Which Mitsubishi Models Are the Most Fuel-Efficient?
What’s not to like about being efficient? Getting your work done early, completing all of your errands, or saving money on fuel. That last part is what we’re discussing today, and if you’re looking for a Mitsubishi dealership in Alberta, then you’ve come to the right place to learn about the most fuel-efficient Mitsubishi models. Mitsubishi’s lineup may be rather small compared to some competitors, but that isn’t a bad thing.
Each Mitsubishi vehicle in its lineup serves a purpose, and if you’re looking for an SUV or car, then Mitsubishi has some great offerings that you should consider. The most efficient type of Mitsubishi vehicle is the plug-in hybrid, which can run on battery power for short distances, but that’s not what we’re discussing today. Today’s topic is all about gasoline. More specifically, our topic is which vehicle you should heavily consider if fuel efficiency is of the utmost importance to you. Between the three SUVs and one car that you’ll find in Mitsubishi’s lineup, there’s a lot to discuss, so without further ado, let’s begin, shall we?
Models and Pricing
Before we officially get started, however, let’s discuss a couple of things. First is pricing because this will inevitably be the area where you can save the most money. The caveat, however, is that not every vehicle is made for the same driver. If you’re aiming for something with the roominess of the new Mitusbishi Outlander, which starts at an MSRP of $31,998, then the incredibly affordable 2022 Mirage with its starting price of $14,098 might just be too small for you.[a]
Still, with this price, the Mirage is one of the most cost-effective vehicles in the whole market and is easily one of the cheapest brand new vehicles you can find. The same can be said for the used market too, of course, because new vehicles don’t retain their value forever, and it’s not uncommon for a vehicle released around five years ago to cost significantly less than its newest counterpart.
The other two SUVs on offer from Mitsubishi are the RVR and the Eclipse Cross, with the latter starting at an MSRP of $28,878 and the former starting at $23,828.[a] Overall, Mitsubishi vehicles are fairly priced, and as mentioned, the used market is much the same. With all of this out of the way, which vehicles are the most fuel-efficient out of the bunch?
The SUVs
Between the three gasoline-powered SUVs that Mitsubishi produces, there’s a fair amount of fuel efficiency to find. The most fuel-efficient model of the bunch, the Mitsubishi RVR, can get ratings of 8.8 L/100 km. This stems from its base engine, a 2.0L I-4 paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This engine gives the RVR 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, but the available 2.4L I-4 engine produces 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque, and the fuel efficiency remained respectable at 9.4 L/100 km. With earlier models, such as the 2020 and 2021 RVR, the powertrain lineups remained the same, giving you the same good fuel economy from used models.
Next is the Outlander, which sports similar fuel efficiency ratings to the RVR. There’s only one available engine for the Outlander, however, and it’s a 2.5L I-4 engine that pairs with a CVT. Thanks to the larger engine, the Outlander creates 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, which is a noticeable jump considering its fuel-efficiency rating of 8.9 L/100 km isn’t noticeably worse than the 2.0L engine in the RVR. This is doubly impressive since the Outlander comes standard with all-wheel drive for tackling Alberta winters, while the RVR has the more efficient but less capable front-wheel drive.
Should you shop in the used market, then you’ll notice some changes. For example, models such as the 2020 Outlander are available with two powertrains, including a 2.4L I-4 paired to a CVT and a V6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This V6 engine produced incredible results at the time with its 224 hp, but this came at a far lesser fuel economy rating of 10.6 L/100 km. It’s also worth noting that the base 2.4L I-4 engine in the 2020 model is slightly less fuel-efficient than the I-4 engine in the new vehicle, with the former getting 9.1 L/100 km.
We wanted to take a moment and also mention the Eclipse Cross, which is a phenomenal vehicle with plenty of performance and tech to offer. However, it does have the lowest fuel efficiency out of the three available SUVs. Even with that said, it’s still respectable with 9.3 L/100 km thanks to its 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that provides drivers with 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
The Champion
Although it’s not an SUV, there’s no denying that the Mirage is Mitsubishi’s most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicle. Not only that, but it has the added benefit of being the cheapest vehicle in the lineup, and one of the cheapest on the market, as we mentioned earlier. This is wholly by design too, and it works wonders for Alberta shoppers who want a truly fuel-efficient vehicle that will not only save them money in the long run but immediately save money when purchasing the vehicle at the dealership.
So what’s the powertrain that assists in creating this incredible efficiency? The Mirage is powered by a 1.2L I-3 engine that comes paired with a CVT or a 5-speed manual. The CVT is the most efficient setup, giving the Mirage an incredible fuel efficiency rating of 6.2 L/100 km. This is all possible thanks to the small-scale engine inside of the vehicle. And thanks to its price, it’s an easy recommendation from us for a shopper looking for their first brand new vehicle.
The same sentiment holds for the used market too, and you can find Mirage models between 2019 and 2022 that have the same fuel efficiency. A pleasant surprise to those in the used market, however, is that the earlier models, such as the 2018 Mirage, get better ratings of 6.0 L/100 km. And, for its price, the Mirage is full of features and offers a host of standard and available safety features. All things considered, the one downside to the Mirage is its generally lower-end performance compared to its SUV brethren, but that doesn’t stop Mitsubishi from cramming as much tech into the Mirage as possible, all while retaining that low price tag that makes it stand out from the crowd.
One Last Thing…
Although there’s only a handful of Mitsubishi models to select from, there’s no denying that they’re a fuel-efficient bunch. If you’re an SUV driver (and we know many Albertans are), then there are plenty of reasons to purchase the Mitsubishi RVR, Outlander, or Eclipse Cross. And if you need something tremendously fuel-efficient to get around Edmonton at a starting price that sits under $15,000, then you already know the answer to that––the Mitsubishi Mirage. So, with all of this in mind, that answers the question of which Mitsubishi vehicle is the most fuel-efficient. Best of all, you can find all of these vehicles here at Northside Mitsubishi, so contact us today or swing by to check these vehicles out yourself today.