Darin's test drive review notes: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan 1.2L CVT

[redpoint5]

Very impressive numbers. My Prius when not plugged in only gets 52 MPG, but then again your driving conditions were much slower than I encounter. Still, to flirt with Prius fuel economy at such a low price point is impressive.

I'm even more surprised to see actual MPG was better than indicated MPG. My Prius is optimistic by about 5%.

Curious to see the speed vs MPG chart now.

[MetroMPG]

I suspect a fill discrepancy. The next one may average the total MPG down a bit -- the last Mirage I drove (2014 model) had a ~5% optimistic MPG gauge.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by nemo

What % of the grill is functional as opposed to just for styling. Any interesting aero bit and pieces.

The hatchback grille is partially blocked, and interestingly, the amount blocked varies depending on whether you get the CVT (more cooling needed) or the 5-speed.

Mitsu reports a Cd from 0.27 to 0.31 for the hatchback, depending on options.

They say the sedan is 0.29

Here's a pic of the sedan's maw, lightened to show the open/blocked areas (inside the green lines is open):



Like the hatch, there are also plastic undertrays on both sides in the middle of the car, looking forward:



But the sedan gets a small rear undertray on the non-muffler side too:



One thing I noticed driving the car on the highway on a windy day, it moves around a fair amount on the road. Aero effect or just the light curb weight?

[MobilOne]

Right now at Gwinnett Mitsu, Duluth, GA, one can get a new 2015 Mirage, auto for 10k. or a 2017 for 13k.

[MetroMPG]

This chart shows how the CVT is able to deliver such impressive MPG numbers.

It tries its little heart out to keep cruising revs as low as possible.

(Unlike other CVT's I've driven -- eg. Jeep and Audi -- where I had to use "manual" shift mode to encourage the car to save gas.)

Of course, this fuel-saving CVT programming is one reason why many typical auto journos don't like the Mirage with the automatic. They want SPORT CAR NAOW! I suggested to Mitsu's PR person that they should only loan out 5-speed Mirages to the media. He thought I was joking.



Numbers are from bi-directional runs on a dry, level road in mostly calm (light wind) conditions, ~70F / 21C ambient, A/C off.




<1500 RPM, baby!

On level roads with a light foot, you can drive around all day at sub/urban speeds under 1500 RPM (after the initial torque converter lock-up), including during light acceleration.

[Daox]

2200 RPM at 68 mph is pretty darn good. That is what my Metro was at at 45 mph!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MobilOne

Right now at Gwinnett Mitsu, Duluth, GA, one can get a new 2015 Mirage, auto for 10k. or a 2017 for 13k.

I'm surprised they have any 2015's left. There was a big spike in sales in March when they put them on sale - they blew out a lot of cars.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Fun, yes, but also cargo space. How many X (fun, silly and maybe practical) things can fit in it? PaleMelanesian's report that his Fit could do three car seats in the back and a hay bale in the trunk put the Fit on my short list.

Sorry, I have no fun or silly "what can I stuff in a Mirage" stories for you. No hay bales.

Also: No long cargo for you!

In fact, the car is a bit of a let-down in the cargo department: despite a reasonably big trunk (baby's got back!), there's no passthrough or any way to fold the seat down! That's a big oversight on Mitsu's part -- all their competitors offer a folding rear seat at least on the top spec trim.

I asked Mitsu's PR person about it, and he said, "it's on our wish list."

Curious why it's not available now, I pulled the trunk panel and the rear seat out for a peek.

Aha. Bracing:





At least the solution isn't too complicated if an owner wants a DIY trunk pass-through. 12 bolts to remove those braces.

It's funny: I once had an '89 Accord mid-trim sedan with a non-folding rear seat (the seat folded in the top trim sedan). So I pulled the rear seatback out and found similar bracing as this, but it was welded in place in the Honda. I hacksawed it out.

Stretch

On the upside, the rear seat legroom is honestly impressive -- and not just "impressive for a small car".

I remember thinking the back seat room (legroom) in the Mirage hatchback was surprisingly generous. The sedan blows it out of the water.

In Canada, Mitsu advertises the G4 as "best in class", and I can see why. (I'm not sure if the same claim is made in the States, because the Nissan Versa sedan may have more legroom... if it's in the same class.)

I'm average height (5'10"). Check out how much room I have when sitting "behind myself" (driver's seat adjusted for myself):




How is this possible? Because the Mirage's seat is a bit higher off the floor, and you can get your feet under it and stretch out. Can't do that in the Camry.

(I will admit I set my driving position probably a little closer to the controls than most people my height. But still, take away a few inches of knee room, and it still doesn't hinder the stretch-outness factor.

The rest of the interior, sans haybales:

[Fat Charlie]

Bummer about no pass through. I guess they really wanted those braces, and doing something fancier than regular folding seatbacks would have cost too much for their price point.

[Hersbird]

You figured out the pass through, it would still work for many common things like skis with the braces in place. Good investigation BTW. I don't see Motortrend pulling apart cars to see whats under the skin, or giving detailed charts like speed vs rpm.