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1955 Ford Crown Victoria2020 Mitsubishi Mirage: Small But (Not So) Mighty
The 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage is a budget-friendly subcompact with great fuel economy and a not-so-great engine.
What’s New for the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage?
For 2020, Mitsubishi has dropped the RF trim from the Mirage lineup and automatic climate control is now standard on all trim levels.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage – netcarshow.com | Shop 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Excellent warranty coverage
Great gas mileage
Spacious trunk
Noisy engine
Lacking in horsepower
Switchgear is cheap feeling
Minimal driver-assistance features
2020 Mitsubishi Specs
- 78 horsepower from base engine
- 74 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 17.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Back up camera
- Hatchback option
- Automatic climate control
- 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Powertrain
All 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage models are front-wheel drive and powered by a 78-horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine. The base trim comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but all other models are equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). As you can imagine with that horsepower, the Mirage is one of the slowest cars out there and struggles to even keep up on city streets.
Highway driving is a last resort in this tiny subcompact as engine noise and cabin vibration is a major distraction when accelerating. One advantage to its small footprint is the ease with which it maneuvers into compact spots and its tight turning radius that lends well to navigating busy city streets.
Engine talk have you confused? We break down everything you need to know about what makes cars go in our Car Drivetrains and Powertrain Explained article.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Fuel Economy & MPG
The Mirage’s puny engine has one thing going for it: great fuel economy. It even made our critic’s choice of great fuel efficiency under $20,000. CVT models get an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway, while models with the manual transmission get 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
You won’t find anything upscale about the Mirage’s interior. It’s a budget ride, we get it. But many of its rivals like the 2020 Nissan Versa manage to provide a little more poshness. Hard plastics are found throughout, and seats have very little cushioning making any trip longer than one hour pretty difficult and tiring.
Front row seats offer adequate leg room, but the rear seats are a different story. Even average-size adults will find rear legroom to be lacking and accommodating more than two adults is out of the question.
The Mirage does excel in the cargo department. It’s one of the more spacious subcompacts on the market and boasts 17.1 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 47 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down in the hatchback model.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Entertainment & Tech
The 2020 Mirage comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration are only available on the LE trim and above, but it’s impressive that it’s even offered in this class and price range. A four-speaker stereo is standard, but a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system is offered as an upgrade.
Safety Features
The 2020 Mirage earned an overall safety rating of four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Mirage is only equipped with a rearview camera, while front parking sensors and automatic high-beam headlights are available.
The Mirage is missing many driver-assist features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning that come standard on rivals like the Chevy Spark and Nissan Versa. See our New Safety Tech Explained article to see what you’re missing out on in the Mirage.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage Trims & Pricing
ES – $13,995
The ES trim is available in a hatchback or sedan body type and comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. Standard features include a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a four-speaker stereo system, a USB port, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and a rearview camera. Sedan models include a center armrest and a pass-through rear seat.
LE – $16,195
The LE trim also comes in either a sedan or hatchback body, but the CVT is standard. It gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, 15-inch alloy wheels, and a driver-seat armrest.
SE – $16,745
The SE trim comes in either a sedan or hatchback body style and adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button start, keyless entry, 14-inch alloy wheels, and fog lights.
GT – $17,295
The range-topping GT trim is only available as a hatchback and adds heated front seats, 15-inch alloy wheels, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Warranties
Mitsubishi offers one of the best warranties in the industry with a limited warranty covering five years or 60,000 miles, and a powertrain warranty covering 10 years or 100,000 miles. There is no complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage – netcarshow.com | Shop 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage on Carsforsale.com
When it comes to subcompact cars the 2020 Mirage is you ticket to great fuel economy and a budget price, but the list stops there. We just can’t get past the underperforming engine and thoroughly unenjoyable ride, not to mention the nonexistent safety technology. With so many of its rivals providing a better ride and more standard safety and convenience features at a comparable price it’s a no brainer for us to skip the Mirage and look elsewhere.
