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An orange Mitsubishi Mirage on display at an auto show

The Mitsubishi Mirage is the Worst Car to Buy New

Are you thinking about buying the Mitsubishi Mirage? Well, then you’re pretty brave because it’s the worst car that you can purchase brand new. If you’re still considering buying the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage after learning that, consider why it ranks so poorly.  Is the Mitsubishi Mirage a good car?  It’s a sort of an OK …

Are you thinking about buying the Mitsubishi Mirage? Well, then you’re pretty brave because it’s the worst car that you can purchase brand new. If you’re still considering buying the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage after learning that, consider why it ranks so poorly. 

Is the Mitsubishi Mirage a good car? 

It’s a sort of an OK car. As the cheapest option for a brand new vehicle, it may lure you in. It’s hard to be the starting price, that’s around $14k. Plus, the Mitsubishi Mirage has a great fuel economy. It gets up to 36 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. However, having a low price and being fuel-efficient doesn’t make it a good car. 

Doug DeMuro from AutoTrader has the opportunity to review the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage and precisely explain why you should avoid it. He put it to the test so you can consider other budget-friendly options like the Nissan Versa or Chevy Spark instead. 

Mitsubishi Mirage performance 

The Mitsubishi Mirage looks like it would be fun to sling around tiny with at least a four-cylinder engine, but it lacks power. It has a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with an output of 78 horsepower. 

A blue 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback driving through a city.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage | Mitsubishi

So, that explains why the fuel economy is so great. It has no power to burn up your fuel. Do not try to tow anything with this vehicle and watch out about weighing it down with heavy items in the back seat. 

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The Mitsubishi Mirage accelerates from 0 to 60 in 11.7 seconds, so it’s pretty sluggish. It will struggle to pass people on the highway and may make pulling out into traffic difficult. The Honda Fit can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds and only gets 3 miles less per gallon. 

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT is on display at the 109th Annual Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place
The Mitsubishi Mirage | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

On a positive note, the Mitsubishi Mirage does have all-wheel-drive available, and people have praised its ability to cut through at least four inches of snow. If you’re on a budget and live in a snowy city, buying this car might be worth it, but review its rivals first. 

Mitsubishi Mirage features 

As Doug mentions in his video, the Mitsubishi Mirage feels a little outdated due to its lack of features. It doesn’t have map lights and doesn’t have a rear dome light, so it’s pretty dark at night. Good luck finding something that falls behind the tiny seats. 

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage interior
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage interior | Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Mirage doesn’t have a center console. It just has a cup holder and the parking brake. Also, it doesn’t offer Bluetooth connectivity, so forget about apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also doesn’t provide cruise control. 

The audio system only has two speakers in the doors, and there is no USB port. It only has an auxiliary port, so newer iPhones can’t connect to it without an adapter. However, it does include power locks and power windows.

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage | Mitsubishi

On top of that, the Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t very comfortable. The cab is noisy and bumpy. The backseat is one solid slab of foam too. It’s not designed to cradle your hips or lower back at all. If people have to take a road trip in this thing, then we feel for that uncomfortable struggle they will have to face.

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