Mitsubishi has scored something of a triumph here, with a small car that’s cheap, well equipped, roomy and capable of excellent mileage. Replacing to Colt, Mirage benefits from everything auto engineers have learnt about wringing maximum economy from small-capacity engines, without ruining performance; about making small cars safe; and providing maximum interior room in a compact body package. Contemporary body lines avoid those silly extremes on some of the latest small hatches. The LS is rated at 4.6 litres per 100km overall, the “luxury” GLS at 4.9. Around town, though, we were “only” getting in the sixes. One key to the good mileage is a new 1.2 litre SmartMIVEC three cylinder producing 58kW at 6000rpm and 102Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Although modest figures, they only have to move a curb weight of less than 900kg and a body with a slippery drag co-efficient of 0.30.The automatic is a new Jatco CVT that uses belts and planetary gears. Gears help provide get-up-and-go, then the belts seamlessly take over to provide economical cruising. The engine sounds noisy and hard working when asked to accelerate briskly, but it’s a smooth and quite refined cruiser. Mirage isn’t lacking safety gear, with driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, ABS, stability and traction control and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). There’s a three-point seatbelt at each of the three rear seat positions and a pair of ISOFIX child-seat mounting points. A GLS costs $3000 more and swaps manual air for climate control, 14 inch steel rims for 15 inch alloys, and adds fog lights and bits and pieces such as a spoiler. LS is the better deal. – Phil Hanson

Good features
Compact, economical

Not so good
Noisy, buzzy when busy

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