Good news for aficionados of cheap, efficient little cars: there are now
100,000 150,000 200,000+ used Mirages on U.S. roads.
(150k sales total updated January 2021; 200k sales total updated January 2024.)
When Mitsu brought the 2014 model year Mirage to North America in 2013, they had extremely modest expectations, estimating about 7k sales a year.
Surprise #1: sales have been averaging about 20k a year.
Surprise #2: in the past 5 years, while sales of almost all other small hatchback cars have tanked and many have been cancelled (see:
Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again ), Mirage sales have actually increased a little bit each year.
Surprise #3: a healthy number of them have manual transmissions. (Despite the CVT having a better EPA rating, the manual is a lot more efficient in the real world in the hands of a mildly motivated eco-driver.)
Around 10-15%, going by listings on cars.com. While 50% of forum members are getting manuals.
Not a surprise #4: due to Mitsubishi's reputation (
didn't you know the Mirage is the WORST car you can buy?), used Mirages are selling for
peanuts.
That's why Daox got one!
2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 5 speed build thread
And that's why I've bought THREE of them over the past 5 years! The latest one is a base Canadian car, no options and sub-2000 lbs curb weight!
3rd time lucky! Bought yet ANOTHER cheap, 3-cyl Mirage eco-appliance!
Unfortunately, the car's future looks murky with Nissan's take-over of Mitsubishi last year. The next gen model is due out in the next year or so, likely based on an existing Nissan or Renault platform. So the next Mirage will probably be bigger, heavier & less efficient. They may even CUV-ify it, because apparently CUV's, crossovers and SUV's are all that the new-car-buying public is interested in.
That doesn't change the fact there now exists a decent sized fleet of 6th gen Mirages which will be coming up for sale sooner or later.
I have an e-mail alert set up for cheap, manual Mirages.... Even though a lot fewer have been sold north of the 49th (under 15k so far), it's probably just a matter of time for me.
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Some Mirage threads on EM ...