Mitsubishi Mirage vs. Nissan Versa

The Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Versa are both budget-friendly subcompact cars. Each comes with a surprising number of standard and available features, and both manufacturers offer excellent warranties. If you’re debating between these two cars, take a look at a comparison between them. We’ll check out the power, interior, and safety features, and once you get a good look at each, you’ll see why the Mitsubishi Mirage comes out on top.

The Engine Performance

The Mirage gets power from a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gas engine that puts out 78 horsepower. It comes with front-wheel drive and, at the base level, uses a five-speed manual transmission. If you don’t want the five-speed manual, Mitsubishi offers a continuously variable automatic transmission as an option.

One of the benefits of the Mirage’s small size is its tight turning ability. It has a 30.2-foot turning radius, making it easy to maneuver in tight parking lots and around city streets. If you’re looking for an urban driver, this subcompact is a great choice. It will quickly accelerate from a stop and will slip in and out of traffic with ease.

The Mirage gets impressive fuel economy with an EPA rating of 39 mpg combined, 36 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway.

The Versa has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine under the hood. It develops 122 horsepower and works with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s also a subcompact with a small turning radius but a little wider than the Mirage. The Versa has a 34.8-foot turning radius.

The larger engine that comes with the Versa is not as fuel-efficient as the Mirage. It will get 35 mpg combined, 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

The Safety Features

Drivers will benefit from some standard driver safety aids in the Mitsubishi Mirage. Even the base model has pre- and post-collision safety systems, including rear height-adjustable headrests, an engine immobilizer, and an anti-theft alarm system. It also comes standard with forward collision warning and automatic braking in addition to the rearview camera, full suite of air bags, and traction and stability control. The high-end SE trim adds to the standard safety features with a lane departure warning system that will alert the driver if they start to drift out of their lane.

You’ll also get some standard driver aids in the Nissan Versa. It comes with a forward collision warning system and automatic braking, and you can also get a lane departure warning system if you bump up to a higher trim.

The Technology

There are several standard technology features in the Mirage to keep passengers connected. A 7-inch touch screen sits in the middle of the dashboard, and it also comes with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a four-speaker stereo with a USB port.

The Versa also has a 7-inch touch screen and comes with similar technology features, including the four-speaker stereo and Bluetooth. It has three USB ports in the entry-level S trim, but you need to bump up to the mid-level SV to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Cabin Features

Both the Mirage and the Versa have small cabins, but they have everything you need for a comfortable ride. The Mirage starts with automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, a tilt steering wheel, and comes standard with cruise control. Moving up to the LE adds a leather-wrapped shift knob, while the SE comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button ignition, heated front seats, and a driver’s seat armrest.

Passengers in the Versa also get cloth upholstery, and the base trim has a height-adjustable driver’s seat. If you bump up to the top-level SR trim, it comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, different upholstery on the seats, and remote engine start.

The Exterior Design

With a sleek hatchback design, the Mirage stands out in the subcompact market. The base trim has 14-inch steel wheels and keyless entry. Just a bump to the LE gets you 14-inch alloy wheels, and Mitsubishi offers the LE in a special edition model called the Black Edition. This sporty version of the LE trim has black exterior mirrors, a black roof spoiler, 15-inch alloy wheels with a black finish, fog lights, and red grille accents. It also adds red accents in the cabin.

At the top of the Mirage lineup, the SE also has 15-inch alloy wheels and fog lights. It also comes with LED and automatic headlights with auto high beams. Rain-sensing wipers complete the upgrades to the SE.

While the Versa also fits into the subcompact market, it has a sedan body style. The entry-level trim comes with 15-inch steel wheels, and it has power door locks. If you bump up to the next trim in the lineup, you’ll get 16-inch alloy wheels. The Versa also has a sporty version called the SR trim. It has fog lights, a dark chrome grille, and a rear spoiler. In order to get heated front seats in the Versa, you’ll need to add the Convenience Package. This optional package also comes with automatic climate control.

Warranties

You can’t compare two cars with some of the best warranties without discussing the details. The basic warranty for the Mitsubishi is for five years or 60,000 miles, and it has a 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Versa’s basic warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, and it has a five-year 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The warranties for both vehicles begin on the date it’s delivered to the first buyer or when it’s put in use.

While the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Versa both fit into the subcompact car market, the Mirage has a sleek hatchback body style and comes with more standard technology features. If you want to find out more about why the Mirage is a good choice for you, stop by Performance Mitsubishi to speak with one of our sales staff. They can provide you more details and even get you out on the road for a test drive.

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