12 lightest cars in the US, 2014 (vs. Mirage 1973 lb curb weight) ... UPDATE 2022

http://mirageforum.com/forum/attachm...1&d=1381239098

We all know the Mirage is a pretty dang light car compared to most. But, let's see how it really stacks up against the other cars it is competing against. For now I am simply focusing on the US market because that is what I have easy access to. (But feel free to add info from your home country as well.)

Weights are in pounds (kilograms). The lightest cars are at the top and weight increases as you go down the list.

	Car	Manual Weight lbs (kg)	Automatic Weight lbs (kg)
1.	Smart ForTwo	n/a	1808 (820)
2.	Mitsubishi Mirage (US)	1973 (894)	2029 (920)
3.	Scion iQ	n/a	2127 (965)
4.	Toyota Yaris	2295 (1041)	2315 (1050)
5.	Mazda 2	2306 (1045)	2359 (1070)
6.	Chevrolet Spark	2269 (1029)	2337 (1060)
7.	Nissan Versa (sedan)	2354 (1068)	2412 (1094)
8.	Fiat 500	2363 (1072)	2434 (1104)
9.	Hyundai Accent	2396 (1087)	2463 (1117)
10.	Kia Rio	2410 (1093)	2480 (1125)
11.	Honda Fit	2496 (1132)	2577 (1169)
12.	Mini Cooper	2535 (1150)	2612 (1185)
13.	Ford Fiesta	2537 (1151)	2575 (1168)

So, the Mirage really is a feather compared to most, and that's one of the reasons why it gets best in class fuel economy. Only the Smart ForTwo beats it in weight. Everything else is substantially heavier. Even the smaller Scion iQ is 8% heavier, and the porky Fiesta is a whopping 33% heavier.

But what about power to weight ratios? Isn't that really the most important stat?
See thread: Mirage vs competitors power to weight ratio comparison

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Canada's list is a little different, with the addition of the Nissan Micra (not sold in the U.S... yet). See: 10 lightest cars in Canada 2014 / 2015 (vs. Nissan Micra)

Nice list. It applies to the Canadian market too. (Though I think we're maybe missing a couple of Lotus sports cars which tend to be very light as well. But they're not mass market cars, and they definitely don't have 5 seats!)

It really puts things in perspective - Mirage will be the lightest passenger car available with more than 2 seats.

Anyone else want to do a list for your home country? Feel free to add to the data!

I'm sure any European/Australasian list would have a lot more on it at the lighter end of the scale than the US/Canada.

And just for fun: I'm betting the Mirage's US/Canada curb weight will come in a bit heavier than the heaviest Australian model. Crossing the pond, the car gained a 7th airbag and a beefier rear bumper, and possibly some other tweaks & features we don't know about.

I'd say it's safe to add 40 lbs / 18 kg to the Ozzie figures to get the US curb weight.

That would mean:

- 1947 lbs (883 kg) manual
- 2002 lbs (908 kg) CVT

Darin reminded me that I forgot the fiat 500 and mini cooper, so those have been added to the list as well.

The Suzuki Alto here in Australia is very close to the Mirage but still weights more.
Alto manual 880 kg
Alto auto 905 kg

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6.        Chevrolet Spark        2337 (1060)        2269 (1029)

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How can you possibly make an manual weigh MORE than an automatic??? And 68 lbs more?

Good catch! The values were reversed for the Spark. I've fixed it.

Actually they weren't. If you look at Chevrolet's site the original numbers were correct.

http://www.chevrolet.com/spark-mini-...imensions.html

Unless Chevy's numbers are wrong.

GM Canada's numbers show the manual is lighter:

Curb weight, estimated (kg / lb.)
1029 / 2269 (LS manual)
1060 / 2337 (LS automatic)

http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles...cordion-header

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

GM Canada's numbers show the manual is lighter:

Curb weight, estimated (kg / lb.)
1029 / 2269 (LS manual)
1060 / 2337 (LS automatic)

http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles...cordion-header

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That makes more sense then... I was wondering how GM could possibly have made a manual that overweight!

I think you just revealed a mistake on the GM U.S. website. Good eye.

I inquired with Mitsubishi USA's head of product communications, and he just replied with the car's curb weight for the US market:

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The Curb Weight for the 5MT model is 1,973lbs and the CVT is 2,029lbs.

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First post updated.

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Originally Posted by jamiec

The Suzuki Alto here in Australia is very close to the Mirage but still weights more.
Alto manual 880 kg
Alto auto 905 kg

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Re the Alto, I think it depends on which brochure we read as to the weight.

The owner's manual for my 2010 manual transmission Alto quotes somewhat enigmatically "855-885kg (1885-1940lb)" but doesn't say why the range - maybe it's with petrol/without petrol as 35ltrs of petrol must be around 30kg ?

The automatic version quotes 880-910kg (1940-2006lb).

Next time a friend has his cattle scales set up I will try to get both the Alto and the Mirage onto them, see what the real story is.

Cheers
Flange

They have to put a kobold inside the transmission gear box to help changing the gear, that's why the car's heavier in manual than automatic

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Originally Posted by m4v3r1ck

They have to put a kobold inside the transmission gear box to help changing the gear, that's why the car's heavier in manual than automatic

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Kobolds are nuggety little *******s.

OK, I'm lost, guys. Kobold?

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

OK, I'm lost, guys. Kobold?

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The kobold (occasionally cobold) is a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German folklore. Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialise in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as humanlike figures the size of small children. Kobolds who live in human homes wear the clothing of peasants; those who live in mines are hunched and ugly; and kobolds who live on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing.

It's a joke ;-)

It occurred to me that since the base Mirage sold in Canada doesn't have air conditioning, and the base U.S. car does, the Canadian one is probably a little bit lighter than 1973 lbs / 894 kg.

Yet the specs are the same. http://www.mitsubishi-motors.ca/en/v...ge/2014/specs/

Liars! :D Don't trust anyone.

Wonder how much AC bits weigh... 15-25 lbs?

According to refrigeration tutor neice, somewhere around 15kg, 30-odd pounds wet. Frankly I'm surprised that it is so light.

So actually what you're saying is because the AC is so light it's better to remove other heavier things if you wish to gain some weight trimming on the car. I really can't imagine driving around in asia without AC.

Unless you're in a full out race car (and its a Mirage? haha), IMO A/C is never worth pulling out.

Attachment 22958

It's very interesting to compare the initial list from 2014 to how things look in 2022. There's been a huge change in this segment of the US (and Canada) car market in 7 model years.

For 2022...

10. Kia Rio – 2,762 lbs

9. Hyundai Elantra – 2,725 lbs

8. MINI Cooper Hardtop 2-Door – 2,711 lbs

7. Nissan Kicks – 2,686 lbs

6. Hyundai Accent – 2,679 lbs

5. Hyundai Venue 2,612 lbs

4. Nissan Versa – 2,599 lbs

3. Mazda MX-5 Miata – 2,341 lbs

2. Chevrolet Spark – 2,246 lbs

1. Mitsubishi Mirage – 2,095 lbs

Full article: https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...le-top-10.html

Not only have a significant number of cars disappeared from the first list, but the weight of the remaining cars is quite a bit higher. (But even the Mirage has packed on some flab since 2014.)

Of all the vehicles I have owned over the years, my current 2017 Mirage ES manual is the 3rd lightest.

1 - 1990 Ford Fesitva L manual (63 hp) = 1,713 pounds

2 - 1978 Honda Civic Wagon manual (63 hp) = 1,894 pounds

3 - 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage ES manual (78 hp) = 2,018 pounds

4 - 1989 Plymouth Colt Wagon DL manual (75 hp) = 2,271 pounds (99% Mitsubishi vehicle)

Of the 4 lightest vehicles I have owned, the Mirage has the most horsepower.

I would really like a Mirage Wagon that had rear seats that folded down flat like my 1978 Civic Wagon, but with the Mitsubishi Mirage 5-speed manual powertrain. Small wagons are so useful & practical to own.

Just for a random comparison...

The Chevrolet Bolt EV (classified as a subcompact) weighs almost 3600 lbs.

The traction battery in a Bolt EV battery weighs 1000 lbs.

So 2 Bolt EV batteries = 1 Mirage :D

I've had a few "light" vehicles. In no particular order

1984?or 86 Escort base base model,carbed 4 speed, vinyl seats....2132lbs? 70hp!

1986 Hyundai excel base 5 speed 2150lbs 80hp?

1986 Fiero 2M4 (2.5L 4 speed). 2460lb 93hp

1985 Dodge Aries 4dr carbed 2.2 auto 2360lbs 96hp?

1984 Suzuki SJ410 1.0L 4 or 5 spd 44hp(on a good day) 1962lbs! :cool:

2014 Mirage cvt 74hp 2100lbs?

I just googled all the specs as best I could. The suzuki was the most fun to drive(when it ran properly). It was pretty tempting to drive it down bike paths and walking trails lol.

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Originally Posted by Fummins

1984 Suzuki SJ410 1.0L 4 or 5 spd 44hp(on a good day) 1962lbs! :cool:

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You had a Samurai!??

Attachment 22959

How many times did you tip it over? :D

That's basically the North American Jimny from the olden days.

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Originally Posted by Top_Fuel

The traction battery in a Bolt EV battery weighs 1000 lbs.

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Then again, that weight is sorta, kinda the Bolt's lifetime of "fuel" that it's carrying around. OK, not really.

I wonder how much weight in fuel a Mirage uses in its lifetime...

15k miles/year / 36 MPG US (EPA combined rating of the CVT) = 416.7 gallons/year
15 years (pessimistic lifetime? :D ) * 416.7 gallons/yr = 6250 gallons
6 lbs/gallon US * 6250 gallons = 37,500 lbs!

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You had a Samurai!??

Attachment 22959

How many times did you tip it over? :D

That's basically the North American Jimny from the olden days.

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Yeah, black tin top. Samurai's had the bigger 1.2l I believe. I wanted to swap in a tracker engine but never did. Bought it from a kid who put a rod threw the block. I bought a used engine for $40 that had a hole in 1 piston(guy used a boroscope to determine this), picked up a $50 gasket set from ebay and I scabbed together an engine out of the two lol. I had it for a few years but hardly drove it. I'll have to find a pic.

Attachment 22961Attachment 22962


I never did roll it. I took it up to 50mph once. It was pretty hilarious. It took forever.

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Originally Posted by Fummins

Attachment 22961Attachment 22962

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do these attachment links work for anybody?

They worked for me earlier today...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark

Of all the vehicles I have owned over the years, my current 2017 Mirage ES manual is the 3rd lightest.

1 - 1990 Ford Fesitva L manual (63 hp) = 1,713 pounds

2 - 1978 Honda Civic Wagon manual (63 hp) = 1,894 pounds

3 - 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage ES manual (78 hp) = 2,018 pounds

4 - 1989 Plymouth Colt Wagon DL manual (75 hp) = 2,271 pounds (99% Mitsubishi vehicle)

Of the 4 lightest vehicles I have owned, the Mirage has the most horsepower.

I would really like a Mirage Wagon that had rear seats that folded down flat like my 1978 Civic Wagon, but with the Mitsubishi Mirage 5-speed manual powertrain. Small wagons are so useful & practical to own.

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Or bring back the EXPO!

Factoids....

... 8 of the cars on the original 2014 list have been cancelled

... 10 cars on the original list weighed less than 2500 lbs

... only 3 cars on the current list are under 2500

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Originally Posted by mohammad

do these attachment links work for anybody?

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Not sure wth happened there? Why are the pics gone, Russian bots?
Attachment 22979