2001 Mitsubishi Mirage DE review from North America

Dome light (bulb)

I bought this car just to drive on a vacation last year. I averaged 40 mpg ranging from 32 @ 85-90 mph to 45 @ 65-70 mpg. I changed to 15 k miles synthetic oil (along with 45 psi tire pressure and a new air filter) and got 44-47 mpg on a 5,000 mile vacation this summer. I went to San Diego (800 miles round trip) this week-end and spent $60 for gas. AMAZING!

I have owned many Dodge Colts (same car as Mirage) and switched to Mirage after Dodge quite making the Colt. Everyone of them has been extremely reliable and great on gas, all capable of 40 mpg + (with the exception of an 88 Colt that got 35) and the repairs were so few that the only one I can remember was an AC switch.

I was looking at an 01 Civic at the same time as this Mirage. The Civic had almost 3x as many miles on it and they were asking twice as much. The real deciding factor was comfort. The Mirage is not a luxury car, but the seat sure felt like it after testing out the Civic, it's seat was like a rock.

I am very happy with everything about this car except that it is so basic, nothing to get excited about. That's probably why I feel that they are the best kept economy secret out there.

As mentioned, I bought this car to take on vacation and then I was going to sell it. I ended up selling my other car and pick-up to keep this. While I still yearn for my (previous) Mark VIII (comfort and 300 hp Cobra alum eng) driving this car thousands of miles on trips w/o worrying about future repairs and not having $3+ gas bother me makes it very hard to give up.