Mitsubishi Mirage discontinued in Australia, dealer stock remaining
Australia’s cheapest car is no more, with the Mitsubishi Mirage axed in Australia – though it’s estimated there’s still enough stock for seven more months of sales.
The end of the road has arrived for the Mitsubishi Mirage in Australia, as new Australian Design Rule legislation forces the discontinuation of Australia’s cheapest new car.
Drive broke the news in September that the Mirage’s future in Australia was under threat, given it would not comply with new side-impact safety legislation (ADR 85) in force from November – however, despite some hoping for a last-minute structural upgrade, Mitsubishi Australia has officially confirmed the last Mirage examples were certified locally before the October 31 deadline, with no more on the way.
As for cars still in the country, a Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson told Drive: “It is anticipated [Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited] will have sufficient stock of the Mirage until June next year or so …. [but exact] stock levels are commercially confidential information so I can’t share that with you.”
VFACTS industry sales data released today shows 649 Mirage hatchbacks recorded as sold in November 2021 – many of which would have been certified against Australian Design Rules in October, ahead of the deadline – outselling the leader of the ‘micro car’ class for nearly five years, the Kia Picanto.
As a refresher, Australian Design Rule 85 – comprising stringent new side-impact safety regulations, focused on poles and trees – first entered law in 2015, however for existing vehicles first introduced prior to 1 November 2017, it didn’t come into effect until 1 November 2021 – placing the Mirage, which launched in Australia early in 2013, in the firing line.
Australia – which proposed the regulations – is the first market to implement the new crash safety rules, with Europe, Japan and the US (where the Mirage is also sold) to follow in the coming years.
While most manufacturers upgraded their existing vehicles to meet the regulations in Australia (with a few exceptions), the Mirage’s age – with a replacement likely on the way – and relatively low sales volumes locally means Mitsubishi opted not to invest in upgrading its micro car to meet the Australia-only (for now) requirements.
To read our original story on the Mirage’s axing from September – including the history of the outgoing model, and plans for a replacement – click here. For everything you need to know about ADR 85 (the new safety regulations), click here.
The demise of the Mitsubishi Mirage – priced from $17,490 drive-away in base ES manual guise – leaves the Kia Picanto and MG 3 tied as the cheapest new cars on sale in Australia (according to nationwide drive-away pricing), at $17,990 drive-away.
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