The Mitsubishi Mirage Might Save You Money, but It Could Be a Deadly Tradeoff
The Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the cheapest cars on the market. However, the diminutive sedan and hatchback have issues, like a near-dangerous lack of power. Most recently, though, car collision data suggests a late-model Mitsubishi Mirage G4, like a 2021 or 2022 model, isn’t just a performance compromise; it’s one of the deadliest cars on the market. So, just how dangerous is a Mirage?
Is Mitsubishi Mirage a safe car?
Unfortunately for fans of the Mirage G4 and sedan, the platform took the No. 1 spot on the latest data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) regarding death rates in accidents. Specifically, the Mirage G4 and its hatchback sibling had 205 and 183 deaths per million registered vehicles, more than any other car in the study.
That means the Mirage is responsible for a higher death rate than popular muscle car models like the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro. Moreover, the Mirage has a much higher fatality rate than comparable compact cars, like the Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Spark, and Kia Rio. Here are the top five vehicles in terms of death rates in crashes.
| Make and model (2018 through 2021) | Death rate per million |
| Mirage G4 (Sedan) | 205 |
| Mirage (Hatchback) | 183 |
| Dodge Challenger | 154 |
| Hyundai Accent | 152 |
| Chevrolet Spark | 151 |
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage safe on a highway?
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 and Hatchback models are less safe at highway speeds than other cars. For instance, the 2021 and 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage has just 78 horsepower on tap. That’s hardly enough for effective defensive driving, merging, and passing other modern vehicles.
For instance, the models’ closest competitors, the 2023 Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent, produce 122 and 120 horsepower, respectively. Moreover, the Mirage earned less than optimal safety ratings from the IIHS. Specifically, cars have to earn a “Good” rating in every crashworthiness category to secure a Top Safety Pick+ rating. Instead, the 2022 Mirage model got a “Marginal” score in a front, driver-side overlap crash test.
Furthermore, the Mirage’s lack of mass presents an issue in collisions with larger vehicles on American roads. Additionally, late-model Mirages lack front crash-prevention systems, per iSeeCars. That makes a recipe for disaster compared to some of the model’s closest rivals.
Is Mitsubishi discontinuing the Mirage?
Mitsubishi is producing a 2024 Mirage in a Hatchback and G4 Sedan variant. The upcoming Mirage model will start at around $17,800 for the hatchback and offer multiple trims, per Car and Driver.
| Trim level (2023 model) | Starting price point |
| ES | $17,500 |
| LE | $18,100 |
| Black Edition | $18,700 |
| SE | $19,400 |
| Ralliart | $19,400 |
What are some safe alternatives for a Mitsubishi Mirage?
The 2023 Kia Rio earned an “Acceptable” rating in the small overlap front passenger-side crash test. That’s better than the “Marginal” rating that the Mitsubishi earned in a driver-side test. Moreover, the 2022 Hyundai Accent received an “Acceptable” score in the same category.
Moreover, both cars offer greater power reserves for defensive driving purposes. As a result, both compact car options are safer than the Mitsubishi.
