2022 Mitsubishi Mirage

　　

2022 Mitsubishi Mirage Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　The 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage might be the best argument for buying a used car instead of new. With its spartan interior, limited standard features list and gutless power, the Mirage subcompact hatchback is about as basic as basic transportation gets.

　　And as new cars come, the Mirage isn't that new. Despite a cosmetic update for 2021, the Mirage hatch and its sibling the Mirage G4 sedan (reviewed separately) have been in service for nearly a decade, a fact that's apparent in their dated instrument cluster and dashboard designs.

　　The Mirage does have a few positive attributes. The main one is excellent fuel economy, with the CVT-equipped hatchback earning an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The Mirage also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and forward collision warning with automatic braking, and it's backed by Mitsubishi's generous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which you certainly won't find in any used car.

　　Due to the hot used car market in 2022, the case for buying a Mirage for an inexpensive set of wheels is probably stronger than it's been in a long time. But all the same, we encourage you to check out other options, such as the Nissan Versa and Kia Rio, before settling on the Mirage.

　　

Which Mirage does zzdcar recommend?

If you're set on getting a Mirage, there's not much point going beyond the base ES model. With the base Mirage, you'll get the satisfaction of the model's low starting price and you won't miss too many of the features in the higher trims.

　　

Mitsubishi Mirage models

The 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage is a front-wheel-drive subcompact hatchback available in four trim levels: ES, LE, SE and Black Edition. Every Mirage comes with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 76 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque.

　　ES

　　The ES comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but you can opt for a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which comes with every other trim level. Standard features include:

　　14-inch steel wheels Automatic climate control Cruise control Tilt steering wheel Keyless entry   Technology and safety features include:

　　Rearview camera 7-inch audio display Bluetooth Four-speaker sound system with USB input Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) LE

　　The LE adds:

　　14-inch alloy wheels Leather-wrapped shift knob Black Edition

　　The Black Edition is essentially a Mirage LE with a handful of exterior cosmetic enhancements.

　　Additional features include:

　　15-inch alloy wheels finished in black Black exterior mirrors Black roof spoiler Red grille accents Foglights Red interior accents SE

　　The SE adds to the ES features with:

　　15-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Foglights Automatic headlights with auto high beams Rain-sensing wipers Cloth and simulated leather combination seats Heated front seats Driver's seat armrest Leather-wrapped steering wheel Push-button ignition and proximity keyless entry Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

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