There are many great options in the world of sedans, and the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage may or may not be one of those options. To be clear, the Mirage isn’t a great car in many ways, but it is good in a few ways that ultimately makes it a worthwhile choice for some. Here’s a look at the one type of driver who will definitely appreciate the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage is cheap and fuel-efficient

The Mirage has received a lot of negative press, but most car reviewers, as well as customers, can agree on two things about the Mirage. At a starting price tag of about $14,000, the Mirage is simply one of the most affordable cars on the market. And when equipped properly, the Mirage can even get a combined 39 MPG, according to MotorTrend, and that simply makes it one of the most fuel-efficient cars available right now.

The standard Mirage is a hatchback that comes with a manual transmission, and it only gets 35 MPG combined. However, when equipped with an automatic transmission, the hatchback Mirage gets that 39 MPG rating that MotorTrend talked about.

Regardless of the details, the Mirage’s fuel economy is still very impressive, and when paired with its cheap price, it makes a compelling case for one type of driver in particular.

Who should buy a 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage?

According to MotorTrend, while drivers may have to spend a little extra to get the most fuel economy from their Mitsubishi Mirage, it isn’t actually that big of a premium. After all, all Mirages are equipped with the same tiny 1.2-liter I-3 engine, and that little thing gets about 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque no matter what. 

Furthermore, for one reason or another, the hatchback version of the Mirage is actually the cheapest version of the car. As a result, the only thing that cost-conscious customers will have to upgrade is the transmission. As such, the Mirage hatchback with an automatic transmission will cost about $15,600, which is about $1,300 more than the standard hatchback Mirage with a manual.

So, for $15,600, customers can get a car that gets 39 MPG combined, which is simply a lot of savings in the long run. Drivers certainly have options to upgrade their Mirage further, as there are trims, such as the G4 SE sedan, which cost over $18,000.

However, Mirage drivers may not want those options since they are probably not looking to buy a fancy car to begin with. They are probably looking for an affordable and fuel-efficient car, which the Mirage is.

How the 2021 model compares

And, when it comes to just those factors, the Mitsubishi Mirage is a good car, according to MotorTrend. In fact, the only cars that placed above the Mirage on MotorTrend’s list were all hybrids, and hybrids will cost more than a regular car like the Mirage would. 

For example, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid won first place with 59 MPG combined, but it starts at over $24,000. Similarly, the Toyota Prius, which came in at second place, also has a very good fuel economy of about 56 MPG combined, but the Prius will similarly start at about $25,000.

Certainly, due to the superior fuel economies of those cars, they can eventually make up that price difference. That said, it’s a very significant price difference, and many cost-conscious customers can’t afford the $8,000 or so premium. As such, for those types of drivers, the Mirage is still in the lead.