FRANKLIN, TN – Consumers have had to deal with ever-rising prices in the automotive marketplace, both when it comes to used and brand-new models. But cost-conscious drivers have at least had a small handful of budget-priced vehicles to choose from, but even that meager selection has been dwindling in recent years.
And now, with the news that Mitsubishi is officially discontinuing the Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan, there only remains one – just one – new car on the market that is priced below $20,000.
Yes, the only truly “cheap” car left on the market come the 2025 model year will be the Nissan Versa, with its $17,820 base price; the Mirage hatchback currently comes in at $18,015 and the Mirage G4 sedan $19,115, but as of next year they will be a distant memory, according to Mitsubishi’s North American spokesman.
Mirage is being discontinued in the U.S. market, and there will not be a 2025 model,” he said. “Production will cease late this year, and we expect to have sufficient dealer stock to last into the summer of 2025.”
To those that follow the automotive industry, this announcement on the behalf of the Japanese-based vehicle manufacturer should come as no surprise, as it was reported in 2023 that the company was considering putting its Mirage models out to pasture due to the fact that sales have been steadily decreasing. This is a surprising development considering the fact that high automobile prices – in addition to equally high interest rates on car loans – have been one of the number one complaints amongst inflation-weary consumers.
That being the case, you would have expected cash-strapped individuals to flock to a vehicle costing less than $20K, although some may have been turned off by the Mirage’s subcompact nature as well as its distinct lack of power, with all models featuring a mere (to put it mildly) 78-horsepower engine.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.