Poll: 1.0L Mirage engine = 7.5% better fuel economy. Would you choose it?

[MetroMPG]

For those of you who got the 1.2, would you have bought or considered the 1.0 if it were available? You get a bit less power, but better fuel economy.

The 1.0L 3A90 engine is ony available in the Mirage / Space Star in Japan and parts of Europe. The Euro/Asian ratings for the 2 engines are:

1.2L 3A92 --- 57 kW (78 PS / 77 HP) @ 6000 rpm
1.0L 3A90 --- 52 kW (71 PS / 70 HP) @ 6000 rpm

So, roughly 9% less power. In North American spec, that would translate to roughly 67 HP instead of 74.

I would pick the 1.0 in a heartbeat. (I currently drive a 1.0L 5MT ... not a Mirage ... with about 50 HP, in a car that's only slightly lighter than the 5MT Mirage.)

Some auto reviewers even prefer driving the 1.0 over the 1.2 (but didn't say why): Mitsubishi go big on Space Star's small price (Ireland review - Independent.ie)

[Daox]

How much better mileage would you estimate the 1.0L would get vs the 1.2L?

[MetroMPG]

Looks like about 7.5% better economy going by the "combined" Euro rating (Netherlands: Euro-5b)...

Totally worth it in my book.

	1.0 L 5-speed manual Auto Stop & Go	1.2 L 5-speed manual Auto Stop & Go
Urban	4.6 L/100 km 21.7 km/L 51.1 mpg (US)	5.0 L/100 km 20.0 km/L 47 mpg (US)
Extra Urban	3.6 L/100 km 27.8 km/L 65.3 mpg (US)	3.9 L/100 km 25.6 km/L 60.3 mpg (US)
Combined	4.0 L/100 km 25 km/L 58.8 mpg (US)	4.3 L/100 km 23.3 km/L 54.7 mpg (US)

2013/2014 Mirage mpg / fuel economy ratings by country (Space Star also)

[Daox]

I would definitely go for it for 7.5% boost in fuel economy.

I also think the 1.0L is a more highly engineered engine. It has a higher compression ratio and is likely a bit more refined, thus the 17% displacement drop, but only 9% hp drop.

[Clessy]

The power difference is negligible at best. Its around 5 to 7 hp. You wouldnt even feel it. To be honest a nice exhaust and a intake would give it right back to you with a better sound too.

[MetroMPG]

A bit more data to put the power differences of the 1.2L vs 1.0L engines in perspective...

Engine/Trans	0-62 mph (0-100 kph)	Top speed
1.0L, 5MT manual (Mirage "1")	13.6 seconds	107 mph (172 km/h)
1.2L, 5MT manual (Mirage "2" and "3")	11.7 seconds	112 mph (180 km/h)

From: Mirage acceleration times: 0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h and top speed (1.0L & 1.2L engines)

For anyone who said they'd rather have the 1.0... does that change your mind?

Wouldn't change mine. My car's already quite a bit slower than 13.6 sec to 100 km/h! And the way I normally drive, I don't mind at all.

[Dorifuta]

A bit more data to put the power differences of the 1.2L vs 1.0L engines in perspective...

Engine/Trans	0-62 mph (0-100 kph)	Top speed
1.0L, 5MT manual (Mirage "1")	13.6 seconds	107 mph (172 km/h)
1.2L, 5MT manual (Mirage "2" and "3")	11.7 seconds	112 mph (180 km/h)

From: Mirage acceleration times: 0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h and top speed (1.0L & 1.2L engines)

For anyone who said they'd rather have the 1.0... does that change your mind?

Wouldn't change mine. My car's already quite a bit slower than 13.6 sec to 100 km/h! And the way I normally drive, I don't mind at all.

For me, the 1.0 would be out of the question. My 3A92 already spends quite a but of time at ~6,000 rpm as I try to wring her for all she's worth, especially if I have 2-3 passengers onboard.

Now, a 1.0T would be a different story...

[Canoehead]

For anyone who said they'd rather have the 1.0... does that change your mind?

Yes! I like to drive 180km/h most of the time. Having to slow down to 172km/h would make it feel like I was crawling - you know how it is, watching the pavement slowly pass underfoot thinking "I might as well just get out and walk!"

Also, sometimes instead of brushing the snow off my car I just wind it up to around 178km/h to blow the snow off, and it seems that the 1.0L engine would not be capable of this, so it means more work for me, and my time is valuable.

There is no replacement for displacement (except maybe electric drives . . . )

[zefke]

Over here in the Netherlands the 1.0 is fast enough to get you a speeding ticket everywhere within 15 seconds!!

I also have a 1100cc motorcycle that can do the same in 3 seconds... So if I want it very fast I'll take the motorcycle!

[m4v3r1ck]

Fuel economy .... I'm very pleased with my 1.0L MT. I can even get better fuel economy if driving at even lower pace. This is door-to-door home-work over length of 60 KM.