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Ha!! Thanks for posting that.
From a UK source, I'm not at all surprised.
The car faces an entirely different market in Europe, that's for sure. Stiffer competition on all fronts: handling, refinement, cost, efficiency. Very hard to defend it against the plethora of small cars available. That's why I'm surprised Mitsu hasn't discounted the car more for you guys.
In Canada and Australia the car is heavily discounted by the manufacturer to make it price-competitive - making it one of the (if not the absolute) cheapest. Some U.S. buyers are getting screaming deals as well, but it's a combination of manufacturer rebates and the individual dealers' discretion.
In Canada & the U.S., it's impossible to beat on a value/MPG basis among new cars. And we don't even get the 1.0L option that you guys get! 1.2L only outside of Europe/Japan.
I won't defend the car's handling though. My opinion: the copious body roll is ridiculous. However, the ride is pretty plush for a small car. (Is that a defense? Didn't mean to! I'd rather have some fun in the corners.)
As a matter of fact, there's an ongoing poll on MirageForum, and most (48 to 6, currently) wish the company had tuned the suspension better. Fortunately, for a few hundred bucks you can add an aftermarket rear sway bar to settle things down.
Steering is another matter. It's over-boosted and has oddly weak self-centering. Just my opinion -- most people don't seem to care.
Still, nothing else can touch its efficiency/value on this side of the ditch at the moment. I'll probably get one (used) some day.
At which point you have my permission to pity me from your country with its ridiculous surplus of choices for efficient little cars.
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