The 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage is the only new car you can buy for less than $20,000. The Mirage is still offered as either a hatchback or sedan.

The starting price for the Mirage is $16,245, making this a small car that easily fits into most budgets. In addition to offering a low price, this little Mitsubishi provides impressive fuel mileage and some advanced safety features to ensure you feel confident driving this car on any road. Mitsubishi added forward collision warning, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as part of the standard packaging for this little car. As expected, you’ll also enjoy a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty when you buy the Mirage.

You get the power you pay for in the Mirage

The Mirage is the cheapest new car you can buy, which means you shouldn’t expect much from it. This little car is powered by a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine that provides 78 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque to your drive. This power is delivered to the front wheels through an automatic transmission, which is now standard for the Mirage. If you chose the hatchback, you’ll enjoy 36 city/43 hwy mpg, but if the G4 sedan is your selection, the fuel mileage figures are 35 city/41 hwy mpg.

Which trim is right for you?

Strange as it might sound, the Mitsubishi Mirage is offered in four different trims. Let’s take a look at what each trim offers.

ES Trim

The base model is the ES trim, giving you a Mirage that’s as basic as you can get in 2023. This trim level gives you:

• Power windows and door locks
• Steering wheel audio and cruise controls
• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Automatic climate controls
• LED taillights
• Split-folding rear seats
• Eco Indicator
• 7-inch infotainment screen
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Rearview camera
• Bluetooth
• One USB port
• 4-speaker audio system

These are the standard features regardless of whether you choose the hatchback or G4 sedan.

LE Trim

Moving up one trim level in the Mitsubishi Mirage brings you to the LE trim, which is still priced below $20,000. This trim adds to the ES model with:

• Alloy wheels
• Fog lights
• Leather and aluminum shift knob

That’s right, this trim only adds a few small items to the mix.

Black Edition Trim

The Mirage Black Edition is primarily an appearance package that adds a few items to build on the LE trim. This third model on the ladder is still priced low, making it an affordable option. This trim gives you:

• 15-inch black alloy wheels
• Black mirror caps
• Black spoiler
• Red grille accents
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with red stitching
• Red accent stitching in the seats
• Automatic headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• red cloth door insert trim

This trim could be the most attractive version of the Mirage offered.

SE Trim

The top trim level for the Mitsubishi Mirage is the SE trim, which is still priced below $20,000. This top-level model gives you some excellent features without breaking your budget. These items include:

• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Lane-departure warning
• LED headlights
• body-colored mirrors with turn indicators
• Cloth and faux-leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• driver’s seat armrest
• Push-button starting
• Chrome interior trim

The SE trim is the one that most drivers are likely to drive and enjoy every day.

What are some of the best features of the 2023 Mirage?

Most drivers will enjoy some features over others, which could point you toward one trim over some of the others. If you’re looking for the most stylish version of the Mirage, the Black Edition model is the one you want to drive. Other desirable features you’re sure to enjoy are:

• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – Getting connected is easy, and this system integrates with your smartphone to provide the apps you enjoy every day
• 7-inch infotainment display – Although this is a small screen, the Mirage is a small car, and it fits perfectly in the lineup
• Rear seat pass-through – Sometimes, you need to carry longer cargo. The G4 sedan has a pass-through from the trunk to the rear seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel – This item makes the Mitsubishi Mirage feel more upscale and impressive than the plain plastic wheel in the base model. You’ll need the Black Edition trim for this feature
• LED headlights – These lights are only found in the SE trim, but they help you see better at night and make driving much safer and easier
• Driver’s seat armrest – Another item only found in the top SE trim, but it helps you be more comfortable during your ride

Will you spend less and drive more with the only new car priced under $20,000?