1.2 Juro CVT 5dr Hatchback

Worth a second look

I used to own a Mitsubishi i-car and I absolutely loved it. I kept it for 7 years and I probably would have bought another if they were still offered for sale. I took a lot of time to choose a replacement, and I eventually bought a Fiesta 1 litre Ecoboost Powershift, which I grew to hate. The fuel economy was well below the stated figures. The auto gearbox was very good, except in stop-start traffic where there was either too much acceleration or too much engine braking, which made the car tiresome to drive. The seat lacked support, and I couldn't get a comfortable driving position. Worst of all, the clutch foot rest and accelerator pedal were not aligned, so my right foot was not supported by the seat in normal driving, which eventually gave me sciatic nerve pain. After adjusting the seat so that my right leg was supported, with left foot dangling over the foot rest, I realised I could no longer reach the steering wheel and I started to get a pain in shoulder.

I test drove the Mirage release model in 2013 and I was disappointed. The steering felt strange, the handling was wallowy and the car lacked grip. I was excited to read that Mitsubishi had made improvements with the Juro model and after a test drive I bought one to replace the Fiesta.

After covering 3000 miles over the past two months I can confirm the driver's seat is very comfortable and supportive. The controls are thoughtfully placed and the Mitsubishi switchgear has a nice feel to it, in common with the i-car. Looking at the other Mitsubishi models in the showroom, it seems they use the same switchgear in the Mirage as they do on the more expensive cars like the ASX. Personally I like the hard plastics used in Japanese cars although the materials used seem less attractive than the ones that were used in the i-car. Overall the interior is very smart and comfortable. The climate control works very well, as does the cruise control. The heated seats are a nice addition and will be welcome in the winter! The keyless entry and stop/start button are nice features that help to lend the car a more premium feel.

The car handles surprisingly well. This isn't a sports car, but it grips the road much better than I had expected on corners. The lack of rolling resistance makes driving almost effortless. The steering is light with some resistance/feel, and the problem with the lack of self-centering action on the launch model seems to have been addressed. The handling around corners degrades gracefully, which means it's easy to correct with the steering and/or by reducing speed. Overall it feels very predictable and easy to drive.

The gearbox is amazing. I have never driven a CVT before and I love the fact that it adjusts the ratio without me barely noticing. This works especially well with the cruise control on motorways. It also keeps the revs very low in town, which means the engine is very quiet in normal town use, although it does have a growl to it when driven hard. The kickdown action seems a bit slower than in some other automatic cars, but overtaking is aided by the sports mode, which is engaged by flicking the gearstick over to the left.

The low weight coupled with the fantastic automatic gearbox and low rolling resistance means the fuel economy is brilliant. If I drive at 60 mph on motorways I can get over 60 mpg easily. I'm averaging 53 mpg at the moment (compared to 42 mpg in the Fiesta), which puts a smile on face every day! My sciatic nerve pain has also gone.

The DAB radio and Bluetooth calling/audio streaming functions work well although I would have liked the option of the MMES system with Apple CarPlay as sold in America.

I added some front parking sensors to my car, and I had a lot of problems with them sounding randomly to begin with, although the dealer eventually managed to reset them and they now work fine. I'm told they were fitted to the car by Mitsubishi in the UK, not the dealer itself. Some of the interior trim was also scratched when I took delivery, presumably by someone hastily fitting the front parking sensors, although the dealer has now dealt with this. In fairness, the piano black gloss trim is not the most practical choice for an armrest.

The car looks very smart in atlantic grey with its two-tone alloy wheels, and has received several compliments. Unlike some of the other colour choices, the new grey colour helps to emphasise the crease along the side of the car. I believe the ASX, Outlander and L200 are also available in this colour. The new headlamps also look great along with the new grill design, although I was surprised to find the LEDs are not enabled during daytime running: the front daytime running lights are the round ones in the lower corners, as on the Outlander.

The car is mostly very practical for my purposes although the raised boot floor (which is intended to make the load bay flat when the seat backs are dropped) means the boot height is compromised, which makes it less practical in normal use, although I like being able to store my reusable shopping bags and umbrella out of sight. The interior storage areas are good; I especially like the shelf under the steering wheel where I store my glasses, the ticket holder in the sun visor where I keep my car park entry card, and the shelf above the glove compartment on the passenger side.

I would definitely recommend this car if you're looking for a small automatic.

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