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The landscape of sub-$20,000 new cars is getting smaller. Frankly, the Nissan Versa is one of the final examples of a true budget buy in the modern car market. However, the Versa’s anemic counterpart is throwing in the towel for 2025. That’s right; the Mitsubishi Mirage won’t be around 

Mitsubishi will drop the Mirage for 2025, leaving the Nissan Versa as the sole truly budget-friendly buy in America

Mitsubishi announced that the Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan won’t return for 2025. Unfortunately, the move means the Nissan Versa will become the sole sub-$20,000 car on the market. 

Tragically, the loss of yet another budget model represents the continued march toward increasingly expensive new cars. However, I’m, admittedly, not going to miss the Mirage very much. The Mirage isn’t just one of the two remaining sub-$20,000 new car nameplates on the market. It’s also the most underpowered new car in America. 

With just 78 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque from its 1.2L inline-three-cylinder engine, the Mirage makes fewer horsepower than a 2024 Harley-Davidson Nightster or a 10-year-old FIAT 500. Yep. You can’t make this stuff up. Traffic is boring enough without an anemic mill under the hood.

What’s more, the Mirage’s 39 combined MPG isn’t enough to justify its paltry power output. For instance, a 2022 Hyundai Elantra Blue with an intact basic mechanical warranty could offer 54 combined MPG for a comparable price. Better yet, the Elantra Blue produces 139 horsepower from its 1.6L inline-four.

Of course, the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is a new car. As a result, you won’t get a vehicle with better combined fuel economy for its base price. The 2024 Nissan Versa, on the other hand, misses the Mirage’s combined fuel economy by around four MPG. Still, the Versa is more powerful, more comfortable, and more fun to drive. However, you won’t get a hatchback in the Versa’s lineup like you will with the Mirage.

Still, my time in the 2024 Nissan Versa SR proved that a budget-friendly car doesn’t have to be boring. Instead, the little Versa was joyful, with plenty of tech and a sport mode that prioritized revs over MPG. Fair winds and following seas, Mirage. But, like a less-than-loved character in a TV series, you won’t be missed.