Mitsubishi Mirage G4

The Mirage G4’s interior is just as uncomplicated as its outer shell, with piano black trimming ever-prevalent in the center console, door panels, steering wheel, and shifter knob. Infotainment is made up of a 6.75-inch touchscreen infotainment system with GPS Navigation complete with iPod compatibility and AUX/USB connectivity (GLS trim only). Despite the use of hard plastic materials, the G4 cabin manages a more upscale look than its rivals, thanks to some smart design choices including a two-tone contrasting trim, textured surfaces, and opting for curves instead of straight lines.

The G4's interior can accommodate up to five adults of average height, making it an affordable family car to own. The trunk offers a cargo space of up to 450 liters, which can possibly fit up to five overnight bags, more than enough for a weekend family vacation. 

The Mirage G4 has a straightforward exterior (re: basic), but one can’t really complain about it given the entry-level price range. The top variant of the G4 is fitted with a smiling chrome grille flanked by wraparound headlights, plus an angular front bumper integrated with vertical fog lamps. Inclining character lines run through the G4's doors, which adds to the car’s overall visual interest. The rear gets a stylishly contemporary bumper, large slanted rear combo lamps, and a distinctive chrome bar right above the recessed door handle. A set of 15-inch dark chrome alloy wheels caps off the Mirage G4’s easy-going exterior. 

Dimension-wise, the Mirage G4 measures 4305mm long, 1607 mm wide, and 1515 mm tall. The wheelbase is at 2550 mm, and minimum ground clearance is a respectable 170 mm.

Arguably the Mirage G4’s weakest point, it takes this city car more than 13 seconds to reach 100 kmph. NVH insulation also leaves much to be desired, as the engine is loud to the point of grating, even when the vehicle is stationary. Fortunately, great fuel economy numbers can make up for these shortcomings for those who prioritize savings in their car buying considerations.

Mitsubishi assembles the Mirage G4 at its Laguna plant since 2017, building three trims for the local market. All three are powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that delivers 77 hp and 100 Nm of torque. The top two trims, the GLS and GLX 1.2 CVT, have their engines connected to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Meanwhile, the base GKX 1.2 MT uses a 5-speed manual transmission. 

All of the Mitsubishi Mirage G4’s three variants come with standard safety features such as dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), driver and passenger seatbelts, and a brake override system (BOS). The top variants come with additional electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and ISOFIX child anchors. The infotainment system in the upper trims also double as a rearview monitor when you shift the gear into reverse. The brake system is composed of 14-inch ventilated discs at the front and 8-inch leading and trailing drums at the rear, with an 8-inch Master Vacuum serving as the system’s brake booster.

The Mitsubishi Mirage G4’s compact body and relatively fuel-efficient engine make it an ideal first car to own. The only major downside is the loudness of the engine and slow acceleration. Priced between PHP 735,000 and PHP 869,000, the Mirage G4 is a great option for those looking to buy a subcompact city car for daily driving.