The Mitsubishi Mirage Is One of the Cheapest New Cars In 2022 But Is It Worth Buying?
While many car buyers gravitate toward high-end sports cars and luxury cars with many features, there is still a strong market for car buyers looking for a truly cheap new car. The days of cheap Geo Metros and Ford Festivas may be over, but the heart of these cheap, fuel-sipping economy cars lives on in the Mitsubishi Mirage, one of the cheapest new cars you can currently buy.
The Mitsubishi Mirage is truly unbelievably cheap for 2022, but is it worth buying? Is a new car that is half the price of the average used car going to be worth it despite some features that may be missing? This is everything you need to know about the 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage, the cheapest new car that you can buy today.
2022 Mitsubishi Mirage – Price, specs, and fuel economy ratings
The 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact hatchback that is currently the cheapest new car in America. According to Mitsubishi, the Mirage starts at $14,645, not including taxes or fees. Compared with data found by CNBC, which states the average used car price is $33,341, the Mirage is less than half the price of the average used car today.
The Mirage comes standard with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that only produces 78 horsepower. This engine is paired to either a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic transmission.
This Mitsubishi subcompact car delivers unbelievable fuel economy for a gasoline-only engine, with an EPA estimated 36 mpg city and 43 mpg highway with the CVT transmission. The Mirage also carries a wonderful factory warranty, which offers a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
What the Mitsubishi Mirage’s trim levels include
The Mitsubishi Mirage comes in four different trim levels for 2022: the ES, LE, Black Edition, and SE. The Mirage ES is the base model and comes equipped as such. 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers are the only wheel option, and while the base model is very basic, it still has some driver convenience features, including cruise control, power windows, power locks, and a seven-inch display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Mirage LE takes the base model and adds some daily driving features, including an automatic transmission, 14-inch alloy wheels, leather interior, and an aluminum gear shift knob. Step up to the Mirage Black Edition, which adds rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, and foglights. 15-inch alloy wheels also add some extra style to the exterior.
The Mitsubishi Mirage’s top trim is the SE, which takes everything from the LE trim and adds features such as lane departure warning, LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, and a FAST-Key, which is Mitsubishi’s remote proximity-based unlocking and remote start system.
Should you buy this cheap new car?
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a unique and safe investment as a new car purchase in 2022. The Mirage gives buyers peace of mind with a brand new car with a lengthy factory warranty to pad any worries about reliability.
Automotive media outlets like Edmunds praised the Mirage’s fuel efficiency and long warranty. Some reviews from respected outlets like Consumer Reports gave the Mirage low scores in drivability and handling on the road test, but drivability is not the focus of the Mitsubishi Mirage.
The Mirage offers a fuel-efficient, reliable, factory-backed, safe, and affordable new car experience for a consumer that just needs reliable transportation. For what it offers, and as one of the cheapest new cars in America, it is definitely worth the test drive.
