Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 62

Thread: 2014 Mirage 1.2 vs. Ford Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost - which has better mileage/fuel economy?

  1. #1

    2014 Mirage 1.2 vs. Ford Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost - which has better mileage/fuel economy?


    Which will get better MPG, the 123 HP turbocharged Ford Fiesta, or the 74 HP, smaller, more aerodynamic and much lighter Mitsubishi Mirage?

    When Ford announced they would be offering a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo engine in the Fiesta in the U.S. market at the Los Angeles auto show in November last year, they said at the time it would have the best fuel economy of any non-hybrid car in America.

    Well, guess what Mitsubishi has been saying about the 1.2L 3-cylinder Mirage?

    They can't both be right, and here's why the safe money would bet on the Mirage coming out on top:

    1) On the highway ...

    It's possible the much more powerful Fiesta 1.0 turbo (123 hp / 148 lb.-ft.) could get better highway economy than the less powerful Mirage (74 hp / 74 lb.-ft.). The Fiesta's added torque under boost could be leveraged to gear up the transmission ratios and reduce top gear cruising RPM -- and supposedly 90% of this engine's peak torque is available at just 1500 RPM. Whether Ford will actually do this or not is the big question. Automakers do not have a track record of providing us with "economy" top gears in recent years (in North America, anyway).

    UPDATE, Oct 29th: Fresh reports put the US EPA ratings for the Fiesta 1.0t at 45 mpg (US) highway, and 32 mpg city. So the answer to the big question is that Ford must have geared it way up to be able to claim 45 mpg.

    UPDATE #2: In response to complaints and additional testing, Ford has revised down its Fiesta 1.0T MPG EPA estimates from 32 city / 45 hwy (old) to 31 city / 43 hwy (new).


    Advantage: Mirage.


    2) Aerodynamics ...

    Aside from gearing, the other major wild card in highway economy is aerodynamics. The Mirage has a lower (better) drag coefficient and smaller frontal area than the Fiesta. Mitsu is reporting Cd figures ranging from 0.27 to 0.31 for the Mirage depending on drivetrain/trim (0.28 for North America). However this site says a Fiesta 1.0 has a Cd of 0.328.

    UPDATE June 26: Ford has been tweaking the Fiesta's aerodynamics. Though it hasn't released drag numbers, the highway fuel economy of the 2014 Fiesta SFE model in the U.S. was boosted 1 MPG through aero tweaks. So it's likely the 1.0 car will beat 0.328 when it arrives.

    Advantage: Mirage.



    3) In the city ...

    In city driving, it's unlikely the Fiesta will get better fuel economy, because it's quite a lot heavier than the wee Mitsu. In Australia, the Mirage 5-speed tips the scales at only 865 kg / 1910 lbs, and in the U.S./Canada it's just 1973 lbs (it has gained a seventh airbag, further sound-proofing, and also a beefier rear bumper).

    The U.S. spec 2013 Fiesta hatch 1.6L 5-speed weighs 2537 lbs, and the automatic porks out at 2575! Even if the 1.0L manual sheds a little of that weight, they're really in different classes altogether.

    See also: 12 lightest cars in the US, 2014 (vs. Mitsubishi Mirage curb weight)

    Advantage: Mirage


    4) Dollars per gallon ...

    Then there's the price question. Turbo kit ain't cheap, and Ford is positioning the Fiesta 1.0t as a mid-range model. US prices start at $17,240 in sedan form and $17,840 for the hatch (including delivery fee).

    The additional $2,475 cost of the Fiesta 1.0 turbo over the base 1.6L car isn't recovered in fuel savings over 8 years, according to a Cars.com "best bang for your buck" study (the Mirage took the top spot).

    On the other hand, the Mirage is a true cheap & cheerful econobox: the cheapest trim (~$14k including delivery) 5-speed may not get the top MPG rating the CVT earns, but there's a good chance it will still beat the Fiesta 1.0 at the pumps in mixed driving, and definitely by thousands of dollars at the dealership. So if your objective in saving fuel is saving money...

    Advantage: Mirage


    5) Smiles per gallon ...

    The answer to this one depends on what makes you smile. Saving money? Or flicking around a small car that handles well?

    Let's face it, the Mirage is not known for its sharp handling, while the Fiesta has a reputation as a bit of a driver's car. But guess what happens to the Ford's MPG when enthusiastic drivers keep dipping into the boost? Can you have your cake and eat it too?

    The Mirage can be fun to drive in a nerdy way: it responds remarkably well even to basic eco-driving techniques (especially in the city) and can surpass its mileage ratings by a surprising amount.

    Advantage: depends on what you're after

    In the end, ain't competition grand? It strengthens the breed.


        __________________________________________

        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)


  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:

    davidricardo86 (03-16-2015),noob@cars (06-26-2013),pureflipking (05-09-2014),ThunderG (03-23-2015)

  3. #2
    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
    Nice analysis. Seems to make sense to me.
    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)


  4. #3
    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
    Go Mirage this will be a good fight coming up here.

  5. #4
    Do you guys have the 1.0t Fiesta in Australia yet?

        __________________________________________

        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)


  6. #5
    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
    I definitely agree on the weight being a big city mpg rating issue. Of all the Mirage competitors in the US, the Fiesta is the heaviest! Starting and stopping all that extra weight does not come without a penalty.

    Check out our curb weight compairison here:

    12 lightest cars in the US, 2014 (vs. Mitsubishi Mirage curb weight)
    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)


  7. #6
    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
    Metro the best Fiesta we have here has the 1.6l turbo diesel with a combined fuel economy rating of 4.4 l/100klm.

  8. #7
    Today, Green Car Reports ponders the same question:

    2014 Ford Fiesta Vs. Mitsubishi Mirage: Which Will Have Highest Gas Mileage?

        __________________________________________

        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. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    KL
    Country
    Malaysia
    Posts
    336
    Thanks
    17
    Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts
    anywhere on internet, always seen the out dated stylish comments.

  10. #9
    Comments against the Mirage?

    ---

    Another thought to consider in the Fiesta vs. Mirage fuel economy question - the Fiesta 1.0 turbo will NOT be offered with an automatic transmission, at least in the U.S.

    Whereas the Mirage's highest fuel economy rating comes with the CVT.

    Personally I will always choose a manual, but I understand that the vast majority of drivers are going for automatics, especially in the U.S.

    I shall add that to the first post...

        __________________________________________

        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)


  11. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sri Damansara
    Country
    Malaysia
    Posts
    73
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts
    Owning a CVT, I would say that the manual will give better Eco if you know what u are doing. Most ppl will be better off with a CVT.


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2013 Mirage (Malaysia) GS 1.2 automatic: 44.6 mpg (US) ... 19.0 km/L ... 5.3 L/100 km ... 53.6 mpg (Imp)


  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Polkiuj For This Useful Post:

    MetroMPG (10-30-2013)

Posting Permissions

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