If you’re shopping for a new car right now, just one option under $20,000 remains.
The list of small, affordable cars in the U.S. has dramatically shrunk over the past several years, with well-known names bowing out due to flagging sales and razor-thin profit margins. Now, we add another to that pile with the Mitubishi Mirage. Both the hatchback and the Mirage G4 sedan have been around for more than a decade in their current form, but after rumors swirled of its inevitable demise last year, a company spokesperson outright confirmed to Car and Driver this week that the Japanese automaker’s tiny and cheap runabout is officially dead for 2025.
“Production will cease later this year,” said Mitsubishi’s North American communications senior director Jeremy Barnes, “and we expect to have sufficient dealer stock to last into the summer of 2025.”
So, that’s it then. Like I said almost exactly a year ago, we know the Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t the sort of car that people are itching to run out and buy. Nevertheless, some folks just want or need a small car with good fuel economy and a warranty, and that’s what the Mitsubishi Mirage provides. Not only does its 78-horsepower engine manage up to 43 mpg on the highway, but 2024 models start at $18,015 for the hatchback and $19,115 for the four-door sedan, including destination. Each Mirage also comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty as well as five years of roadside assistance coverage and a 2-year/30,000-mile maintenance plan.
For the time being, though, the 2024/2025 Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t the only affordable small car left in the game. The Nissan Versa is still an option (and a less expensive one, at that), though it’s also supposedly getting the ax next year.
Earlier this year, Mitsubishi signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan and Honda to explore a strategic partnership, which may lead to new models across all three automakers’ lineups. To clear the way, though, the Mirage obviously has to go, but with it goes the brand’s stake as one of the most affordable entry points into the new car market.
