The Mitsubishi Mirage Gets Restyled for 2017

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage (Credit: © Mitsubishi)

I really don’t start my day wondering how I can give Mitsubishi even more crap. Really, it just comes organically with each decision the automaker makes. Today, it has revealed the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage and its refreshed exterior. I will admit that this look is a bit better than the current model, but this is still little more than taking the orbital buffer to a turd.

Mitsubishi limited most of the revisions to the subcompact hatchback’s front end. Up here, you’ll find a refreshed hood, a new grille, an updated bumper, new fog lights, and updated headlights. I have to hand it to Mitsu that the front end no longer resembles a late-1990s Accent – nice work – but it’s still not pretty. According to the automaker, it also reworked the 2017 Mirage’s rear bumper.

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage (Credit: © Mitsubishi)

Mitsubishi spent a little time refreshing the Mirage’s plain-Jane cabin as well. In here, the new bits include upgraded seat fabrics, a revised gauge cluster, a new steering wheel, an updated shifter bezel, a new 300-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system, and an in-car display audio system. The latter also supports the latest tech, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

For 2017, the revised Mirage carries on with the same 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine as before, but its horsepower jumps to 78 – a 4-horsepower increase – while torque remains unchanged at 74 pound-feet.

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage (Credit: © Mitsubishi)

One huge flaw in the current Mirage (one of many) is its suspension system. For the 2017 model year, Mitsubishi has revised this area, giving it a better spring rate and enhanced the damping force to add some stiffness and improve handling. Also new are larger disc brakes up front and bigger drums out back to help enhance stopping power.

The new Mirage will hit showrooms in the spring of 2016, and pricing will likely come just before it arrives. We’ll bring you the latest as it becomes available.