Mitsubishi's Mirage: A Compact Car Struggling to Impress

In the highly competitive world of compact cars, Mitsubishi's 2024 Mirage has found itself at the bottom of the rankings, outperformed only by Jeep's 2024 Wrangler. With a dismal overall score of 38, the Mirage's shortcomings have been highlighted by Consumer Reports' thorough evaluation, leaving many to question whether this model can hold its own against the growing demands of modern drivers.

Uncovering the Mirage's Shortcomings: A Closer Look

Handling and Performance Woes

The 2024 Mirage has struggled to impress in Consumer Reports' tests, earning poor scores for emergency and routine handling, braking, acceleration, and transmission performance. This lackluster performance can be attributed, in part, to the car's extremely lightweight construction, tipping the scales at just 2,048 pounds. While lightweight vehicles can offer improved fuel efficiency, they often come at the expense of stability and control, particularly in emergency situations.

Safety Concerns in Crash Scenarios

The Mirage's lightweight design has raised concerns about its ability to protect occupants in the event of a collision. As Emily Thomas, the manager of safety at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, aptly stated, "No matter how many safety features a car has, there's no escaping the realities of physics. In a crash with a larger vehicle, a smaller vehicle is more likely to bear the brunt of crash damage."

Glimmer of Hope: IIHS Ratings

Despite the Mirage's overall poor performance, there is a glimmer of hope for the compact car. The vehicle has managed to achieve top marks on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) original moderate overlap front and side tests, indicating that it can provide a certain level of protection in specific crash scenarios.

Predicted Owner Satisfaction: A Concerning Outlook

One of the most concerning aspects of the Mirage's evaluation is its dismal 1/5 score for predicted owner satisfaction. This metric, which gauges how well a vehicle is likely to meet the expectations and needs of its owners, suggests that the Mirage may struggle to win over consumers in the long run.

A Tough Sell in a Competitive Market

The Mirage's poor performance and low predicted owner satisfaction ratings present a significant challenge for Mitsubishi as it seeks to compete in the crowded compact car market. With consumers increasingly demanding vehicles that offer a balance of performance, safety, and overall satisfaction, the Mirage may struggle to find its footing, unless Mitsubishi can address the model's shortcomings in a meaningful way.

The Road Ahead: Mitsubishi's Opportunity for Improvement

As Mitsubishi looks to the future, the 2024 Mirage's performance in Consumer Reports' evaluation serves as a wake-up call. The automaker must carefully examine the areas where the Mirage falls short and invest in targeted improvements to enhance the vehicle's handling, safety, and overall appeal to consumers. Only then can the Mirage hope to regain a competitive edge in the compact car segment and win over the hearts and minds of discerning drivers.