The Mitsubishi Mirage has spent the past near-decade as one of the most affordable vehicles on the market. And this subcompact offers minimal features that reflect its can’t-beat price. The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage is finally ready for the road, and for the first time, its MSRP exceeds $15,000. But is this little car worth the bigger price tag?

The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage at a glance

The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage is already on dealership lots. According to Mitsubishi, the 2021 Mirage is available as a hatchback or sedan (Mirage G4) body style in four trim levels: ES, LE, SE, and a special Carbonite Edition. Both the hatchback and G4 sedan come with the same engine: a 1.2-liter three-cylinder that produces 76 hp. The Mirage is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. The five-speed stick shift comes standard.

The 2021 Mirage is still as compact as ever. It offers 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the hatchback’s rear. But its tiny stature also helps the Mirage earn astounding fuel-economy ratings of 36 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway across all trim levels with the manual transmission.

Though the Mirage doesn’t make any falsities about its bargain nature, it still offers plenty of value. Standard features include a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.

It also boasts various standard safety features, including active stability control, hill-start assist, and forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection. Coverage on the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage includes a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, seven-year/100,000-mile anti-corrosion coverage, and standard roadside assistance.

The Mirage breaks the $15K mark

With the new Mitsubishi Mirage comes a new price. According to Car and Driver, the base 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback received a small, $300 price hike over its predecessor. That means the newest Mirage starts around $15,200 — the first time this subcompact has exceeded $15,000.

This $300 increase also extends to the Mirage G4, putting the sedan’s starting price around $16,200. These base prices are for the lowest-trim ES models with manual transmissions. A continuously variable automatic transmission is available but adds $1,300.

Why the price increase, and is the Mirage worth it?

A $300 price increase doesn’t seem like a lot, but for a vehicle that normally comes in under $15,000, that’s a fair amount. Mitsubishi might be justified in its slight price hike, though. After all, most new vehicles’ pricing increases year after year, and the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage offers plenty of changes.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage lineup sees some changes. That includes the hatchback GT model’s discontinuation. But the Carbonite Edition is the new top trim, and the base model offers more standard equipment.

All trim levels’ interiors and exteriors also boast updated styling elements. They include new bumpers, taillights, and rear spoilers. The standard forward-collision mitigation system is also new for the 2021 model year, as is the addition of standard lane-departure warning in the top SE trim.

Even though the Mitsubishi Mirage has finally surpassed $15,000, it still offers plenty of value at a bargain price.