Ailing Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi is giving the small car segment in the U.S. another go after the all-electric i-MiEV, this time, with the more conventional Mirage.
The five-door hatchback will have a starting MSRP of $12,995 for the base, manual-gearbox DE model, rising to $16.095 for the CVT-equipped ES version with navigation. All prices exclude a destination and handling fee of $725 for 48 U.S. states, and $920 for Alaska and Hawaii.
That’s $2,400 less than the Ford Fiesta S Hatch (and $1,800 less than the Fiesta S Sedan, which has a lower starting price), but the Blue Oval hatchback is notably bigger at 159.7 inches long, 67.8 inches wide and 58.1 inches tall, compared to the Mirage at 148.8 inches (3,779mm) long, 65.6 inches (1,666mm) wide and 59.1 inches (1,501mm) tall.
The Ford also comes with a bigger and more powerful engine (120hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder) than the Mitsubishi model that makes do with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit delivering 74hp and 74 lb.-ft. of torque, with gearbox options including a 5-speed manual and a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), both turning the front wheels.
On the positive side, Mitsubishi says the Mirage is “the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid gasoline-powered vehicle available in America with an EPA rated fuel economy of 44 mpg highway” for CVT-equipped models that also return 37 mpg city and 40 mpg combined. The manual versions deliver an EPA fuel economy rating of 34 mpg city/42 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.
Standard safety features on all trim levels include seven airbags and Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL), while the base DE variant comes with automatic climate control, keyless entry with panic alarm, auto-off halogen headlights and rear heater floor ducts.
For $1,200 more, the ES model adds Mitsubishi’s FAST (Free-hand Advanced Security Transmitter)-key passive entry, One-Touch Start/Stop (OSS) engine button, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, 14-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, fog lamps and silver interior accent trim.
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