Lexus UX vs Mitsubishi Mirage: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lexus UX burns about $1,450 of fuel annually against $1,600 for the Mitsubishi Mirage. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Lexus UX is the stronger commuter at 45 mpg city, while the Mitsubishi Mirage pulls ahead on the interstate at 43 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Lexus UX is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI & PFI), the Mitsubishi Mirage with 1 (1.2). Across 24 recorded Lexus UX configurations and 32 for the Mitsubishi Mirage, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Lexus UX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Mitsubishi Mirage with Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Compact Cars and Compact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Lexus UX emits 204 g/mile of CO2 versus 225 g/mile for the Mitsubishi Mirage. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.