More than ‘sneak preview’, Mitsubishi reveals its all-new Mirage

As a member of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, highlights Iain Robertson, it might have been fair for Mitsubishi to lean on its partners during the development of its latest compact model but it has not done so, which opens a raft of questions.

Mitsubishi (MMC) has unveiled its restyled and comprehensively updated Mirage (and Attrage saloon, which is not sold in the UK) in Thailand. Both models will be on display at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2019 being held from 28th November. The revisions give the new Mitsubishi Mirage a sharper and more dynamic exterior appearance, as well as a vastly improved interior design.



The new compact car adopts the bold ‘Dynamic Shield’ frontal design that denotes the Mitsubishi brand identity and is used to great effect on its other models. It sweeps around from the flanks of the car, towards the middle of the nose in a chrome-heavy but not unattractive feature. Combined with the squared-off grille and its criss-cross bar pattern, the effect gives the front end of Mirage a more powerful and sharper familial appearance.



Fresh headlamps make the front-end look wider and more stable. The styling of the multi-bulb LED combination units connects them visually with the grille and with the fog lamps located at the bumper corners. The rear is given a wider and more upmarket look, with a squared-off treatment for the bumper corners and new L-signature horizontal LED combination lamps that stretch across the width of the car. Mirage is finished off with a set of 15.0-inch diameter alloy wheels, complete with two-tone diamond-cut styling and two new body colour choices, White Diamond and Sand Yellow.



The much-revised Mirage also benefits from more user-friendly and stylish interiors. The front armrests feature a new design and several touch surfaces are finished in a tactile, soft-feel material. The switchgear and the power window switch panels use a carbon pattern trim, while upper trim levels are upholstered in a sportier fabric/synthetic leather combination, with the addition of piping and stitching to the seat sides that provide additional elegance.

The new Mirage is also available with Mitsubishi Motors’ new Smartphone Display Audio (SDA) system, familiar from its application in other Mitsubishis, with a seven-inch touchscreen for improved legibility and ease of use. The SDA system offers full smartphone connectivity including Bluetooth hands-free calling and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which whisk it right up to date in terms of connectivity.



The new Mirage is long overdue, a factor enhanced by a broad dissatisfaction around the dealer network, which suggests that, even heavily discounted, the current model has been one of the least popular of the model line. Even the last round of model revisions did little to alter its fortunes, although a truly inexpensive model was the result, for a brand renowned for durability and low operating costs. Although the details are scant at this stage, the final UK specification and prices of the new Mirage will be announced closer to its launch in early 2020.

MSG Summary

An important car for Mitsubishi, it is hoped that the new Mirage will address a number of the perceived issues with the current range and restore it to a stronger role within the model line-up.

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