An Appealing Apparition?

Small cars for fleets needn’t mean diesel-engined superminis. The petrol-powered Mitsubishi Mirage promises low emissions and good value. Richard Gooding sees if it’s just an illusion

Think Mitsubishi and thoughts invariably turn to its long-standing reputation for building durable four-wheel drive vehicles, or fire‑breathing world rally cars from the mid-1990s. Yet the new Mitsubishi Mirage is a small, economical and environmentally-friendly car. Replacing the Colt, it comes to the UK ready to take the fight to other budget small cars such as the Chevrolet Spark, Nissan Micra and Suzuki Splash.

Cost-conscious
The Mirage’s real target markets are emerging countries. But, designed as a global product, Mitsubishi hopes to snag price-conscious drivers in Europe, too. Don’t think of it as
a mainstream small car competitor to take on established competition such as the Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio; it feels more at home at the more cost‑conscious end of the market. Three versions are available, all powered by three-cylinder, variable valve timing-equipped engines. The Mirage 3’s 1.2-litre unit develops 79bhp and boasts
100g/km, which means £0 Band A VED.

Low emissions
Mitsubishi has gone to great lengths to obtain low emission and high economy figures. There is a front grille with minimal openings, aerodynamic bumpers, low rolling resistance 175/55 R15 tyres; a regenerative braking system, high-efficiency alternator, as well as an intelligent battery sensor. Its 845kg weight is the lightest in its class, too.

The overall design is polite and unassuming, but with Pop Green paint, the Mirage catches the eye. It is an easy car to drive. The controls are light, and the gearbox has a positive action. The engine is typical of the breed, emitting a pleasing thrum. Quiet enough when driving in urban areas, it can be intrusive when cruising. The dashboard display includes a three-bar ‘Eco-Drive Assist’ graphic, which gives a visual indication of how economically the car is being driven, based on fuel consumption and speed. Keep the green bars lit for good eco points, but stray into the red area and you’re driving into the uneconomical mire. It’s an easy system to use, but it’s all too simple to light up the red area, as the engine bogs down below 2000rpm and furious acceleration sees the warning lamp flash almost uncontrollably.

Reasonable refinement
Mitsubishi claims 65.7mpg on the combined cycle. My real-world average of 51.3 is some way off that, but on a par with its competitors. Handling prowess isn’t a priority with this sort of car, and the Mirage is competent enough. When pushed it gets sloppy, but the soft suspension is comfortable and it offers reasonable refinement. A large cabin conceals an out-of-date interior with cheap-looking plastics pointing to cost-cutting. But if costs have been cut, it’s to the benefit of standard equipment. The £11,999 Mirage 3 comes with keyless entry, remote central locking, automatic air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, rear privacy glass, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

Designed with emissions in mind
Mitsubishi expects to sell a total of 4,500 Mirages in the UK in the 2013-14 financial year, and it says that it has already exceeded that forecasted sales target. It trails the more established supermini competition, but those low emissions (for a petrol-powered car) and the trump cards of high-kit count, value, and a low BIK rate aren’t illusory. Coupled with petrol prices lower than diesel and cheap running costs, the Mirage may prove to some to be more than an appealing apparition

Mitsubishi Mirage 3 1.2
ENGINE: 1193cc, 3-cyl petrol
CO2: 100g/km
MPG (combined): 68.9
VED: Band A
BIK: 12%
PRICE (OTR): £11,999 (including VAT, £12,419 as tested)