The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT. |
2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT. |
The more PC way of phrasing it is "Every car is good for someone." That's been the guiding philosophy since I launched TireKicker 8 years ago, and in the TV and radio reviews I did for the 11 years prior.
While the Mirage is generally viewed as a city car, circumstances required Navigator and myself to take it up to Mendocino County and back, on winding, twisting roads. We put about 600 miles on the Mirage GT in a week, and found it to be more comfortable than many, with good usable space, strong fuel economy (EPA estimate 37 city/43 highway), and a surprisingly good audio system. Was it fast? No, but neither was it slow...the 74 horsepower is moving a car slightly under 2,000 pounds. Drive it moderately up to any speed you choose (it's comfortable at 80) and it won't disappoint. It's not the best for mashing down the throttle and roaring up a freeway on-ramp...making more noise than forward motion. But that's not what the car is for.
2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT interior. |
And that is the only point where I begin to have issues. For that money, you can go for a mid-range Nissan Versa Note hatchback, Spend a few hundred more and you can be driving a loaded Toyota Yaris 5-door or a Honda Fit EX. Even in base form (the Mirage ES manual at $12,995), you can get a base-level Nissan Versa sedan for a thousand dollars less.
So, no....the Mitsubishi Mirage is not the worst car in the world, America, or anywhere else. It has a lot going for it. It just isn't the best value for your dollar.