18th Feb 2015, 09:57

Most "professional" reviews of the car are quite bad. OWNER reviews are almost universally quite good.

Cars like the Mirage have been off the market in this country for so long that I don't think many reviewers know what to make of it... particularly younger reviewers. They have never experienced new cars with such a humble mission and narrow focus, though these kinds of cars used to be common in the US market some years ago. The Mirage makes no excuses about being a basic car, and many professional auto enthusiasts seem taken aback by just HOW basic it is.

As far as Mitsubishi staying in the States, its chairman has said unequivocally (on many occasions) that they are not leaving. Were they going to leave, they likely would have done so a few years ago when their sales really cratered and would not be introducing new models now.

People said the same kinds of things about Subaru leaving in the mid-1990s and about Hyundai leaving in the early 2000s. They both improved their products, introduced some popular new models, and are doing quite well in the US today.

I guess time will tell!

11th Jun 2015, 11:52

Actually the Mitsubishi Mirage sells multiple times better than the maker expected.

If you take one for a test drive, or just ask somebody who owns one, you will find out why.

Mitsubishi is a huge and highly diverse corporation, and they have committed themselves to staying in the US. They would be stupid if not.

11th Jun 2015, 19:55

The reasons why professional 'car reviewers' rate the car so low is because they compare the Mirage to all the other cars out there. From a Beetle to a Ferrari.

Just like every other car, this one has strengths and weaknesses. Most of the owners, including myself, find that the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.

12th Nov 2015, 20:28

I have a Mirage and really like it. I don't "love" it, in the way some enthusiasts might their classic sports cars, but am thoroughly satisfied.

Most reviews, it seems, are comical in their focus. I agree with this writer that I don't need soft plastics. I do want reliability, efficiency, and low cost. This car is also very easy to park and move through crowded streets.

Here is my review of the Mirage (if I am to be a pro car reviewer). Compared to a military tank, the Mirage lacks armor, power, and off-road capability. It is also considerably less safe in a collision with another tank. As such, most buyers will want to spend the few extra dollars and go with the tank.