Mitsubishi promotes this vehicle as a five seater, but fitting three adults in back is a Mirage in itself. The back is best left for two adults. The front passenger seat slides forward easily when access to the rear seating area is needed. Front cloth bucket seats were supportive and comfortable, although drivers sit relatively low to the ground.
Interior: The interior is well designed with most controls within easy access of the driver. Map pockets and several storage areas are ideal for holding change and other small items. The stereo system sits below temperature controls. Small preset buttons sometimes make tuning in your favorite station a bit of a challenge. Three dials control fan speed, temperature control and fan direction. Fuel tank and trunk release levers are on the floor, left of the driver's bucket seat. Dual cupholders slide out from the dashboard. Headlights activate from the turn signal stalk while windshield wipers monitor from a right-hand-side stalk. A flip-top center storage bin doubles as a storage area.
Dimensions: (LS Coupe) Wheelbase: 95.1 inches Length: 168.1 inches Width: 66.5 inches Height: 51.4 inches Front head room: 38.6 inches Front leg room 43.0 inches Weight: 2,260 lbs.
Exterior: The coupe's exterior is very eye-appealing. Our LS coupe is the only Mirage available with a sharp, rear spoiler standard. It's not offered on any other trim level. Fourteen-inch tires are standard in LS coupes and optional in LS sedans. Thirteen-inch tires are standard in all other trim levels.
Trunk: The well-designed trunk has 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space, up 1 cubic foot from last year. The trunk floor is flat and the low-liftover lid makes hauling items in and out tolerable. A cargo net is also included. Our Mirage LS coupe had a 60/40 split rear bench seat standard, which helps when transporting long items. This rear seat design is not available in DE coupes, but is available in both sedan offerings.
Mileage: Mirage's fuel economy is terrific. Our LS trim level with manual transmission included fuel estimates of 29 miles per gallon in the city, and 37 mpg highway. We averaged 35 mpg in combined driving. The fuel tank holds 13.3 gallons of unleaded gasoline and the gas cap is attached to a tether cord; a nice touch. The DS trim level with manual transmission is the fuel-miser champ, averaging 33 mpg in the city and 40 highway.
Final thoughts: Mirage is a decent car. It's biggest challenge is name recognition. Subcompact competitors including Tercel, Civic, Escort and Cavalier all have better name recognition. Our test-drive LS coupe is probably the Mirage of choice if it's within your budget. Larger, fourteen-inch tires and rear spoiler are standard, and the 1.8-liter engine provides the power needed to maneuver between suburbs with confidence. Good fuel mileage is also in its favor. |