Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 34

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

  1. #1
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts

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



    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

    ---

    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)


    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:

    91cavgt (05-11-2015),blownb310 (04-04-2013),El Kapitan (05-10-2015),MetroMPG (04-02-2013),mitsumi (03-30-2016),RapidRick (09-05-2013)

  3. #2
    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.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  4. #3
    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

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  5. #4
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    Darin reminded me that I forgot the fiat 500 and mini cooper, so those have been added to the list as well.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  6. #5
    Senior Member jamiec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Australia
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    504
    Garage empty: add car
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 70 Times in 52 Posts
    The Suzuki Alto here in Australia is very close to the Mirage but still weights more.
    Alto manual 880 kg
    Alto auto 905 kg

  7. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Elsewhere
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    7
    Garage empty: add car
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Code:
    6. 	Chevrolet Spark 	2337 (1060) 	2269 (1029)
    How can you possibly make an manual weigh MORE than an automatic??? And 68 lbs more?
    Last edited by samwichse; 05-01-2013 at 02:09 PM.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to samwichse For This Useful Post:

    MetroMPG (05-01-2013)

  9. #7
    Good catch! The values were reversed for the Spark. I've fixed it.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  10. #8
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    4,999
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked 1,804 Times in 1,017 Posts
    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.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  11. #9
    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

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  12. #10
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Elsewhere
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    7
    Garage empty: add car
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    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
    That makes more sense then... I was wondering how GM could possibly have made a manual that overweight!



Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •