Ok, the facts. Mitsubishi Mirage isn’t a sports car. It’s not a utility vehicle. It’s not a car for everybody. But this subcompact doesn’t pretend to be more than it is, which is an attractively priced five-door hatchback (starting MSRP $13,395) that can handle the daily commute or a leisurely cruise. Let’s start off with a few observations from a week-long test drive. Mirage is an easy-to-navigate vehicle. There isn’t an overload of buttons, and the car’s step-in height makes getting into and out of the Mirage quick for both tall and short adults. The new for 2018 features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth phone/audio streaming, and a standard rearview camera.

Powering the 96.5-inch wheelbase Mirage is a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder that produces 78 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 74 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The engine mates with either a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. It’s not a powerful car, which makes it a great choice for drivers who don’t want to rack up speeding tickets. The hatchback comes in three trim grades: ES, SE, and GT. Cargo volume behind the rear seats is 17.2 cubic feet and that increases to 47 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. Tested Mirage GT collects estimated mpg of 37 city/43 highway and carries a MSRP of $16,595.