Show floor update: After seeing the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage on the New York auto show floor, my impressions on the car are generally positive. It's better built than I expected it to be, with no massive panel gaps. It doesn't necessarily feel as cheap as it is either (pricing will be similar to the Chevy Spark), with the steering wheel and shift knob -- the two most-touched parts of the interior -- wrapped in nice faux-leather. The rest of the interior seemed nice enough for the expected price, though there was tons of hard plastic. Though Mitsu claims 37/44/40 mpg city/highway/combined, I worry the three-pot's lack of grunt could limit its appeal. --Christian Seabaugh
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The 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage four-door hatchback is coming to the U.S. with better estimated mileage than any other non-hybrid gas vehicle offered today. That's right, with a CVT, the 2014 Mirage subcompact is expected to get 37/44 mpg city/highway when it arrives in dealers this fall.
Of course, making possible that eye-popping manufacturer-estimated efficiency is a very small engine and a low 0.28 coefficient of drag. Under the hood of the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage is a 74-hp 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, with 74 lb-ft of torque. The 44 mpg highway comes with the available CVT; a five-speed manual is standard. Mitsubishi says the 2014 Mirage will offer a best-in-class turning radius, and like the Honda Fit and Mazda2, will only be available in a five-passenger four-door hatch configuration.
Standard equipment on the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage DE includes a tilt steering wheel, automatic climate control, power windows (driver's side auto up/down), power side mirrors, keyless entry with a panic alarm, a rear spoiler, and a four-speaker 140-watt sound system with a CD player and USB/iPod input. Go for the ES model and you add 14-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, an engine start button, Bluetooth, and cruise control. Front and rear parking sensors, a navigation system, LED interior lighting, and chrome accents are available, but we're guessing the best value to be had is in a mid-level Mirage.
Compared to the Mazda2, the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage is 6.7 inches shorter but still 4.1 inches longer than the Chevrolet Spark. When the 2014 Mirage arrives in the fall, it'll likely rank high on the lists of those who value fuel economy and a low price above all else. We look forward to driving a U.S.-spec model soon.
For all the latest news, photos, videos, and much more direct from the 2013 New York auto show floor, don't forget toCLICK OVER to our 2013 New Yorkshow coveragepage.
Source: Mitsubishi
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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