Mitsubishi lobs new Mirage from $14,990 plus ORC

ALMOST five months after it was first revealed, Mitsubishi’s new Mirage micro car has touched down in Australia loaded with extra kit and priced from $14,990 plus on-road costs.

Sporting a new ‘dynamic shield’ front end, squared off bumpers, daytime running lights and a couple of new big-name safety features, the Mirage’s entry price has risen by $1000 over the old model with just two trim levels being offered Down Under.

Kicking off from the aforementioned RRP of $14,990, the base model ES is fitted with a 7.0-inch smartphone touchscreen audio system boasting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio, ambient temperature display and fabric seats.

Opt to spend an extra $2500 and you can have the LS variant ($17,490 plus on-roads) which adds single-zone climate control, self-levelling LED headlights with automatic high-beam, LED tail-lights, new 15-inch alloy wheels, four-speaker audio system, cruise control, privacy glass and a high contrast combination meter.

Both variants are powered by the same 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the old model, meaning power and torque are still pegged at 57kW and 100Nm respectively.

Drive as ever is sent to the front wheels with a five-speed manual transmission available on the ES while the LS scores a continuously variable automatic as its only option – the same CVT is available on the ES for a $1500 premium over the manual.

Safety measures on both models forward collision mitigation (new), reverse camera (new), active stability control and hill start assist while the LS once again ups the ante with lane departure warning – another new feature for 2020.

Parking sensors are also available on both variants as an optional extra.

Mitsubishi describes the new Mirage as a small car that’s big enough to use as a daily driver with seating for five and 235 litres of boot space, a figure that expands to 599 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

A rear cargo cover comes as standard, as does a 12V accessory socket for the rear passengers.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited senior manager for product strategy Owen Thomson said a number of “significant and thoughtful” changes had been made to the new Mirage in “all the key areas which we know our customers value in this segment”.

Two new colours have been added to the paint palette – Cool Silver and Sand Yellow – while a number of visual enhancements can be specced, including console and floor illumination, black alloy wheels, front, side and rear air-dams and carpet floor mats.

Last year Mitsubishi sold just 592 Mirages nationally, marking a hefty 42.6 per cent sales drop compared to the previous year when it managed 1032 sales.

Through the first two months of 2020 however there were 101 Mirage sales, accounting for 11.6 per cent of the micro segment behind the Kia Picanto (684) and representing a healthy 74.1 per cent increase on the same period last year.

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs