The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Carbonite Edition is one of the most affordable new cars available, and that rock-bottom price is essentially its only compelling selling point. With just 78 horsepower from a wheezy three-cylinder engine and a 12.3-second sprint to 60 mph, the Mirage G4 struggles to keep pace with modern traffic, making highway merging a genuine exercise in forward planning. The CVT transmission amplifies the engine's weakness with droning under load. Interior quality is among the lowest in the market, with hard plastics and a spartan design that makes no attempt at pretense. On the positive side, fuel economy is excellent, the Carbonite Edition adds some visual interest, and the basic warranty coverage is competitive. The steering is light enough for easy parking, and visibility is good. For buyers on a strict budget who need basic, reliable transportation and cannot consider a used vehicle, the Mirage G4 serves a necessary function. But anyone with flexibility in their budget should strongly consider a gently used car from a class above, which will offer a dramatically better ownership experience.