Key Takeaways
The decrease in sub-100 hp cars can be attributed to advances in technology and consumer preferences over the years. The Mitsubishi Mirage, one of the last low-powered vehicles, faces irrelevance in a market shifting towards more powerful and fuel-efficient cars. Mitsubishi’s decision to discontinue the Mirage reflects larger issues within the brand, prompting a strategic overhaul for the future.
Where have all the low-powered cars gone? We don’t mean the Toyota Corollas or the Hyundai Elantras of the world either, but the really low-powered cars – the sub-100 horsepower vehicles. About a decade ago, you had a dozen choices on the market if you wanted something that would struggle up a slight incline, but in 2024, there are just two left on the market. Yes, the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and its sedan sibling are the only mass-produced vehicles you can buy in the US today with less than 100 hp, but how did we get here? And does this mean we’ll finally be rid of low-powered cars forever?
Base MSRP $16,695
Engine 1.2L Inline-3 Gas
Horsepower 78 hp
Fuel Economy 36/43/39 mpg
Exterior Design 5 / 10
Performance 5 / 10
Fuel Efficiency 9 / 10
Interior & Cargo 5 / 10
Infotainment & Features 6 / 10
Reliability 7 / 10
Safety 6 / 10
Value For Money 8.5 / 10
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It may seem like a straightforward answer, but there’s a bit more to it than just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We’re not here to say we’re going to miss cars that struggle to get from stoplight to stoplight, but it’s worth noting that you don’t actually need as much horsepower as you think you do for run-of-the-mill commuting. Still, it’s interesting to look at the progression of slow cars over time, taking into account government regulations, consumer tastes, and how the automotive industry has found ways to improve cars over time. Start saying your goodbyes to the slowpokes now, because it’s going to take them a while to get here.
Mitsubishi
Horsepower Has Gone Up Over The Years
There are quite a few reasons why horsepower has increased over the years, but the main one is technology and production techniques that have improved mightily. Many like to look at the ’60s and early ’70s as a golden age of performance when road cars weren’t choked by dreaded emissions equipment. While it’s true cars from this time had fewer regulations, the reports of their performance may have been exaggerated just a little.
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In the ’60s, automakers used the gross measurement for horsepower, which inflated the performance of vehicles quite significantly. This led to massive discrepancies when testing a vehicle on the dyno, and in the ’70s they eventually switched to SAE net measurements to give consumers a more accurate idea of what their car was producing. This coincided with the introduction of catalytic converters in the early 70s, which just decimated performance for automakers across the board.
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The techniques companies had been using for decades were no longer valid, and you get the beginning of the Malaise era, with big cars, massive engines, and pitiful performance. Automakers had to return to the drawing board, and this was the era when computers were increasing by leaps and bounds. Electronic Fuel Injection was introduced in the ’80s, production techniques were improved due to increased automation, and designs were getting tighter and more reliable. Sure, cars still had a long way to go, but power started to return from the late ’80s to the ’90s. As engines became more reliable, power started to return, but this time it didn’t have to come for the sake of fuel economy thanks to techniques like Variable Valve Timing (VVT) debuting.
Mitsubishi
Cars also started getting heavier, due to new manufacturing techniques and newly required safety regulations. The same engines that worked before weren’t as effective anymore. Computers did wonders to improve timing, design, and reliability when it came to engines, allowing vehicles of all kinds to start offering decent performance and fuel economy. When turbocharging became prevalent in the ’90s into the ’00s, it was essentially game over for underperforming engines.
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It’s A Mirage
There are two nice things we can say about the Mitsubishi Mirage. One, it gets great gas mileage, and two, it’s a car. Other than that, even its bargain bin base price doesn’t make it much of a compelling option, because cars like the Nissan Versa have existed offering better standard features, more power, and an overall better build quality. You can’t help but feel intimidated by almost everything else on the road when in a Mirage, which is not a sign of a good vehicle.
2024 Mitsubishi Mirage Performance Specs At A Glance
Mirage
Mirage G4
Engine
1.2-liter Inline-3 Cylinder
Horsepower | Torque
78 hp | 74 lb-ft
Drivetrain
FWD
Transmission
CVT
CVT | 5-speed MT
Gas Mileage
36/43/39
35/41/37
0-60 mph
12.8 seconds
The Mirage G4 improves on this a bit by offering extra space, but again, just buy a Versa, or even a used Kia Rio. The Mirage is the perfect name for the vehicle at this point because whenever you see one zip by you trying to keep up with traffic, you’re left wondering why the car still exists.
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This leads us to the car’s biggest issue in 2024: it’s no longer relevant. What worked 15 years ago doesn’t work today anymore. Consumers no longer have to settle for an underpowered vehicle when they want something cheap with good fuel economy anymore. Today, you can get a Toyota Corolla Hybrid for $23,000, which produces 138 horsepower, and gets as much as 53/46/50 mpg. With its paltry 78 horses, 36/43/39 mpg fuel economy ratings, and over 12 seconds 0-60 mph time, the Mirage can’t compete – even if it costs $7,000 less. And once you sit in and drive it, you’ll understand why it costs so little.
Mitsubishi
While we believe automakers’ eagerness to cut small vehicles is nearsighted, there are better options on the market if you’re shopping for small, frugal cars. Heck, there are better options on the used car market. Buyers are more willing to buy used than ever before because vehicles that would once barely make it 100,000 miles are now making it to 150,000 and more, without major investment to keep them going. Used prices are falling, yes, but that’s just because automaker production has increased to pre-pandemic levels, giving consumers more buying power on the lot.
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The Mirage Is Fading
An ultra-budget vehicle like the Mirage just doesn’t need to exist anymore, and Mitsubishi has finally gotten the hint. According to reports, both the hatchback and sedan will be discontinued by the end of the year as the company makes room for a new core model. This is no surprise, as the company only managed to move 13,220 units of the model in 2023, down from 15,814 units in 2022. The numbers so far this year are looking better, but this isn’t a niche sports car we’re talking about. It is supposed to be a volume seller for the company, and its numbers say anything but volume.
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This also speaks to larger issues in the Mitsubishi lineup, as things have reportedly gotten so bad, that the company’s own dealers are suing it, alleging it’s impossible to make money off of the products it’s currently offering. The brand currently sells six models, but five of those are just variants of the Outlander and Mirage, so the options aren’t as varied as the company would like you to think. Fortunately, Mitsubishi has a plan to save itself in America, and it all starts in 2026. Called ‘Momentum 2030,’ the company has a plan to overhaul the entire lineup, including the introduction of a new model every year for five years. Electrification will be the focus, along with an improvement in how it conducts sales and its dealer network. Anything the consumer touches will reportedly be changed, as the company is no longer playing around.
Mitsubishi
The company even teased the resurrection of the Delica nameplate in the US, and it’s reportedly working with Nissan on a pickup truck to sell here as well. It’s the most exciting move by the company in a decade, and a lot is riding on its success – because if it fails, we may be saying goodbye to the brand after 2030. We’d much rather say goodbye to the Mirage than to the company, so here’s hoping the strategy works.
Sources:
Mitsubishi
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FuelEconomy.gov
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ConsumerReports.org
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GoodCarBadCar.net