A 5 Year Review of the Mitsubishi Mirage. The best car I've ever owned.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.พ. 2025
- This car is a throwback to a better time in history. Cheap to buy, affordable to own, and a joy to drive. The news that this will be the last year is terrible.
People bashing this car do so just for the sake of doing so. The Mirage is a great little car that’s severely underrated. I plan to buy a used one with the latest facelift when the price drops down some more.
I hate that they call these cars cheap and not worth anything. Those people are full of themselves and just love to hear themselves talk. I would own another one in a heartbeat
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairsagree!
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs here in Philippines, mirage the sedan variant was used for driving school.
I wish I could try smaller cars. But I only have driven wagons or vans with 2.5l diesel.
I have a 2018 Outlander Sport
6 yrs old
Not one problem
Not even a light bulb.
I would get a 22 at the newest got rid of the 5 speed for 23-24
"the modern geo metro" is the best way to describe this thing lol. i love love love the old Mirages, the 4 door sedan from the 90s being my favorite, but man i can appreciate these cute little hatches, i see them all over the place too
Hatch backs are great, need more room, open it up and fold down the seats. You would be amazed to see what you can fit in it
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs Big time. I was so impressed that I could fit my full-frame bicycle in with the rear seat folded. It just barely fit, but it fit!
Just bought one (2024), and after listening to you, feel double confident. Thanks much for your review!
Glad I could help! You are going to LOVE It!
I bought mine last 2017. No major repairs until now. It's a great small car.
What kind of repair did it need?
I just bought brand new 2024 mitsubushi mirage and love it!
I am glad that you love yours, these cars are fantastic
I have been trying to get one, but they are hard to find.
I was excited to see another Mirage video! Keep them coming. I’m loving my Mirage.
Glad that you love yours as well. They are great cars
I get the appeal of the cute look of the original two generations but that final facelift is sooo handsome. Heck, Mitsubishi kept the smile of the Mirage with the current facelift too.
My wife loves her 2021 refresh, I like the look of my 18, and both of us think the 2014 look was a little too cute.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairshaha!👍
As a long time technician I appreciate your video and that car.
I always said that the best cars are the ones that never need to be worked on.
When my wife was shopping for a vehicle to replace her 2008 civic and came across a 2015 Yaris, she called her longtime mechanic and asked him what he thought of it. He said that he didn't know anything about a Toyota Yaris because he never had an opportunity to work on one that he could recall, and that she should probably buy it. My wife piles the miles onto this car with only very minor things going wrong. I replaced the original battery and belt this year, and that has been it. Small hatchbacks punch way above their weight class for reliability and handiness. My daughter has had similar success with her 2010 Honda fit, and I work with a woman who absolutely adores her 2012 Mitsubishi mirage.
I had a 2014 mirage hatch I bought new. I drove it from Florida to California and back and then from Florida to Denver and back. I had no issues other than needing to replace a tire which had to be done at a dealership because nobody stocks tires that small. It was a fun car to drive if you’re not a person with a lead foot that has to drive their car hard. I personally treat my cars well, I don’t accelerate hard and slam on the breaks.. My mirage had good storage space and was of good quality. What it lacked in horsepower it made up for in gas mileage and price. You get what you pay for and, to be honest, these are the types of cars we need more of these days when the average vehicle costs 40k. I love small hatch-backs and they are hard to find anymore.
How was your backside after such a long drive? I have taken a few road trips that have been 8+ hours and I needed to stretch out often after about hour 6
Same for the yaris back in the day, put down by just about everyone (except its owners). Funny thing is i still see tons of them driving around and they're at least 15 yrs old.
I wanted a Yaris- Still would get one, they were great on gas.
My wife uses her 2015 Yaris hatchback for grocery deliveries and parts runs. She has actually had people put it down as a little clown car and ask why she doesn't upgrade to a "better" car. Some people just don't understand that when you put upwards of 40,000 miles a year of hard miles on a vehicle, starting it up and shutting it down many times a day, having to park it in small spaces, and having to pay for all the parts that go into maintaining it, a small, durable,fuel efficient hatchback is about the best choice my wife could have made for the type of work that she does. Her business, like any other is a dollars in vs dollars out proposition and she keeps a close eye on both. The low cost of ownership of the Yaris helps greatly in keeping things profitable.
@@realityawayfromreality3494 Amen
I drive a base model Honda Fit with a manual transmission. Paid extra for the Fit for the extra cargo space and fun factor since I do amateur racing and Fits are popular in that area. Even with me being a bit of a speed demon, I average 35 MPG in mixed driving. Had mine for 2.5 years and put 45,000 miles on it (it is my daily, but it's not my only car) and I love it. Cheap eonoboxes are underrated in general.
My yaris is 20 y.o. 200.000km changed clutch and brake pads....that's it. I consider buying this mitsu, same breed.
Thank you for making these videos. I have been watching since day 1. I bought my daughter a 2024 model based on your reviews of the two that you have. It is just crazy that this is the last year for them. They are selling like crazy where I am now since inventory is getting low. So, want to go back to a world of cheap transportation like this.
I think cars like these can make a come back- it will just take a significant down turn in the economy for people to realize that a 60k+ truck might not be the best deal for most.
Thank you! Everyone has been sleeping on Mitsubishi Reliability. Very refreshing to see an honest review about how capable this car really is. Hope it’s still treating you right!
That is one of the reasons I made this video, these are great cars and I get tired of all the bashing
I bought one of these new off the showroom floor in 2016 for $11,000! Drove it for six years and 66,000 miles without a minute's trouble and in 1,660 hours of driving (I had an hour meter installed) it averaged 40.6 MPG over its lifetime! I had to sell it because I had a stroke and I can no longer shift, or I would have it to this day. I traded it for a minivan, and got $6,000 in trade (more than half its cost), for a 6-year-old car with those miles, which is a real testament to the car's quality. It was the best car I've ever owned, from a cost and reliability perspective. I would buy another but I can't shift. People who bad-mouthed this car are damned liars.
I am sorry that you are not able to drive stick anymore, but you got one heck of a trade in for it. That is unheard of. Minivans have their purpose and I love mine.
I drove a red 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage Coupe S, and it's the same car I passed my driver's test when I was a teenager. It was a very reliable car.
I love the look of those! Very sports car like.
I took my drivers test when 16 in a 2 year old Rolls Royce Silver Shadow......
I took my test when I was 2 and the car was a 16 years old Rolls Royce.
The smear campaign/ hit job on this gem was relentless
Big Auto Media really didn't want anyone buying these... That's the only explanation I've got
I agree that they bashed on them so hard. That is what made me take a closer look at them, any time companies push so hard against something, means they are scared of it.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs haha that's actually a great point, I'll keep it in mind for the future 🤔
I remember first seeing these in 2015 I think on a now defunct site called Autofocus for $10k USD with manual everything! I thought they were cool.
They want their daddy car makers to sell high profit credit and pedestrian annihilator machines and not this sensible economical car.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs kinda goes for most stuff, politic's, current events etc. miss leading peoples been the main name of the game the last few years more then ever.
That CVT fluid change is of equal importance to engine oil changes. 👍
I agree, living in the mountains, it is hard on it. I want to keep it in top shape
absolutely! the mirages one weak point is that CVT, and the fix is Amsoil CVT fluid. I changed mine at 20K, alittle early, I know, but Id read all about the benefits of their CVT fluid and found out its not hype its real! The little car (I own a 2023 ES) loves the AMSOIL, its much smoother, pulls harder on the initial roll and also goes up hills with better speed as well. Now that I know how good it is I should have just replaced the factory fill with it right after buying it, but now at least I have a good standard of comparison, and going with AMSOIL fixes the only weak point this car has!
No it ain’t I changed it regular and got the flashing D at 70k miles and run it hard due to work
My first car was a 1981 Plymouth Champ (Dodge Colt, Mitsubishi Mirage). Base model, 4 speed manual, 1.4l inline 4 64 HP. I loved that car. Wouldn't get the women, but who cars; had a jamming clarion system and a President CB with signal antenna magnetic middle of roof. Never a problem.
Love it! Some of those old Champs/Colts/Mirages had a dual range manual transmission. Made it a sort of 8 speed. Cool idea.
@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs My Champ was the base model. Regular 4 speed manual, 1.4L inline 4, silver with black vinyl interior, NO A/C, very miserable humid summers. Love them manuals! I wish my 18yo son had interest in shifting.
I have 2024 and I've had zero issues. I love it. Live in Key West Florida and go home to Bedford New York once a year for thanksgiving 🦃. Miles as of this comment 21k. 🚗
Folks it's a good car.
Mitsubishi has been around a long time. They also made other products before they ever made cars.
Exactly. These are ultra reliable and durable too.
Thanks for this video. This video and your other Mirage videos convince me to purchase a Mirage.
I hope that you have the same experience that I have had. I love mine
I just rented a 2024 for 2 weeks while my car was getting some major work done to it. At first I thought this is the same as a GO KART. But after the second day, I fell in LOVE with how this thing drives!! Talk about something that is FUN TO DRIVE!! And so comfy inside with some latest tech too! Yes the engine is loud inside the cabin. But even my grandkids LOVED Pop-Pops "tiny car" 😂😂. When it is time for me to get another car, I am going to remember this Mirage.
I am glad that you were able to drive it long enough to really see what it can do. These cars are so under rated
My daily driver is a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage DE coupe, manual, with 237K miles. Built in Japan. I bought it from the original owner in 2015 for $1100. It's been a Florida car since day one, and I've strictly kept up with maintenance including suspension, sensors, and everything else. Still runs amazing, not a speck of metal shavings in the oil, drives great and feels smooth. My next task is replacing the motor mounts since she's vibrating slightly when idling. An amazing little car, and hope to have her another 25 years
I am glad to hear that you are taking good car of it, these cars are great.
We love our Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback for the same reasons.
Great little cars!
People would bash this thing but then talk about how awesome a kei car is.
The ones who bash it simply don't understand it.
You have responded to a couple of my questions about my 2017 Mirage personally and quickly. I love my Mirage, and I think you are swell guy, Thanks!
Glad to help!
I got hit and totalled my 22 gunna look at a 24 today, thankful for your videos!
Oh no, I am sorry to hear that. I hope you are able to find a great new car
My aunt has a pink manual one with about 350,000km on it, I drove for a week and I was shocked!
I was expecting it to be really underpowered and to have a ton of interior noises due to the mileage but I was very wrong. They are great cars, well made, dependable and the power is more than enough for daily driving, it even handles quite well and is fun with a manual.
They are great little cars, I think the 5 speed does give it a slightly different feel to driving it
Dang ,, has it been 5 years already !!!! Time flies ! Glad it’s been a good choice 👍 . Inexpensive, great fuel mileage, cheap maintenance and tires
It’s a win 🏆
I blinked and 5 years went by. For the money you can't get a better car. I looked at a new Tacoma earlier this year and was shocked by the entry price point. I could have bought 4+ of these cars
I bought one from the last (?) batch that came in Greece. It is better than I expected. Very easy to park, frugal, with a good roadholding and suspension comfort. It has 14 inch wheels that are better suited to our so so roads. It is pretty nippy too. The boot has average size but does the job. All in all a pretty good little car, contrary to the negative journalists' opinions and at a very decent price. Fully satisfied.
I love mine as well. It's a shame that they won't be making them anymore.
Over in my part of the country I don’t see these too often. But when I do, it’s quite the treat. When you’re in a sea of pickup trucks, this little car is quite refreshing to spot lol. I would love to see these more often but the nearest Mitsubishi dealer closest to me is about a 6 hour drive away sadly
That is pretty far away, the one my wife got was shipped from MN. We are like you, there are so many trucks that it is fun to see a small car among them.
Great review, it's always great to hear what people think years later. As for generations, I like the looks of the 1st and 3rd (restyle)
Thank you- Each generation has their own look that I like.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs You're welcome, I feel the same way.
My girlfriend bought a 2023 and loves it - we even used it this year for going to Iceland….
Greetings from Germany
Do you take a ferry to Iceland- sounds like a silly question-
I always thought that would be a great place to visit one day
@
My comment about the ferry was rejected from TH-cam….
Yes there is a ferry from Denmark via Färöer to Iceland…
Google - Smyrilline
I had a mirage and a G4, and they were perfect! Not one problem, and dead reliable, Great vehicle!
They're fantastic cars! Glad to hear you had a good experience with yours. They are so under rated
I got owned a 2017 model mirage hatchback, this little car is invincible a very good small car, until now not even a single problem brought this car to me, a fast and durable car that I had.
Mine as well. The 2018 is now used for a 45 mile commute and I've had no issues.
A great review. I had a 2019 I miss the CD player. I now own a 2021 Mirage.
My wife has a 2021 and loves it. The insurance is lower as it has crash mitigation stuff added in.
This car isn't for me, however it does fit the needs of many people. simple, reliable, transportation! Great video thanks!
Thanks for that statement, so many people just bash it. You are right, this can it not for everyone.
A few months ago I bought a 2015 Mirage Se 5spd. Learned to drive manual on this car and it's so much fun! Being a student this is also such an affordable ride. On top of that, you can absolutely have fun driving this slow car fast, and still get crazy mileage. Also, I genuinely think since it's more taxing at higher speeds, it forces me to be a safer driver.
It sounds like you are having a great experience with your Mirage. If you are in a snowy area, they are good to learn how to drive in the snow with
From the UK, these cars are everywhere and are often lower end than what the Mirage or Spark was offered (manual mirrors, windows, manual gearbox and minimal dials) so I never got the hatred towards them in America when they're reasonably adapted for the US. They're great for fuel, use their interior space well and fairly comfortable.
It is a marketing thing, everyone bashed on them so nobody wanted them. Except the people who own them, love them. People can be so dumb
this is one of those economy cars that's been done right from the beginning.
The overall design is more than a decade old now and it shows in the way the doors are made and many other areas.
I've had a manual one as a rental for a while in Europe (the 2019 angular facelift). This was probably the cheapest car you could get new in Europe at the time.
In Europe they now have the Dacia brand, who kinda boast similar, simplistic, economy, hugely reliable products, albeit in a modern day guise.
I didn't think anything of this Mitsubishi at first but it grew onto me very quickly. It was almost refreshing how easy it was to live with and drive and become confident in. And the 3 cyl sound i took quite a bit of entertainment out of. The overall performance was not bad at all given the weight and purpose of the thing. I didn't bother to check the mpg.
Months later i was back to the same car rental company who were renewing their fleet and offered me a brand new Hyundai i20 this time, that they were boasting about and taking pride in.
I was like "Any chance i could have one of those little white Mitsubishi things again ?" (This is not a "Mirage" in Europe. It goes by a different name i don't remember now.)
They went "Seriously? We still have a handful in the back if you prefer that, but these are much better." And i'm like "just bring one over, please, thanks !"
They were called Space Star over seas. They are great little cars that don't get the respect that they should
I like and need my Ram 1500 pickup but it’s terribly inefficient if I’m not hauling stuff, which is often, so I bought a 2017 Mirage with 58k on it in May 2023 as a runabout. Best purchase I’ve ever made. It’s SOOOO cheap to keep, fun to drive, and has given me zero problems. Have ended up using it on long trips as well. Nightly recommended!
Glad to hear you're enjoying it. I am sure the MPG are like night and day. I have an older Tundra that just eats gas, it is terrible with the MPGs
It's very HONEST, no thrills, no bells & whistles vehicle. It behaves alike the little dog on a walk, happy & grateful it can go with you. I can get repeatable +60 mpg on local roads (2021 MY, manual), just preserving its cinretic energy & keeping 1800-2500 rpm. It rolls amazingly freely.
Agreed. These cars will go down in history as the modern Geo Metro. A great simple working mans car.
Thanks for posting this. I'm thinking of getting one of these to replace my 2008 Chevrolet Spark. I have had the Spark for 12 years and it has been extremely reliable. Ideally I would like something with manual everything but my Spark was probably the last car made like that. I will certainly go for the manual gearbox as I like to be fully in control.
I hope you like your new car, we love ours and it has been very reliable
My wife and I have had many vehicles over the last 42 years, but our absolute favorite was a lil Suzuki Side Kick manual 5 speed, everything you need and nothing else, slow as molasses, but maybe the most honest transportation we ever had, it was what it was and we called it the little goat. Love the Mirage all you need and nothing else.
My wife wanted one of those years ago, sounds like it would have been a great car to get.
sold mine for a subaru forester-which I like but I miss this little guy! I sold it for nearly what I paid for it no issues just maintenance. issue I ran into was fitting my family of four with two kids in car seats but if I end up needing a second car again i may grab one of these
I can see needing a bit more room for your kids. I hope your new car is just as good as this one
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs thanks me as well subaru seems to be up there with mitsubishi
Dad bought one and I borrowed it when I was visiting back home. Kind of gritted my teeth expecting a golf cart. It totally wasnt. Works great for commuting and keeping up with traffic. Its comfortable. Easy to drive and the CVT will trick you into believing you have so much more. Only time it lacked was when I needed to punch the gas to get through a yellow light or change lanes that kind of thing but was worth the trade. Couldn't believe it had heated seats, decent air conditioning etc
They are surprisingly good for what they are. My wifes car has heated seats and they are fantastic.
It's not a Lexus. Most reviewers act like that is the class it's in. It's treated like a scooter amongst sports bikes. I've always admired it for what it is. Cheap reliable transportation that keeps you dry in the rain while listening to the radio while getting better mpg than most SUVs on the road.
You nailed it 100% Thanks
Im on my second Mirgage. Had a white 2017 ES then traded it in for a 2020 ES in Infrared like yours. Its now at 147500 and only thing ive had to do other than regular maintenance is a driver side front wheelbearing.
All highway miles and i even used it with back seats folded down delivering Amazon Flex jobs fulltime for almost a year.
Very underated car!
You are spot on, they are so underrated!
I have a sedan version since 2018 and only had to replace front wheel bearings, tires and brake pads. No other issues so far. Also gotta love my mileage of 17 to 21km/l
I'll keep an ear out for my wheel bearings!
I Literally don't understand people, you go to any other car site people are bashing on high end cars having to much tech and just want a simple car. Well here it is!! what more do people want this should be the Number 1 best Seeling car in the country with the mess we have out today.
High tech is not always the best- It is really costly to fix when things break- More computers (30 on average) and it one goes bad it could be $2000 to get a new one. People don't have the money for things like that- simple is cheaper to maintain
I love your channel, regular content +1, funny and good content +2, about motorcycles +5, great all together +5. 13/10 your channel
Thanks man!
I owned 3 Geo Metros. 2 of which I bought new. Those cars made me a lot of money. Love my new 2024 Mirage. To me, the seats are very comfortable.
I was searching for a metro for the longest time, never found the perfect one.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs Mine all rotted to death up here in the salt of New England. Motors were still humming along.
I have a 2007 Yaris and that reminds me of that car. Very comfortable to ride in.
I looked at getting a Yaris before I got this car.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs it’s been a good car. Fun to drive. I have one with a manual transmission, manual windows and locks and it’s a two door.
We bought a 2020 Mirage in 2022. It's been a great car for shopping and cross country.
Glad to hear that you like it.
My 8 year old mirage definitely agrees with you!
Thanks- I hope you keep that car for a while longer
I’m more of a vw tdi fan for economy and comfort but it’s good to see other econo boxes being made still. Dying breed unfortunately however they save you so much money they’re difficult to ignore
Those are nice cars as well. I am a big VW fan
We had ours since 2016 (same color as yours!), still running strong. As reliable as a Toyota so far.
I agree with you on the reliability part, maintenance is key with relability
@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs absolutely! I follow all factory recommended intervals for service and always use synthetic oil and have the transmission serviced at the dealer for warranty purposes.
I have 2013 model.
Still running good😀
That is awesome! They are good cars. I hope to have mine well into retirement.
I am loving my 2024 Mirage ES, about 6500 miles in, getting 47.8mpg total. I do like some things about yours more: the CD player as an extra option, the traditional air controls, not needing to turn off the stupid collision mitigation every time I start the car. I hate all those modern "safety" features, that I think are making things less safe, and they're making us worse drivers. At least my Mirage has only that one thing, while every other new car has so many others. I do wish the cupholders weren't so skinny.
I like the look of the front of yours, but I think I like mine a little better. It's a shame that there will be no more new Mirages in the US, once the current supplies are sold. I have loved how it handles, it takes bumps better than my Honda Fit, the Mirage is very quiet, and it even is more powerful than my 117hp Fit, significantly more powerful! It's a crime that all small cars are disappearing from the US market. I removed the seat-backs from the back, leaving the seat. It's very flat back there. I put in couch cushions, and I've got a mini camper, in a car that nobody would think could be a sleeper.
Love the idea of a mini camper!! I'd love to see photos.
I would never own a CVT.
That being said, I bought a 2000 Mirage back in 2002 with less than 8000 miles. 4 cyl, 5 spd, 2 dr. I packed that little car full of all my stuff and headed out to California back in Jan 03. 80 mph over the mountains and that little car got 40 mpg. Never left me sitting, till near the very end. Always started. I don't recall replacing brakes and the clutch was still operable, although a bit worn at 215000 when I sold it after 15 years. Best car I ever owned, hands down.
I was hesitant on the CVT living in the mountains and I wonder how well it will last. So far it runs great and I have had no issues. Being a light car, I am hoping that it will help out
I loved my $18K-$19K 2015 Yaris SE 5-MT hatch. Wish I could have purchased another one new in late 2019 after my 2015 was killed by a distracted driver, but 2018 was the last model year in the USA for it & those were very rare to find even in 2018. Sad that Japanese automakers abandoned the subcompact segment in the USA, but sadly most Americans just didn't buy them (unlike in other global markets).
I am sorry that you car was totaled but glad that you are ok. I think that the US market could be good to the smaller cars if they actually pushed them- They are all about selling the biggest and most expensive cars.
I’m 60… first new car is an 88 Dodge colt which is the Mitsubishi Mirage fantastic. Excellent car can’t say enough good about about it. Totally based strip model no radio not even a lighter vinyl bucket seats vinyl rear seat for speed manual transmission. It did have a rear defroster because I was from upstate New York bought a brand new for $4100 like it so well in 1991 I bought a new 91 dodge CO GL which is also Mitsubishi Mirage… Again fantastic car a lot more equipment cloth seats, power windows power locks. Also it was the hatchback version just like the first one that I bought great driving cars both of them course the 91 was much better, but Mitsubishi builds, amazing equipment, cars, stereo equipment and I guess even oil tankers and Frieders and such in the shipping business, very pleased I will also say that in our Nissan rogue as well as the two Jeep compass vehicles we’ve had we had the jack to Transmission, which is a CVT and it was excellent in all three cases Our little Jeep renegade has a nine speed, traditional transmission, which we also love, but no complaints with CVT transmission none whatsoever.
I remember the Dodge Colt Rebadged Mirages!
I own a 2023 g4 with 15,000 miles and I LOVE it 36-38 city 40-45 highway
They are great cars- please make sure to take good care of it
I recently rented an outlander sport which I was pretty happy with. It could be an option for someone who likes the basic yet functional nature of the mirage, but wants something a little bigger, and a little more powerful (and of course more than a little more expensive. A 7k increase in base msrp for the outlander). Although starting with 2025 the mirage will no longer be available, so the price comparison will have to be derived from the used market.
We looked at getting one of those but decided not to go in that direction. It did drive well though
It's a decent long distance vehicle on a budget. That being said the front badge Doug demuro pointed out cracks me up lol.
He is a douche...I hate to talk bad about anyone, but he is a special case. These cars are perfect for those who need a basic car or are on a budget. Since most cars are $50K+ now and the average payment over $700/mo, why would you not want an affordable car.
The critics are more jealous than anything in my opinion. I love my car
My 10 year old Mirage only had the driver window mechanism messed up, had it “fixed” by a local mechanic to save on costs. Only ran 54,000 KM so pretty low mileage even here in the Philippines. One good thing is that the Mirage is a global Mitsu platform, as I have seen Mirages in the US, UK and Australia when I went to those countries.
The are very popular globally. Here in the states they are becoming more popular these past 3 years.
I owned a mirage a hatchback model 2017, i would say it's a good car, a reliable car, with a very fuel efficiency, to sum it all it has a great performance..
My wife and I have them and we both love those cars, simple and reliable.
I have a Infiniti that was my first big boy purchase car I bought . I don’t wana put to many miles and I want this mirage as a burner I love Mitsubishi they are so underrated when it comes to reliability
That is a smart idea to help keep the miles low
A relatively basic little car that is reliable, and cheap to buy. In this day and age, so many commentators seem to think of that as some kind of sin. Yet this is the kind of vehicle that most people actually need. The Geo Metro - older model of Suzuki Swift in the UK and other markets - was a sensible means of transport that was made for many years.
You nailed the comment- People seem to forget that not everyone needs a fancy overpriced car to get them from point a to point b
That's awesome if this is the modern day Geo Metro. In retrospect I loved that thing, I just always never loved the look. Yet this looks like it solved the looks problem as it has a more timeless modern shape.
I wanted a metro years ago. This is just as good if not better.
A modern Geo Metro is a great comparison. I owned a 95 Metro with the proper 3 cyl and 5-speed. It was built for high mpg and nothing else. The Mirage OTOH gets similar milage but does it with full power accessories and modem safety. On paper it's a great alternative to a complicated hybrid, I'm just leary of that CVT.
I wanted a Metro so bad when I was younger. I also worry about the CVT, but it being such a light car, I think it will do better than some cars that have the same transmission but are heavier.
thanks for your input
Glad I can help
Great review, thanks. Engine runs a chain not belt for cams.
Yup! And if cared for, that chain should last forever.
I've seen reviews bashing Mitsubishi but my experience, albeit not recent, was a Dodge Colt I bought back in the 80s. It was made by Mitsubishi, had a twin stick (low/high) 5 speed and don't remember the engine. It was faultless, driven many miles. For the little money I paid my opinion was a great deal!
Don't listen to the haters, there are many great cars that we were told were awful, turns out they were some of the most reliable cars built. And the ones they tell you that are great, have major engine failures with less than 10,000 miles on them
Mitsubishi cars are extremely underrated. People tend to overlook them because they're on the cheaper end but that just means less goes wrong.
I love this- you are right on. Some of the fancier cars have 20-30 computers on them. Each costing $1000+ to fix just for another one to fail. No thank you
I would reinstall the rear headseat rests. I thought about doing the same with my Challenger because visibility is bad, but after looking into it, if someone tall enough (basically average adult) is sitting in the seat and you get rear ended, instead of there head hitting the headrest it will swing around the seat and possibly break the neck. Very interesting and enjoyable video though!
Thank you, the only people that ever ride in the car is my wife and I. If I had back seat passengers, I would add them back in
9.2 gallon tank. I thought it was too small as well. I was only getting like 300-325 miles per tank with MPGs in the 40s. Felt like I had to fill up too often for being so fuel-efficient. Great little cars though. For me it needs more sound insulation. I haven't had my Mirage since 2018, but I owned it for 4 years and the exhaust was so loud inside the car. It was one of the first things I noticed after buying it. Between that, the wind and road noise, I would get a headache sometimes.
We undercoated ours and that helped with the noise.
The secret to great mileage, is a light car without an unnecessarily big engine. Most modern cars are ridiculously big and heavy. It is a bit of a problem that we have here in the US, with overly big trucks and SUVs, and people seem to think older cars get poor mileage. A 90s Honda will get similar mileage, which this car reminds me of.
You bring up a good point, the new ones are like driving around a house on wheels. Average weight is about 4500 pounds, that is crazy and why the gas mileage is so poor
I have a 2019 bought new . Now has 34k on it. No problems so far . Ive kept the miles low due to being ill and not driving it for about a year and a half.
I am sorry that you are sick, I hope that you will be on the mend soon
@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs thanks. I was ill a couple years ago and didn't drive car . I'm better now and drive it daily . It fired right up after sitting for that time .
@ 2:00 you mention if Suzuki was still making...It always bugged me that Suzuki stopped selling in North America. I am retired in Thailand and have a 3 year old Suzuki Swift (1.2 liter CVT) that I absolutely LOVE ! They also make even a smaller variant, the Celerio (1 Liter CVT) that is a great city car. Due to pressure from Chinese EVs, they will stop manufacture in Thailand in 2025 but still import from Indonesia, so hopefully still available afterwards. The Mirage is also manufactured here and is a great option also.
It is a shame that they are not being made due to that pressure. I looked at buying a Suzuki a few years back and could not find one close enough for me to get it.
Modern "GEO METRO" yes it is. people bash it all day long, but it just chuggs along.
I wanted a geo metro for so many years but they are too hard to come by now
Or the car version of a Kawasaki KLR650
Not super powerful bit robust and reliable.
my mom had one for like less then 2 years dead reliable but got totaled out by a f150 hit it so hard the engine broke the mounts but still kept her safe and held its shape somewhat so not only are these good cars but there very safe for how small they are
Oh wow, I am glad that she was OK after that. Their safety rating is very high and your moms experience backs it up
Awsum honest review, thank you . I’m wondering how it drives in the snow
I have never taken it out in the snow, but I have seen many videos from people in Canada that say it does well
With my Mirage, I had a tank where I went 412 miles, and used 6.097 gallons of gas, giving me 67.57 MPG. But the average MPG over the past 347 days was 52.5 MPG, over a span of 25,200 miles.
I really like the car! (: Drive it all over. The only complaint I have is a rattle, I can't find it. It's only when the car is warm, and it comes from the front left, where the CVT is.
Your trunk is very clean for the age! Mine is all beat up already, it's a 2024.
The tank is 9.8 gallons, isn't it? I fill up every 3, or 4 days at 53 MPG. Sometimes 2 days.
Mine has a small rattle right over my head in the headliner that only acts up every once and a while. I can't figure out what's causing it.
I try hard to keep this car clean. It's my first new car and I was nearly 50 when I got it!
My normal fillup is 6.3 gallons.
I have a 2022 Mirage SE hatch. Great car. Only one time I felt it was under powered. Bighorn national Forest has some crazy inclines and it had to be at 5k rpm to make it up the hills other than that my 5k plus mile road trip went great!
I can see that, there is one hill around here that it struggles on a bit, but it is a long, very steep mountain.
Little engines revving out isn't that big a deal. 80 MPH is a typical cruising speed here on I95 on the east coast. My 15 Honda Fit is at ~3800 RPM at 80 in 6th gear and it can still get about 40 MPG on a steady cruise. Just drove it from DC to NYC and back this past weekend and averaged that. It doesn't mind it at all. Granted I change my oil at 3000 miles or less (direct injection), so my maintenance schedule is also far stricter than most People's.
we had a 2017 MT hatchback... its fun to drive even on long drives. its a nimble on twisties. some people are just delusional, they want a car that is so cheap and has great fuel economy but also expect the car to run and look like a hyper car w/ comfort of a rolls royce.. lol.. this is a daily commuter, very reliable, fuel saver and cheap and easy to maintain.. hahaha
most common issues on this car is wheel bearing and the gears on the window motor...
Good to know on the bearing and the window motor
Dude, I had this as a rental car. The thing doesn't even have an armrest. It has zero power. You might be thinking I'm bougie, but I'm definitely not. I was super happy with the Kia Forte as a rental. The Forte felt like a car, and the Mirage felt like a go-kart.
Sorry that you feel that way, they are what they are- Simple transportation from point A to B. KIA Forte should have more options as that car was almost double the price as a base Mirage
All Mitsubishi cars are very good and underrated. I have owned a few and loved them all with no mechanical issues. I have owned other cars and I'm always surprised when something breaks because I'm not used to things breaking since I have owned Mitsubishis for a while. But I bought a Hyundai and the transmission blew and had to buy a Ford Taurus and that one has been good so far. But still had to fix little things here and there. With the Mitsubishi I own (and outlander and a lancer) never fixed anything
I have had multiple Mitsubishi's and they all have been very reliable. I would own more in a heartbeat
You hv maintained it well sir!
Thank you, maintenance it key to all vehicles.
I drove one for years and years after my Sister bought it new. Never any issues. I gave it to my Neighbor who needed a car, and drove it for years. Unbelievable. Parts were becoming a bit of an issue.
That is awesome to hear. Glad to hear that you took care of your neighbor
My 2015 ES 5-speed just rolled over 250,000 miles. Other than maintenance it has needed a set of CV axles, a water pump, and four clutch cables...but still has the original clutch. 😂
That is pretty amazing that you hit 250,000 on the original clutch. I know some people that can't get 75,000.
@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs No one's more surprised than me, especially since this car is driven 100% in town. I've had a replacement clutch set sitting on a shelf in my garage for the last 4 years.
I'm researching used cars and a 2020 with 47k miles is looking like a good deal for me, I'm waiting for a transfer and check before I test drive it. My first car was actually a 98 Geo Metro and I've been stuck with too-big cars since, so to hear you say this was a modern Geo Metro was nice for me. (Mine was the super powerful *four* cylinder engine, but I'm sure I can get used to three.) I used to joke that my car had a turbo button, when I would turn off the air conditioner.
I have an 8 mile round trip commute every day, with maybe up to 15 on weekends, rarely getting into any highways, so I'm not looking for power.
Thanks for the review, I saw one other video that was bashing every little nitpicky thing left and right, and I was like, who cares about that kind of thing? Oh no, you can see visible screw holes in places, however would I survive?
For what you are doing, one of these would be perfect. At that rate of driving, you would go 2 months between fill ups.
My (European) Space Star or Mirage is almost full spec, with CVT, 10 years old, and has 90.000 miles. No issues. None. Just regular maintenance by the book. All padding looks like new, everything functions. I had to top up the airco once and renew a generator belt because it made terrible noises at cold start. The only weak point here is front wheel alignment. It is going for its fourth alignment next year. I don't know why, but the steering wheel (again) is not straight anymore when driving in a straight line.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your car. Usually it is an alignment issue is why it is no longer straight
We had a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, we bought it in 2020 for a steal because it was a leftover unit. We lost it to a deer accident in the fall of 2022 during rutting season. The buck just darted right across the highway like there were no cars. The car is apparently designed to come apart to absorb the impact, even on the inside, the whole dashboard shifted around due to all the energy it absorbed and we walked away which is the best part. I wouldn't say it's the best or worst car in America, after two years with it I'd have to say, "It is what it is, and it isn't what it isn't" is the best way I can sum it up. If you can tolerate the slow and borderline dangerous acceleration, and you have enough room inside, maybe it's for you. If you have a large family and everyone is over 6 foot tall and you like to go on road trips, and you like quick acceleration this is not the car for you. That being said, my wife and I and our two kids managed a road trip from central NJ to Columbia, SC and we spent a paltry $70 in gas for a total of $140 in gas for the trip, that's with a fully loaded trunk and to be honest the seating wasn't too bad, I've sat in more uncomfortable cars that costed a lot more money. I dont remember how much gas was per gallon but I know it was about 700 miles each way and real world MPG range is 30-40mph depending on city or highway driving, how much weight you have in the car and if you're using A/C or not because A/C will sap at least 10 horses away from the 78 you get. The engine does struggle under load and that eats up a lot of fuel.
Thanks for the info on the crash. I hope to never have to go though it myself, but its good to know it held up.
In 2017 I bought a used 2014 Mirage with 84,000 miles on it for my wife. Paid only $5,000.00 for it and to this day haven't had one problem with it. All I have done is change the motor oil and transmission oil on it. To this day it has 115,000 miles on it. Wife loves her little car. I would buy another one someday.
That was a great deal that you got on it.
One of the best cars i have ever owned, far more reliable than any Toyota i owned.
Toyota's are great too, but I have done less repairs on my Mitsubishi's than the Toyota's
my wife has a mirage and she loves it I'm 6 foot and I can fit in it comfortably tbh if I didn't already have a car I would of got one too they look super reliable and there is nothing on the market right now that is going to be able to compete with the early 2000s feel the car has
I agree, I am 6 feet plus and I have plenty of room. I like your comparison to an early 2000s car. Spot on
Pretty well equipped for a cheap little car.
It really is, nothing fancy, but it is perfect for me.
I’m came sooo close to buying one in burnt orange new with manual in 2018 end of year for only $9500. Loved the fuel economy on test drives. The CVT model was a big NO. I got over 54 mpg on the freeway with the manual. I ended up choosing a near mint 2015 Scion XB manual with 30,500 Miles for similar price. I’m very happy with it at 50k, now. But I would have been more than satisfied due to economy and price, with the Mirage. It’s too bad they no longer offered pricing that low after 2021. I would never pay over 13k for one.
We were offered $12,600 for my wifes one a few months back, that was more than what we paid for it new. Crazy
@ I know?! Crazy! Trouble is, can’t get much these days. That’s why when the inflation situation hit and places like Carmax offered $3500 more than I paid in 2021, I just didn’t even bother. I’m like; “then what? I’m back in an inflated market.. I’ll keep a great car that’s paid Off. and costs me waaay less.”
From the company that brought you
The Zero 😊
I mean.... Yes. yes they did.
I have a 2022 mirage, bought new, it is without a doubt the best vehicle I’ve ever had.
I agree, these cars rock
My uncle had a '79 AMC Concorde with the straoght six 232 ci and 4 spd manual. Made about 90 hp. Great on gas, even with a six (23-24mph).
That is impressive MPG considering how big that car was.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs
Yes, it fit 5 no problem. It was a tank. No power steering or brakes. Roll up windows. It was a great car and looked sharp, especially after i waxed it up.