Australia: 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage sedan review/first drive (CarsGuide.com.au)

[MetroMPG]

A very positive review of the Mirage sedan which has just gone on sale down under. In his "driving" notes the writer declares...

Let me come straight to the point. This car is one of the biggest surprises of the year for me.

This review has me feeling VERY positive that Mitsu is taking constructuve criticism of the hatchback to heart and making engineering changes (noise, vibration, handling, CVT). HOPEFULLY these improvements find their way into the hatchback too.

I'm going to skip the usual pros & cons (you can go read the review for all those) and jump right to the design improvements vs. the hatch:

- smoother engine -- additional engine mount on top
- refined CVT: "has a smaller torque converter, new ratios and new gear shift control calibration that also reduces the 'slip' sensation when accelerating"
- extra noise deadening = quieter inside
- handling... "Mitsubishi wisely revised the steering and suspension ... it drives a lot better than the hatch"

Translated: it's not just my imagination. Mitsubishi engineers have given the sedan a fairly comprehensive revision.

Overall...

...this anonymous-looking $14,490 car is one of the best sedans money can buy.

Read the full review: http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-revi...st-drive-28911

[Daox]

Woohoo, that is great to hear! I can't imagine the changes won't transfer to the hatch. It makes sense to have more common parts as it lowers their cost.

[Ares]

Need to find out if sedan suspension works with the hatch.

The heavier sedan will need more dampening/stiffer springs - which may be what the original setup on the hatch should have been.

[MetroMPG]

Yes, that would be very good to find out.

It makes sense to have more common parts as it lowers their cost.

"Fixing" the handling/steering also lowers some of the common criticism of the car.

I find it interesting that he doesn't make any fuss over the engine's power output. Such a cultural difference from the U.S., where reviewers would savage the car for lack of power, especially given the extra weight.

[DirectNova]

Curious to see what have been done to the steering so I could do it myself later