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Thread: New 2017 Mirage SE vs 2015 Mirage ES (comparison of differences/improvements)

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    Senior Member VespaGoGo's Avatar
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    New 2017 Mirage SE vs 2015 Mirage ES (comparison of differences/improvements)

    I have owned a 2015 Mirage ES for the past two years. I have had zero troubles and it has been an excellent car. This past weekend I traded it in for a new 2017 Mirage SE. I opted for the same color and thought it would be the exact same driving experience. Boy was I wrong. I know the new model has 4 more horsepower and a modified suspension system, but it really is a totally different feel to drive. Below are my observations thus far. I hope they help someone that may be pondering a 2017 Mirage:

    Power: The 2017 isn't a race car, but it easily pulls the hill beside my driveway with no problem and minimal throttle. The 2015 required quite a bit of throttle to pull the same hill.

    Suspension: It corners noticeably better than the 2015 Mirage and is without the feeling like you're leaning around turns. The floaty suspension on the 15 made it great over bumps, and the 17 feels slightly more stiff, yet still somehow engineered to have the same softness when on a rough road.

    Stereo: My 2015 Mirage had the standard stereo system. It worked well for my non-audiophile purposes. The new system has the touchscreen interface and Apple Carplay. Works great with my iPhone, but i'm curious as to why there is a GPS module sitting on top of my dash, but that option is greyed out on the display. I contacted Mitsubishi and they said Carplay supersedes the base navigation and disables it in favor of the iPhone navigation. Speakers sound exactly the same.

    Bluetooth: I actually like the bluetooth integration on the 2015 better. I was able to use the steering wheel controls. On the 2017 the steering wheel controls are present, but dialing from them is disabled in favor of using the touchscreen unless I have my iPhone physically plugged into the USB port in the car. I also liked the microphone placement in the 2015 better. It was overhead mounted into the headliner. The 2017 has the microphone stuck with mounting tape/clip on the steering column. I don't expect any issues with this, but it doesn't look as nice as in the 2015. it looks like an aftermarket upgrade instead of a factory option.

    Interior: I love the new look. The seats look and feel nicer. The material doesn't look as cheap as the 2015 and feels like it will be more durable (though I never had issues with the material in the 2015). The piano black trim really makes the interior look more exotic, but piano black is nearly impossible to clean without microfine swirls and scratches, so I doubt it will look so nice for too long. I also like the new chrome trim on the speedo and the new contrast. A nicely upgraded interior, but it still has the same dash and door panels. I have no problem with that...they're super durable! I would have liked an option for two-tone door panels like the G4 Mirage has.

    Windshield. While physically the same size and layout, it now has a shaded area around the mirror mounting point that acts as a sun shade. Trivial, but this small detail makes the car seem less like a bottom-end car and more like what is normally seen in vehicles.

    Wheels: Same Ensave tires as before, but with new rims. I had no problem with the rims on the 2015, but the 2017 SE rims are a very nice look for the car. I consider this an upgrade.

    Overall exterior: Initially I didn't like the new front end in pictures, but it has really grown on me. After looking at it in person it is most certainly more refined and looks more modern. The hood now has ridges that give it a slightly more aggressive look. Around back, I love the new rear tail lights and their LED layout. They also protrude slightly from the body which gives a slightly sportier look. The rear bumper changes actually made the car look wider when sitting beside a 2014-15 and viewed straight-on from the rear. It's a great optical illusion created through design, and it totally works. The mud flaps are now black instead of painted to match the body color like on the 2015. They also feel more flexible and less prone to breakage. I never had a problem with the flaps on the 2015, but I know people that broke them more than once, so I'm sure the new softer material is the reason for that and also the reason for the molded black color without paint.

    Braking: I read that the brake size was increased on this new model. I'm not certain if this is true or not, but I can say that the brakes are most certainly stronger and the car stops with less force applied.

    Final verdict: Great update by Mitsubishi and well worth the upgrade! I'm absolutely thrilled with the new 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage SE and feel that it is a great evolution of the (2014-15) Mirage.



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    Senior Member Alex1a1f's Avatar
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    Dude, great report. Before I bought my 17, I drove a 15 for a couple hours and came away with the same opinion, nice work!
    Last edited by Alex1a1f; 10-07-2016 at 03:09 AM. Reason: Rid of quote
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    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Wow, excellent review and comparison of the two vehicles. Thanks!
    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)


  5. #4
    Thanks for this report, VespaGoGo!

    This is one of the most comprehensive comparisons I've seen so far. I'm really eager to try a 2017 against an earlier model as well. Hoping to do that when I return the G4 loaner.

        __________________________________________

        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)


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    Senior Member IchabodCrane's Avatar
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    I test drove a '17 Mirage on Wed. I gotta say you hit on pretty much everything. The upgrades/refinements make a trade up worthwhile in my opinion.
    My '14 needs tires and brakes b4 winter at 68,000 km so I'm gonna sidestep that cost and buy a new '17.
    One small disappointment though is the 5 trim levels and the way they are divided. (In 2014 there were 2, an easy choice.) I have the CVT now and wanted to try the manual but in Canada it is only available in the lower trim and cannot be had in the SE. Also the 15 inch Lancer style rims are available only in SEL trim.
    Choices choices....
    All this to say... nice job on the review. I would trust you over that dick at "truth about cars" any day.
    Will weld for beer.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 45.3 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)


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  8. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by IchabodCrane View Post
    nice job on the review. I would trust you over that dick at "truth about cars" any day.
    Which one?

    The one who said:

    Here’s the problem with the Mirage: modern subcompact cars need not be dreadful penalty boxes, yet the Mirage is.

    - Mark Stevenson,
    Jeep Patriot* Is TTAC’s 2016 Worst Automobile Today (And Here Are the Other Nine Losers)
    Or the one who said:

    I believe the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Fiat 500L are heinous transportation devices.

    - Timothy Cain,
    I Disapprove of the Car You Bought, but I’ll Defend to the Death Your Right to Drive 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)


  9. #7

    2017 G4 sedan vs. 2015 hatchback

    Name:  2015-strawboss-2017-g4-fron.jpg
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    This weekend I also had a chance to compare a 2015 Mirage against a 2017.

    Quote Originally Posted by VespaGoGo View Post
    Suspension: It corners noticeably better than the 2015 Mirage and is without the feeling like you're leaning around turns. The floaty suspension on the 15 made it great over bumps, and the 17 feels slightly more stiff, yet still somehow engineered to have the same softness when on a rough road.
    Agreed on this. It's not a massive difference (it's still not trying to be a sports car). But as I said in my notes on the Mirage G4, I keep find myself chucking the little sedan into bends for the actual fun of it (at speeds a typical Mirage buyer would never attempt). As a result, I also keep finding myself wishing for more side bolstering in the seat (when in fact they really don't need it -- nobody buys this car to drive it this way). I never chucked the 2014 model into curves just for the fun of it -- the body roll discouraged that.

    Other thoughts...

    Steering

    I think this is the biggest improvement a current 2014/15 owner will notice.

    Mitsu has tweaked the electric power steering to give it slightly more heft. They've also removed the fairly massive "dead spot" on center where the 2014/15 cars had a bizarre lack of self-centering within a 1/8th turn either side of straight ahead.


    Noise & vibration

    The 2017's engine is noticeably better isolated from the cabin. It's a quieter drive overall (also partly attributable to having a trunk vs. a hatchback).

    Also, much less of the 3-cylinder's vibrations get past the firewall into the interior. EG: the inside rear view mirror in strawboss's 2015 has a vibration in it when stopped in gear. Nothing inside the 2017 does that.


    CVT programming (?)

    I'm not 100% certain on this, but I got the impression that the torque converter in the 2015's CVT locks up sooner after moving off from a stop. This would help a tiny amout with fuel economy, but might also generate slightly more NVH.

        __________________________________________

        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)


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  11. #8
    Senior Member IchabodCrane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    Which one?

    The one who said:



    Or the one who said:
    Correction, dicks, plural.
    Will weld for beer.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 45.3 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by IchabodCrane View Post
    Correction, dicks, plural.
    Hey, I enjoy The Truth About Cars. They weren't nearly as savage towards the Mirage as some other reviewers. Interestingly, Mitsubishi Canada wouldn't loan them a 2017 Mirage press car. They "acquired" one by other means, and deemed it fine.

  13. #10
    Senior Member IchabodCrane's Avatar
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    Yeah you're right they're not nearly as bad as
    Forbes - New cars to avoid 2016


    Will weld for beer.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 45.3 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)


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