My 2 cents on the Mitsubishi Mirage COTY win

I first drove the Mitsubishi Mirage last year at the Bira race track in Thailand along with several of my media colleagues. At the time, I thought Mitsubishi was being just a tad optimistic at their targeted production of their newest small car: 100,000 units in their first year at Thailand’s brand new Leam Chabang plant. After much anticipation, Mitsubishi finally launched it in this country to much hype and techno-pop, including an innovative holographic display utilizing the façade of the Microtel hotel at SM Mall of Asia.

But I didn’t quite expect it to win one of the most prestigious awards a car brand could ever hope for: Car of the Year. A fair number of interesting new models were introduced last year, too, including the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger, and my personal favorite, the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ duo. All of these automobiles deliver a richer driving experience than the tiny Mirage, most especially the 86/BRZ which is such a sweet sports car for the money.

Let’s face it: the Mirage is a nice, small car. But I had to remove my “jaded critic’s” hat in order to appreciate what the little Mitsubishi is all about. I had to put myself in the shoes of someone who is looking for a reliable, cute runabout that will work either as a first brand new car or a second/third spare car (or for the kids)… and then it made sense to be awarded the COTY prize.

The Mirage is not the only small car you can drive home in the P500-640k range; you can also choose to go with a Hyundai Eon or i10, a Suzuki Celerio, or a Kia Picanto, for example. Yet one has to admit that the car is loaded. At P588,000 for a GLS with a 5-speed manual, it comes with features you’d be hard pressed to find in an entry-level compact sedan costing 100-150k more. It has power everything, dual airbags, ABS, a push-button engine start, 6-speaker stereo with navigation, and 15” wheels and tires (albeit on the slim side at just 175mm wide). If you like it automatic, the Continuously Variable Transmission adds only P50k for a grand total of P638,000.

How it looks and feels is also a major part of the equation, and while the Mirage isn’t the sexiest car you’ll find in the parking lot, it’s a chirpy yet conservative look that’s easy to dress up with aftermarket wheels and perhaps a little spoiler.  One of my neighbors got one in a snazzy red-and-white Ralliart scheme complete with replica decals and I have to admit it looks really good.  During our laps around Bira race track, I found the Mirage to handle pretty much like any other Mitsubishi car: good turn-in and high speed stability, comfortable but disciplined suspension, and a willing drivetrain. The 77hp engine won’t win you any drag races, but it revs willingly and feels bulletproof.  Frugal buyers will also be happy with the car’s thriftiness at the pump, which can be anywhere from 12-24 km/l if you’re driving in “light foot” mode. As expected, Noise-Vibration-Harshness levels are on the high side as is common in economy cars, and space is limited if you’re carrying four passengers. Trunk space is rated the highest at 245 liters, and you can fold the seats down if you need more space. Last  but not least, it comes in eight colors, including candy apple red, lime green, and yellow as the standout options.

For all these, the Mirage comes in at a price point that puts it within reach of the greatest number of buyers compared to the pricier, flashier COTY entries.  As a small car there’s nothing really remarkable about its basic engineering or design aesthetic. What’s remarkable is that it redefines what one should expect in an “economy” car. It’s proof that buying an inexpensive car doesn’t have to make you feel cheapened by the experience. Rather, that it’s possible to have a car that gives you plenty of options for customization, is frugal at the gas pump, has a respectable level of performance and safety, and is fun to look at and drive. Congratulations to Mitsubishi for a well-deserved Car of the Year award.

*On a side note, MMPC released a voluntary recall notice about a certain batch of Mirages with a faulty ABS sensor the day after it won the Car of the Year. The timing could have been better, of course, but minor recalls are common across nearly all brands and models, some of them even unannounced and hidden under the euphemism of “mandatory service bulletin” or words to that effect. Kudos to Mitsubishi for not sugarcoating the issue.