It is becoming impossible to get a new car that is “cheap.” While inflation and the pandemic have both certainly played significant parts in increasing MSRPs, it all depends on someone’s subjective definition of what “cheap” is. If you’re talking about walking away from a dealership with a brand new car for less than $20,000 all in, then you may run into problems. The 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage is on a very short list of brand new cars that can be purchased for under 20 grand. Or should we say “was” on a very short list.
According to a report from Automotive News, Mitsubishi is planning to discontinue the Mirage hatchback in the U.S. market. If the Mirage is so affordable and car prices are going up, why would Mitsubishi ditch a model that attract buyers looking to save money? There are a few answers; the first is that like every other automaker, Mitsubishi is prepping itself for a transition to electrified vehicles hybrids and BEVs. Anyone who is currently in the market is well aware that it just isn’t possible to get an electrified vehicle for less than $30,000 and that likely won’t change any time soon.
Second is the simple fact that buyers don’t seem to want the Mirage very much. The report says that sales for the Mirage have dropped 44 percent in the first half of 2023. That is much more than a blip on the line graph. Why are buyers in the U.S. getting so turned off by the Mirage? Well, while it’s true that the Mirage is affordable, has great gas mileage, and a respectable free maintenance plan, it also has some significant shortcomings. The Mirage’s driving experience was lacking and it’s also tiny. Right now car buyers are showing that they are looking for more space, and they’re willing to spend more to get it.
If you really just want an A-to-B car, and care very little about space or driving dynamics, then you still have some time to consider the Mirage. Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed it but the report says that it’s planning to pull the plug on the Mirage “mid-decade,” which leads us to believe the final model year could be 2024 or 2025. We’ve reached out to the automaker for official confirmation and will update this article if or when we receive confirmation.
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