---
title: "The Extremely Cheap Mitsubishi Mirage Is Headed Towards Its Best Sales Year"
description: "Mitsubishi is having a fantastic year for sales, even while the industry as a whole might have peaked."
date: "2019-10-09"
modified: "2019-10-09"
authors:
  - name: "Chad Kirchner"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chad-kirchner"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/30144/the-extremely-cheap-mitsubishi-mirage-is-headed-towards-its-best-sales-year"
categories:
  - "Mitsubishi News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Eclipse Cross"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "Mirage"
  - "Mirage G4"
  - "Mitsubishi"
  - "sales"
---

# The Extremely Cheap Mitsubishi Mirage Is Headed Towards Its Best Sales Year

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/10/2018_Mirage_GT_11.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The [Mitsubishi Mirage](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6398/what-do-you-really-get-in-the-nations-three-cheapest-cars>), the cheap car that auto journalists love to hate, had a strong month with 2,196 sales. That's up 28.4-percent compared to September 2018, and it puts the little hatchback on course for what might be its best year ever. That's not insignificant in an up-and-down year. Likewise, Eclipse Cross year-to-date sales have nearly tripled compared to 2018. Has once-moribund Mitsubishi finally come back from the dead?

"I think there's an affordability story," said Tyson Jominy of J.D. Power to *The Drive*. "Many automakers have discontinued models at the lower end of their portfolio. This creates more opportunity for a company like Mitsubishi to succeed."

Indeed the Mirage is an affordable car with a warranty. Starting at $13,795 the Mirage has air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. It carries a 10-year powertrain warranty and a 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. It's also rated at 36 mpg in the city, 43 mpg on the highway, or 39 mpg combined. For a non-hybrid small car, those fuel economy numbers are impressive. The 2020 [Nissan Versa](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27405/2020-nissan-versa-sedan-modern-looks-and-advanced-safety-tech-bundled-in-a-tiny-package>)'s combined fuel economy rating is 36 mpg, which is 3 mpg less and the base price is more expensive.

Enthusiasts will argue that Mitsubishi shouldn't have used the Eclipse name on a crossover, but the [Eclipse Cross](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/7649/the-mitsubishi-eclipse-is-returning-as-an-suv-named-eclipse-cross>) pulls off the same value-for-dollar argument that the Mirage does. It starts just under $23,000, and a fully-loaded one is less than the competition. It's also not a bad car to drive.

When you factor in the warranty for both the powertrain and bumper-to-bumper, the Eclipse Cross makes sense to some buyers.

Everyone seems to talk about how expensive vehicles are getting. [Mandatory safety features](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20612/rearview-cameras-are-now-required-on-all-new-cars-sold-in-the-u-s>) and demanded creature comforts haven't helped in keeping those prices low, but there is transportation options out there that can put the buyer in a nice, new vehicle, with peace of mind without breaking the bank. Mitsubishi seems to have figured that out and customers are responding.

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