1996 Mitsubishi Mirage Reviews

Mitsubishi has a bit of a knack for making cars that people seem to remember fondly.In the case of its Mirage model, the very first series set the mood beautifully.The short, three-door hatchback had clean styling, an affordable price and was sadly missed when it disappeared from showrooms in 2003.But clearly, Mitsubishi buyers have long memories, because the model that sold here from 2013 to 2018, clearly traded on the goodwill engendered by that original Mirage.The formula was more or less the same, too; a compact, cheap and cheerful hatch that would be the first brand-new car for a lot of young drivers.Nothing wrong with any of that.While everybody knows the Mirage hatchback, there was also the rather more obscure Mirage sedan in the range, too, which arrived about 18 months after the hatch and really failed to fire the imagination of buyers.Which means the five-door hatch model is the most common one of the two models out there in used-car yards and, let’s face it, the one you’d want anyway.A quick comparison shows the sedan is longer and has a little more wheelbase, but the practicality of the hatch’s folding rear seat can’t be ignored.Beyond the external size differences, the interior dimensions are close enough to be not worth the argument, and trim levels and standard features are also on par with each other.That said, the Mirage as a price list leader model, where cost and RRP are everything, was a bit of a stripped out model.So forget about fancy projector headlights and a standard body kit, because power steering, basic air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity were the standout features.Unless you can find one of the 400 LS 'Plus Pack' limited-edition models which also got a few splashes of chrome and a front spoiler.Even the next-step-up model, the Mirage Sport got a rear rear spoiler (but no side skirts) and it did get alloy wheels.If you wanted cruise control, you had to stump up for the flagship version, the LS which had 15-inch alloys, climate control air, rain-sensing wipers and chrome door handles.Resale value won’t vary much these days, so you might as well find an LS or a Sport model as these were also the ones most likely to have been fitted with accessories like floor mats from the dealership.Oh, and if you want the hero colour from the day, forget boring old silver, black, red or blue and find one in that stunning shade of metallic lipstick pink… if you’re game enough.Despite the Mirage’s small exterior size, the boot on the sedan is actually very big and even the hatchback has decent luggage capacity contained in a practically-shaped space.Which is handy because there’s probably not enough actual roof area for a roof rack and towing a trailer is not the Mirage’s thing.While the Mirage’s rear bench is technically a three-seater, that’s really only if those three are smaller kids.But the front seats are actually quite generous and comfortable even for bigger adults.The catch there is that the steering column is adjustable for height, but not reach, so it won’t suit all body shapes perfectly.What mostly lets the Mitsubishi’s cabin down, however, is a high level of noise when on the move, coupled with an interior that feels like it’s been made from recycled take-away containers.And, again, because the car is built down to a price, you can forget about stuff like a sun roof, a fancy touch screen, or a standard navigation system.Neither do you get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but the stereo system does have Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stream music that way.Mind you, you might want to give that a miss, too, because the sound system in the base-model Mirage is pretty lame with just two speakers, a radio and a CD player.It’s no surprise that a lot of Mirages have aftermarket stereo upgrades, so check an individual car to see what’s been added.So what do you get? Mainly air conditioning and power steering, but there were power mirrors and windows, too.And if you buy a car made after the 2014 facelift, you’ll also get cruise control.Under the bonnet was the Mirage’s main point of difference with other tiddlers as well as perhaps its most charming feature.In size terms, the engine was par for the course, but if you look at its other major engine specs, you’ll see something very interesting.Rather than a conventional four cylinder engine, the Mirage had just three cylinders making up its 1.2 litres of capacity.That gave the motor great, useable torque but also a really fun feel and vibe.The whole budget thing meant there was no turbo or supercharger like some of the higher-priced competition, so you still had to make do with just 57kW of power.That’s clearly not a lot of horsepower, but with the car’s minimal kerb weight of just 900kg or so, it was a lot better than the bald figures suggest.Also helping was that 100Nm of torque which was meaty and accessible.Servicing costs will be a little higher than they might be, as the suggested oil for the engine is a synthetic type (more expensive) but at least the engine uses a timing chain instead of a belt which should be good for the life of the car.Mitsubishi offered a choice of gearbox with a conventional five-speed manual or a CVT.Not a normal automatic transmission, the CVT did, however, ensure that as much of the torque was available more of the time, so it’s actually okay to use.We’d always opt for the manual in such a vehicle, though.That said, from 2016 onwards, the only way to get the five-speed manual was to buy the base-model ES version, all others becoming CVT only.Because this was a conventional hatchback and not an SUV, there was no all-wheel drive version; just a front-drive platform that makes more sense anyway.At just 35 litres, the fuel tank looks ridiculously small, but when you consider the official combined consumption number of 4.9 litres per 100km, it starts to look a realistic size.We’re yet to see a Mirage with a towbar fitted and, in fact, Mitsubishi didn’t even list a towing capacity for the car.Aside from the fun of revving that little three cylinder engine up and playing tunes with the gearbox, the other thing you’ll soon notice is just how good the fuel consumption is.It doesn’t really matter how you drive it, the mileage from each tank will amaze you and put a big smile on your face as you stretch every litre of petrol.Acceleration is not exactly strong, though, and 0-100km/h will take more than 10 seconds, but outright speed is not really what this car is all about. And in any case, it feels faster than it is, which is probably more important.There’s plenty of ground clearance for speed humps and the steering is light and fast for tight, underground parking stations.Ride quality is okay, but not outstanding, and the Mirage relies on its standard tyres which have plenty of sidewall to cushion the ride a little.Watch out for a car whose previous owner has fitted aftermarket alloy wheels and low profile tyres as this can completely ruin ride comfort.The other downside is that the Mitsubishi is a fairly noisy device especially at highway speeds where the cheap interior plastics fail to damp out much of the noise and vibration going on around you.The Mirage scored five stars for crash safety in local independent testing, so that’s a good start.It features six airbags as standard, ABS brakes and brake-force distribution as well as stability control.There’s no standard reverse camera which seems a shame in a car aimed at young drivers, and only the Mirages built after the March 2016 facelift had ISOFIX mounting points for baby seats.Earlier cars still had restraint mounts, but the ISOFIX type is regarded as the industry standard.Despite its bargain price when new, the Mirage seems to have weathered the years pretty well and shows a distinct lack of common problems or other issues that lead to consumer complaints and lunchroom talk of mechanical defects.The engine seems pretty sturdy as does the CVT transmission (not something that can be said for every CVT out there).We would check the condition of the clutch, though, as many younger drivers struggle with a manual gearbox and this can accelerate clutch wear.Make sure there’s no noise when you let the clutch out in neutral and make sure the car doesn’t shudder or bunny-hop when you take off from the lights.The Mirage should have low servicing costs, but beware a used example that has suffered skipped services as reliability will be reduced as a result.Check the owner's manual for the service regime and stick to it.That way, any residual factory warranty still applying to a later Mirage will be yours to claim if the unthinkable happens.MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Mitsubishi Mirage problems page.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage LS with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Mitsubishi Mirage sedan, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The Mitsubishi Mirage has become Australia’s favourite sub-light hatch since its return in 2012, with its fresh design and attractive starting price pushing it straight to the top of the sales charts.

Light cars used to be the second car, the one that'd begrudgingly be taken to the supermarket when the real car was out. Not anymore. Light cars now make sense as the sole vehicle for city dwellers without kids - they're easy to park, will carry four adults in varying degrees of comfort and don't cost a fortune to fuel up.The rush to downsize means more than one in 10 cars sold today is from the light category. Carmakers have responded to that growing market with more standard gear at lower prices. They also understand a positive first experience could get you back to the dealership for your next vehicle, so you won't be ignored for looking at the “cheap” cars.They will try to upsell you into a higher model, though, so beware of alloy wheels and dual-zone aircon if steel rims and a power window is all you need. The average cost of the light cars in this field - entry level autos - is just north of $17,000. The Volkswagen is the dearest at $19,490 and is the only car here to demand premium unleaded petrol. It also feels to be the best built, but all of these cars are sturdy, reliable transport. Budget buyers should consider the Mitsubishi Mirage if outright performance isn't an issue. It costs $15,290, is the cheapest to refuel and annual servicing costs are just $250. The Mazda2 proves this segment isn't entirely price-driven. The little hatch leads the sales field this year, followed by the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20.They're not the cheapest cars to buy or run but they have a reputation for reliability and value that - at least in the case of the Mazda2 - has it campaigning strongly despite its age. Honda's Jazz has the best resale of this bunch, reflecting the brand's (slowly waning) reputation for producing better-built vehicles. The Barina is the thirstiest, needing 7.3 litres to travel 100km. That's half a litre more than the Mazda2.Carsguide has used the national average of $1.49.4 for unleaded petrol and added 8 for the 95RON fuel needed to keep the VW on the street. We have each car travelling 15,000km a year for three years. Price: from $17,290Residual value: 48 per cent $8299.20Servicing: $780 ($260 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49   Price: from $17,490Residual value: 46 per cent $8045.40Servicing: $840 ($280 first year)Thirst: 6.1L/100km $4090.05   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 46 per cent $8275.40Servicing: $740 ($246.67 first year)Thirst: 7.3L/100km $4907.79      Price: from $15,240Residual value: 45 per cent $6858Servicing: $750 ($250 first year)Thirst: 4.6L/100km $3092.58   Price: from 17,690Residual value: 48 per cent $8491.20Servicing: $1284 ($398 first year)Thirst: 6.2L/100km $4168.26   Price: from $17,440 (Neo)Residual value: 48 per cent $8371.20Servicing: $1949 ($599 first year)Thirst: 6.8L/100km $4571.64   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 55 per cent $9894.50Servicing: $1711.58 ($537.42 first year)Thirst: 6.6L/100km $4437.18   Price: from $19,490Residual value: 50 per cent $9745Servicing: $1085 ($347 first year)Thirst: 6.0L/100km $4249.80   Price: from $18,590Residual value: 50 per cent $9475Servicing: $567 ($189 first year)Thirst: 5.9L/100km $3966.57   Price: from $18,290Residual value: 42 per cent $7681.80Servicing: $841 ($239 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49  

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Mitsubishi Mirage was a major player in the small car scene in Australia during the 1970s and into the '80s. Indeed it was built in Adelaide for much of its time on sale here. Mirage faded from the local scene when the local branch of the giant Japanese company got into financial strife and closed its factories, but

Baby bundles rarely come as cute - or as affordable - as this trio of light cars. They are archetypal city cars - born and bred with the sole purpose of fitting your life into the city. Cheap to buy, cheap to run and so easy to drive, they cope well with freeways but really come to the fore in congestion.Filed into the light-car category, each is similar in size and packaging. Though there are some differences in engine layout, they are separated by badges and the stylist's pencil.It is glaringly reflective of the competitiveness of the light car market - the segment into which 20 different makes and 44 models engage in bitter fighting for sales - that each has strong warranties and capped-price service programs to ensure maximum ownership economy for budget buyers.On the sales chart, the long-standing Mazda2 holds more than 14 per cent of the segment, followed by the Mitsubishi Mirage and Toyota Yaris. That's an amazing grip for the Mazda that launched in 2007 and is one of the oldest in the class.The new Volkswagen Up may be one of the sales minnows in the segment but its uptake is strengthening and last month it outsold its Polo sister and was only seven units behind Nissan's Micra. The Mitsubishi Mirage comes out of left-field, replacing the long-standing and recently fizzled-out Colt with a clean-sheet approach.No surprises about the Toyota Yaris. It's been a pillar of the small-car brigade since it was called the Echo and despite the years and fresh rivals, remains a favourite. The trio here are small in fuel consumption, size and weight. But far from feeling unnervingly flimsy, they are solid performers.Yes, there is a sense that their diminutive size may increase occupant injury in an accident but each is rated at the maximum safety crash standard and equipped with top-end electronic aids. The specifications here are base-model - befitting the economy of ownership - but for more pampered buyers, there's some additional trim levels and options to lift any low-rent perceptions.For example, an automatic transmission - not available on the Up - may be preferred by Mirage or Yaris buyers and alloy wheels (standard on Mirage Sport) may lift visual appeal. It's your city - it's up to you.VALUENone of these breach $15,000 (though depending on where you live, on-road costs will push that out by about $3500). Bluetooth, a minimum of four speaker audio, iPod and USB connectivity, airconditioning and electric front windows and mirrors are the basics here.Mirage adds alloy wheels. The Yaris' cabin is the best looking, the Mirage is neat but conservative and the Up reflects the cool Teutonic approach with a big list of standard features, most impressively the automatic braking at low speeds to avoid a traffic jam bingle.Each has a capped service program (see spec boxes) to save you money. Again, VW rises to the fore as offering the most comprehensive service program but the Mirage has the best warranty and has full five-year roadside assistance.WINNER: VolkswagenDESIGNMitsubishi takes the conservative line but the Mirage looks - and feels - good. Mirage's cabin is traditional though gloss plastic trim works well.The Yaris is more edgy - just look at its RAV4 and Corolla sisters - that extends to the premium look of the dash and even the weird single windscreen wiper.The Up is a clinical design exercise that maximises cabin space, even though it ends up looking like a cardboard box with chamfered corners. Inside, The Up is functional, minimalistic and only comes alive when you add the $500 optional dashtop sat-nav/trip computer unit.Yaris has the longest wheelbase - by 60mm on the Mirage and 103mm on the Up - and its overall length exceeds Mirage by 175mm. That gives the Yaris its bigger cabin space. The Yaris driver also gets more adjustment than the others.WINNER: ToyotaSPACE AND COMFORTThe Yaris wins the luggage space game with a 286-litre boot area (rear seat up) but the space-saver spare wheel is partially responsible for the extra room.The Up offers 251-litres, and has a full-size spare, while the Mirage is 235-litres with a space-saver spare. Up and Yaris have a split-level boot floor. Each seats four adults but the seating positions and facilities are markedly different. Again, the Yaris is the more accommodating for rear passengers, followed by the Mirage and then Up.The Up has an upright rear seat with sufficient headroom and adequate legroom. Both the Yaris and Up three-doors need some limbered limbs to get in the rear and are no place for a baby seat.The Mirage, as a five-door model, is obviously the best for rear passengers. The Up's front seats are firm and comfortable but there's no switch for the driver to open the passenger side electric window. There are also only two vents - one each for the front occupants - which is simply insufficient in an Australian summer. A central vent directs air to the ceiling but its barely effective.The Mirage and Yaris get four dash vents though the former's central outlets are modest performers. Mirage has three child seat tether anchors and two Iso-Fix rear seat child restraints fitted, the Yaris and Up have two anchor points.WINNER: Toyota.TECHNOLOGYAll have five-speed manual gearboxes and are front-wheel drive. The Mirage is a better drive with the optional auto (add $2250), the Yaris is fine as it is and the Up only comes with a manual gearbox, severely limiting its audience.Yaris has a 63kW/121Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine and is up against a new breed of three-cylinder mills - the 57kW/100Nm 1.2-litre Mirage and 55kW/95Nm 1-litre Up. Yaris' bigger engine claims the biggest petrol thirst - though at 5.7 L/100km it's still a sip - while the Up is 4.9 L/100km and the Mirage the best at 4.6 L/100km. Up's clever low-speed auto braking is a gem.All cut body weight by high-tensile steel and compact dimensions, lightweight components and general corner cutting. As such, the rear suspensions are bare-basic torsion beams to save on price, weight and space - precisely the type of ingredients for the budget commuter.WINNER: VolkswagenSAFETYDespite their size, these are five-star crash-rated cars. Electronic stability control, brake assist and ABS brakes are standard. Yaris will automatically stop if the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed simultaneously. Up has class-leading automatic braking to avoid low-speed dingles and auto flashing brake lights in emergency braking plus is the only one with a full-size spare wheel. No model has park sensors or a reverse camera.WINNER: VolkswagenDRIVINGAll are fun and each lures with its intrinsic ability to delight the driver, generally at the expense of the passenger. But they are different animals.The Yaris' four-cylinder engine needs a solid right foot and complains noisily, but the fact it has one more cylinder than the others makes it smoother. The gearbox is a bit vague but the box feels solid.The Mirage and Up introduce the odd-ball three-pot beat into the cabin almost as a boast. Both are as quick as the Yaris and as responsive - especially the Up that loves a rev - but the Mirage has a reluctant gear shift action and the Up's change tends towards the rubbery.Electric-assist steering suits the car's target market and each works well, as does the stopping power despite all having rear drum brakes. Under acceleration, they all are relatively noisy. But for general city-suburban routes, it's not an issue.Even ride comfort is similar though the Yaris suited me better while the Up felt a bit “tinny”. Handling and lane-changing is more secure in the Yaris and Up, while the Mirage was let down by some steering vagueness.WINNER: Toyota

Nine years after it was withdrawn from Australia, the Mitsubishi Mirage has returned. Previously it was a three-door hatch, this time around it’s a five-door aimed more at the family market than the bright young singles.Mirage has a clear target audience with sales primarily in the metropolitan areas, with the majority of buyers being young females and drivers over 50 years downsizing from larger cars. Many the former will be first-time buyers of new cars. The all-new Mirage gives Mitsubishi entry to the booming light car segment that has risen from a modest 12,000 units in 2007 to last year topping 60,000 - up 21,000 vehicles in 2012 compared to 2011.As before, the Mirage features sharp pricing, indeed its recommended retail has barely altered in the nine-year absence. During the Mirage launch phase buyers will pay a driveaway price of $12,990. As a bonus, private buyers ordering before the end of January 2013 will get a $1000 gift voucher from a major shopping centre, effectively pricing the car $11,990. There are three specification levels, Mirage ES, Mirage ES Sport and Mirage LS.Technology includes Bluetooth 2.0, including media streaming, USB and Aux input, and a CD player. The steering wheel features telephone and audio controls. The wheel has height adjustment but no adjustment for reach. The latter surprises us in this day and age, but we guess costs have to cut where they can in this cutthroat market segment.Mitsubishi say the 'affordable' tag assigned to Mirage includes not just the price but also the service charges. The first four services – 15,000 km, 30,000 km, 45,000 and 60,000 km – are each fixed at $250. On top of that the Mirage comes with Mitsubishi's five-year, 130,000 warranty.It has an all-new 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or CVT auto transmissions. The engine produces 57 kW at 6000 rpm and has maximum torque of 100 Nm at 4000 rpm. Mitsubishi Mirage ES with a manual gearbox has officially been rated at 4.6 litres/100 km fuel consumption with the slightly heavier Mirage LS rated at 4.8L/100 km in the manual and 4.9L/100 km with the CVT transmission.Reflecting the buyer profile the new Mirage comes in a series of fun colours including mulberry, red, silver and white with ES models also being offered in blue and black.Affordable it is, but buyers may well be surprised by the interior quality and design. Beige and black softer plastics create a light, airy interior assisted by a relatively narrow A-pillar that gives the driver good vision. The dash is highlighted by a glossy piano black centre stacker. The cloth seats are comfortable and there is a surprising amount of rear-seat leg room for a car in this class.The rear seat has a 60/40 split that allows the cargo area to be greatly increased when needed. With the seats in use the luggage area is adequate, but has a fairly high lip. There’s room for five passengers, though the person in the centre rear should be on the slim side.At the launch in and around Sydney northern beach suburbs we were able to drive both the five-speed manual and the CVT variants. The CVT has a $2250 premium over the five-speed manual transmission although Mitsubishi expects the CVT to outsell the manual. During our road test we found the engine a little breathless when linked to the CVT, and preferred the smooth manual shifter which seemed to get more out of the engine. We had no trouble keeping up with Sydney's hectic traffic in either variant.

The new Holden Commodore is the most important new car of 2013. The upcoming VF, and the VF alone, points to the future of motoring in Australia.