The Mitsubishi Mirage, known for being one of the cheapest new cars on the market, is facing discontinuation. This news was confirmed by a Mitsubishi spokesperson to Car & Driver. Both the Mirage G4 sedan and Mirage hatchback will be done after 2024.
Jeremy Barnes, the North American spokesman for Mitsubishi, stated that the Mirage will be discontinued in the U.S. market with no 2025 model. Production is expected to cease late this year, with dealer stock likely to last until the summer of 2025. The Mirage was the most affordable vehicle in Mitsubishi’s lineup, with prices starting at $17,840 for the hatchback and $18,940 for the sedan.
The decision to discontinue the Mirage has been in the works for some time. In early 2023, Mitsubishi announced that the small car would be discontinued in Japan, but assured customers in the U.S. that there was no need to worry. However, by late summer 2023, rumors began circulating that the Mirage’s cancellation was part of Mitsubishi’s larger plan to shift focus away from sedans and towards crossovers.
Analysts believe that Mitsubishi’s decision to axe the Mirage is a strategic move to make way for a new small, affordable crossover to take its place. This shift mirrors what other automakers, like Hyundai, have done by replacing sedans with crossovers to meet changing consumer preferences.
The discontinuation of the Mirage is significant for the small car market, as it leaves few options for consumers looking for affordable new cars. While Nissan’s Versa is priced similarly to the Mirage, reports suggest that it may also be on its way out. As a result, there will soon be no new cars available with a starting price under $20,000, leaving a gap in the market for budget-friendly options.