2023 Mitsubishi Mirage G4

Overview

The 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 offers nearly the same affordability and efficiency as its five-door hatchback counterpart, known simply as the Mirage. Although, it’s worth noting that the base four-door Mirage G4 ES is $1,000 dearer than the entry-level five-door Mirage ES. There’s also less than 13 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan compared to the hatch’s 17 cubic feet, which expands to 47 with the rear seats lowered. To be fair, the G4 does provide an extra three inches of rear-seat legroom. Even though Mitsubishi’s subcompact duo shares the same three-cylinder engine and CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission), the EPA rates the Mirage G4 1 mpg less in the city and 2 less on the highway. Despite those three demerits, the G4 is still a cost-effective mode of transportation for those who’d prefer the shape of a sedan to that of a bubble.

What’s New for 2023?

Changes to the Mirage G4 for the 2023 model year include the deletion of the five-speed manual transmission (meaning the CVT is now standard on every model), as well as the addition of a black roof option that’s available on select trim levels.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

To its credit, the Mirage G4 comes with some worthwhile standard features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and an automatic climate control system. We’d suggest sticking with the base model rather than upgrading to a more expensive trim, as those prices put the Mirage G4 in contention with better cars from the compact. For instance, the range-topping SE trim level starts at $20,150, or just $665 less than the roomier and more powerful all-wheel-drive 2023 Subaru Impreza sedan.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

There’s no way around it: relative to rival models, the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is dealing with a severe horsepower deficit. Mitsu equips the little Mirage G4 with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that generates just 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. You’ll get a lot more muscle under the hood of the similarly sized Nissan Versa (122 hp and 114 lb-ft). All Mirage G4 models come with a CVT and front-wheel drive. In everyday driving, the pocket-sized sedan exhibits tepid acceleration. This is especially noticeable on the freeway, where heavy throttle inputs are necessary to muster the power needed for passing maneuvers. In addition to being underpowered, the engine sounds coarse and gets noisy at high speeds.

More on the Mirage G4 Sedan

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Fuel efficiency is one of this sedan’s key strengths. According to the EPA, the Mirage G4 achieves fuel economy figures of 35/41 mpg city/highway. With those numbers, this sedan gets better mileage than the Nissan Versa (up to 32/40 mpg). For more information about the Mirage G4’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With some economy cars, the cabin design transcends the expectations that you might have for a vehicle that’s modestly priced, but this isn’t the case with the Mirage G4. In terms of its design and the quality of materials used, the Mirage G4’s cabin is unambitious. Relative to its hatchback sibling, the Mirage G4 sedan provides an extra three inches of rear-seat legroom. Of the two models, this is the one to get if you need to comfortably seat passengers in both rows. The Mirage G4’s trunk offers less than 13 cubic feet of cargo space. The Versa, on the other hand, offers up to 15 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Every Mirage G4 comes with standard Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone calls. Base models feature a four-speaker audio system and HD radio, as well as a front USB port and an auxiliary audio-input jack. Additionally, a 7.0-inch display screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard. If you need a more premium sound system, you can upgrade to an available Rockford Fosgate setup.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

While the Mirage G4 comes standard with automated emergency braking, most advanced driver-assistance features are absent from the car’s options sheet. For more information about the Mirage G4’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Available lane-departure warning Available automatic high-beam headlamps

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mitsubishi’s warranty coverage matches beats the warranty protection offered for the Nissan Versa. Notably, the Mirage G4 does not provide complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $17,830 (base price: $14,830)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 12-valve inline-3, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 73 cu in, 1193 cc
Power: 78 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 74 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 100.4 in
Length: 169.5 in
Width: 65.7 in Height: 59.2 in
Passenger volume: 90 cu ft
Cargo volume: 12 cu ft
Curb weight: 2193 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:

Zero to 60 mph: 12.8 sec

Zero to 90 mph: 35.6 sec

Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 12.7 sec

Top gear, 30-50 mph: 6.2 sec

Top gear, 50-70 mph: 8.8 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 19.5 sec @ 73 mph

Top speed (C/D est): 100 mph

Braking, 70-0 mph: 170 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.78 g

FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 35/42 mpg
C/D observed: 33 mpg

More Features and Specs