2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Review: Cheap, Not Cheerful

Mitsubishi's days of Paris-to-Dakar victories and successive generations of all-wheel-drive Lancers decimating rally stages (and the competition) are long gone. Nowadays, it's a purveyor of crossover SUVs, and this, the entry-level 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 - the most affordable 4-door sedan available on US soil. This is a subcompact sedan of the most basic variety. As such, there is a dearth of power as this small car makes do with a 1.2-liter inline-3 gas engine with only 78 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque. Build quality and the materials used are subpar and the driving experience leaves much to be desired as well. Thankfully, it is very economical, far more so than rival vehicles such as the Kia Rio and Nissan Versa. The price of the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan in base form starts at $14,995, but this isn't enough to make us overlook a number of glaring flaws.

Mirage G4 Exterior

Dimensions

Mirage G4 Performance

Engine and Transmission

The mechanical specs of the Mirage G4 sedan don't read well. A single engine option is offered on the 2020 - a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine with 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission on the base ES is a 5-speed manual, but LE and SE models come with a CVT automatic - all models are front-wheel drive. Predictably, towing capacity is rated as zero, but the benefit to being light and underpowered is superb gas mileage, with CVT models predicted to sip 35/41/37 mpg city/highway/combined.

Mirage G4 Interior

Mirage G4 Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 A Good sedan?

The sixth generation of the nameplate globally, the Mirage G4 does have its strong points, but those are restricted to its low price, excellent warranty, decent infotainment system on upper trims, and best-in-class gas mileage - up to 37 mpg combined. In all other respects, it is disappointing and the quality of materials and workmanship is poor. Its overall NHTSA safety rating is four stars, the driving experience is unsatisfactory, and the G4's engine provides lethargic response and acceleration while straining and revving noisily in the process. And that's just around town. On the highway, it is entirely out of its depth and it feels lightweight and wayward, with the engine working hard to get up to speed and gusts from passing trucks blowing it about. Not even the seats are particularly comfortable. Rivals do a far better job of moving people around in comfort than the Mirage G4 and they don't even cost much more. Our 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 review can be summed up pretty simply - look elsewhere.

What Mirage G4 Model Should I Buy?

Unless you absolutely must have a manual transmission, the base ES is to be avoided. The mid-tier LE adds the CVT automatic transmission and has several more features than the base car, with a proper touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, as well as a driver's armrest and red accent stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The lackluster driving experience remains, but the superior infotainment and Rockford Fosgate audio system at least offer useful distractions from the lack of refinement elsewhere. There is no point in going for the top-spec SE just to get fast-key entry and push-button start.