Grudge Match: Tween Pleb Edition

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But on the road, the two cars feel hugely different. The Spark can barely get out of its own way, the Mirage can get up to speed quite happily. It could be gearing, it could be the torque band, whatever - the Mitsubishi makes the gap feel like much more than that one-on-paper second implies.

Weight, I imagine, is a big part of it. Even with that extra 30 or so BHP, it means next-to-nothing in the Spark. My guess would be that, in whatever it's next iteration will be, that'll be shaved down a bit.

The rush to add the CVT here in the US was a big part in increasing the fuel economy and performance. Or, that's what Chevrolet is telling us, anyway.
 
The fuel economy in these cars really doesn't impress me. My four-year-old Civic coupe gets around 41 mpg, and is a hell of a lot more fun to drive.

To get 41 mpg out of a Civic, you have to drive nice. To get 41 mpg out of a Mirage, you simply drive. Drive like an absolute loon, pinging off the rev-limiter at ninety miles an hour, and you can still get 35 mpg out of a Mirage.

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RE: speed: Having driven all three cars, I know where HFS is coming from. For cars that take over ten seconds to get to sixty, a one second difference is very difficult to notice unless you drive the cars back-to-back, or if you regularly drag-test them like I do. But the Mirage feels even faster than the on-paper difference states.

Because it is. When I've driven them, the difference between the 1.2s is something like two seconds against the clock. The Mirage can hit its quoted acceleration numbers easily. You'd be lucky to get a Spark under 14 seconds. GM gave the 1.2 engine mounts that rock two feet on each upshift and a midrange torque hole the size of the Grand Canyon. I suppose a factory-fresh Spark with the seats and spare removed could hit the numbers. Otherwise...

The 1.2 in the Mirage just pulls and pulls, and then VTAK! or something, and pulls some more. Granted, it's still slow, but not dreadfully so.

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I've driven all three, and it's a toughie.

The Mirage has, hands down, the worst interior plastics, the thinnest seats and the worst steering. It also has the best fuel economy. 70 mpg is possible on long trips without engine-off coasting, but it takes a lot of work. Most people will be able to do 60 mpg with a light foot at low speeds. Out here, it's the best choice for those on a budget... because the Versa we get costs a lot more, since it's imported from outside the ASEAN.

The Spark is the smallest on the inside, and they haven't moved the seats outboard to take advantage of the extra width over the old Daewoom Matiz. It also, paradoxically, has the best suspension control... perhaps because it's heavier than the Mirage despite being smaller.

The Versa's interior quality may suck, but it's not much worse than the Spark... the Mirage has better surfaces, but the Versa's plastics feel thicker. It's not a standout car in any way, but it's got a huge back seat. More legroom than a Focus. We get a 1.5 here, which is a decent motor with good economy. The 1.6 should be little different, and should be capable of 50 mpg on long drives, like the 1.5. Given the big price advantage the Versa gets there, that's where my money would be going if I were buying in the US. It's not a car you can love, but if all you need is something with four wheels and AC...

And it's faster than the Mirage, at least. :lol:
 
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