Small Cars Still Popular: Mitsubishi Mirage Sales Soar
It seems that small cars continue to hold their appeal, as evidenced by the sales performance of the Mitsubishi Mirage. Mitsubishi recently announced its sales figures for the second quarter of 2024 in the US, highlighting the remarkable success of the Mirage. Compared to the same period last year, sales of this entry-level model surged by 146 percent in Q2 2024.
Breaking down these numbers:
- The Mirage hatchback saw an incredible increase of 243.4 percent.
- The Mirage G4 sedan experienced a respectable 70.3 percent rise.
During the first half of 2024, Mitsubishi sold 9,862 units of the Mirage, marking an 85.5 percent increase from the 5,316 units sold in the same period the previous year. This trend suggests that the subcompact model will easily exceed the 13,220 units sold in 2023, which was its slowest sales year. However, it is unlikely to reach the peak of 26,966 units sold in 2019.
In contrast, overall Mitsubishi sales in the US for Q2 2024 totaled 22,727 units, a 7.6 percent decline from the 24,602 units sold in Q2 2023. Despite this quarterly drop, half-year sales figures improved, with 51,130 units sold in the first half of 2024 compared to 45,540 units in the first half of 2023. This represents Mitsubishi’s strongest first-half sales performance since 2021.
Detailed Mitsubishi US Sales Numbers:
- Mirage:
- Q2 2024: 4,859 units
- Q2 2023: 1,974 units
- YTD 2024: 9,862 units
- YTD 2023: 5,316 units
- Outlander Sport:
- Q2 2024: 3,324 units
- Q2 2023: 3,879 units
- YTD 2024: 7,893 units
- YTD 2023: 8,492 units
- Outlander:
- Q2 2024: 10,645 units
- Q2 2023: 14,368 units
- YTD 2024: 24,491 units
- YTD 2023: 24,182 units
- Outlander PHEV:
- Q2 2024: 1,374 units
- Q2 2023: 1,620 units
- YTD 2024: 2,896 units
- YTD 2023: 3,217 units
- Eclipse Cross:
- Q2 2024: 2,525 units
- Q2 2023: 2,761 units
- YTD 2024: 5,988 units
- YTD 2023: 4,333 units
- Total:
- Q2 2024: 22,727 units
- Q2 2023: 24,602 units
- YTD 2024: 51,130 units
- YTD 2023: 45,540 units
The current generation of the Mitsubishi Mirage, also known as the Space Star, has remained largely unchanged since its debut in 2011, receiving facelifts in 2015 and 2019. The latest facelift was introduced to the US market in 2021, affecting both the hatchback and sedan models. The vehicle is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, delivering 76 hp (57 kW / 77 PS) and 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) of torque.
Although the Mirage was discontinued in Japan in 2023, it continues to be sold in Europe and the US, with new colors and additional equipment introduced for the 2024 model year. Despite the recent surge in sales, the future of the Mirage remains uncertain. Mitsubishi may discontinue the model by the middle of the decade as it transitions to a crossover-only brand.
