Just three cars are listed in the Micro car segment – the Fiat 500, Kia’s Picanto and Mitsubishi Mirage – the Kia Picanto is the big seller with a 70 per cent share of the segment followed by the Mitsubishi Mirage with around 23 per cent.

The Mirage was discontinued in September last year unable to meet new ADR side impact regulations however Mitsubishi had already pre-ordered considerable stock to last it through most of this year before the model is retired.

With prices at the bottom end of the market under strain the run-out Mirage in recent months has been snapped up by buyers quick to realise a bargain – one of our most affordable models kicking off at $17,490 drive-away for the ES manual.

One of my daughters has had sterling service with her Mitsubishi Mirage over the last six years, the 1.2-litre three-cylinder CVT automatic proving reliable, and cheap to run and service.

I’m David Berthon.

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