The Mitsubishi Mirage is a compact car built from 1985 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 76.4% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl, 3-cyl. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Mirage is
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a compact car that Mitsubishi built from 1985 to 2026 — 42 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2021. It has been offered with 4-cyl, 3-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Mitsubishi range: Eclipse, 3000GT, Diamante.
Where the Mirage is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 500 Mirages on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JA3 | 1987-2002 | |
| Thailand | ML3 | 2014-2024 | |
| the United States | 4A3 | 1991-1992 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mitsubishi VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Mirage belongs to. What every character in a Mirage VIN means →
Mirage generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Mirage's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Mirage that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 427 cm | 242 cm | 992 kg | - | - |
| 2014-2020 | 378 cm | 245 cm | 930 kg | -49 cm | -62 kg |
| 2021-2025 | 385 cm | 245 cm | 940 kg | +7 cm | +10 kg |
Mitsubishi Mirage tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Mirage owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Mirage have? Power & range
The Mitsubishi Mirage is offered with 2 powertrains — 1.2L 3-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mitsubishi Mirage, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-cyl | 1.2L · 3-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 1.5L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Mirage by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mitsubishi Mirage. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Mirage | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 65 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 788 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,135/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 165 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mitsubishi Mirage?
The Mirage is a compact car, built from 1985 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, 3-cyl.
Where is the Mitsubishi Mirage made?
Across 500 cars in our records the split is: Japan (76.4%), Thailand (21.2%), the United States (2.4%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Mirage have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2021. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Mitsubishi Mirage warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Mirage reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Mirage?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mitsubishi
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 140 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1990–2012 | 136 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2002–2017 | 78 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 1985–2012 | 67 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | 1991–1999 | 21 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011–2026 | 67 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |