Compare the2024 Mitsubishi MirageVS 2022 Chevrolet Spark

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Mirage offers available Park Assist Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Spark doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Mirage and the Spark have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights and lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

The Mirage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Spark’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Mirage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Spark. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Spark ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Mirage’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Spark’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Mirage for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Spark.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Mirage has a standard 85-amp alternator. The Spark’s 80-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Mirage Hatchback gets better mileage than the Spark:

			MPG
Mirage Hatchback
	Auto	1.2 DOHC 3-cyl.	36 city/43 hwy
Spark
	Manual	1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		ACTIV 1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy
	Auto	1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		ACTIV 1.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/37 hwy

Transmission

The Mitsubishi Mirage comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Spark.

Suspension and Handling

The Mirage has a standard front stabilizer bar, which help keep the Mirage flat and controlled during cornering. The Spark’s suspension doesn’t offer a stabilizer bar

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mirage Hatchback’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Spark (96.5 inches vs. 93.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mirage is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Spark.

For better maneuverability, the Mirage Hatchback’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Spark’s (30.2 feet vs. 33.8 feet). The Mirage G4’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Spark’s (31.5 feet vs. 33.8 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Mirage Hatchback a Compact car, while the Spark is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Mirage has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Spark can only carry 4.

The Mirage Hatchback has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Spark (86.2 vs. 83).

Cargo Capacity

The Mirage Hatchback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Spark with its rear seat up (17.1 vs. 11.1 cubic feet). The Mirage Hatchback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Spark with its rear seat folded (47 vs. 27.2 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Mirage CVT offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Spark doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Mirage’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power windows.

The Mirage’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power locks.

FAST-Key standard on the Mirage SE allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Spark’s available Passive Entry with Keyless Start doesn’t unlock the trunk.

The Mirage LE/SE/Black Edition’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Spark’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Mirage SE’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Spark’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Mirage SE detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Spark doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Mirage’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Spark doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Mirage G4 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Spark doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Mirage’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Spark doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mirage has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Spark doesn’t offer rear vents.

With standard voice command, the Mirage offers the driver hands free control of the radio by simply speaking. The Spark doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Model Availability

The Mitsubishi Mirage comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Chevrolet Spark isn’t available as a sedan.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mirage is less expensive to operate than the Spark because typical repairs cost much less on the Mirage than the Spark, including $34 less for a muffler, $26 less for front brake pads, $307 less for a fuel pump and $408 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Mitsubishi Mirage outsold the Chevrolet Spark by 15% during 2022.