One Of The Cheapest Cars On Sale In The U.S. Could Be Getting Axed

How long will the Mitsubishi Mirage, which is small, affordable and quite stylish on the outside, stay in your sights?

The Mirage is one of the last affordable cars on the market, but how long will it last?

The days of fun, frugal, and cheap cars seem to be gone. It used to be easy to find well-maintained, efficient, fun and reliable vehicles for relatively little money, but those days are over in most international markets. As SUVs and crossovers became more popular, production of smaller models was discontinued, and the era of fun compact cars was over. With brands like Chevy killing Spark, Ford killing Fiesta, and Hyundai killing Accent, there are few cheap and practical options anymore. And yet another manufacturer could soon disappear from Mitsubishi's ranks, according to news reports on the Japanese market.

How long until the mirage?

Motor1 reports that Mitsubishi may discontinue the Mirage subcompact car in Japan. Urban markets like Japan seem like a place for cars of this size to thrive, but they're not immune to the move to global standards for larger vehicles. After its debut, it has been little or never updated in Japan and other global markets. It's bare bones, demonstrated by a complete lack of "luxury" and less than 80 horsepower. Mirage cannot compete in a market focused on comfort and technology. Related: Video: Chevy Spark is Lone Survivor of IIHS Minicar Mashup

One of the cheapest products on the market

With sticker prices starting at around $16,300 and full-featured prices under $20,000, the Mirage is one of the last vehicles available in the US market that is relatively inexpensive to run and drive. The car's only rivals are other microcars such as the Chevrolet Spark, Ford Fiesta, Fiat 500, Smart Fortwo and Honda Fit, all of which have also been phased out of the US market (although Nissan's The Versa and Kia Rio remain). A semi-thriving market has shrunk to what some call 'the best reason to buy a used car'.

How has the Mirage changed?

When the Mirage first debuted for the U.S. in 2014, it was sold primarily by dealer lots listing the Mirage alongside pre-owned inventory to show that buyers could ride in a brand new car if they chose to do so. was filled with Still, his 3-cylinder engine, with just 73 horsepower, wasn't the first choice for buyers unless they just wanted the warranty and fuel efficiency that the car was designed to maximize. Mirages were just a rudimentary form of urban transport around the world, non-existent for all but those looking for a bare-bones “modern” vehicle. Had the vehicle not used a rather iconic name from Mitsubishi's lineup, it might not have been so disappointing to drive. RELATED: Mitsubishi Ralliart's Comeback Is All No-Go At The Show

What's next for Mitsubishi's tiniest car?

It's not yet confirmed if the Mirage will no longer be offered in Japan, or if it will be a 'curtain' of models internationally, but it's very likely Mitsubishi's last vehicle to offer a manual transmission will end. High. Fewer than 12,800 were sold across the United States last year, and sales are down thousands over the past three years. Mitsubishi says it will have a Ralliart-inspired model in 2023, but it could be the last one we'll see on the coast.