Cars are getting faster and faster every year. Improved engineering and electric powertrains have made possible what was considered science fiction only ten years ago. But not every automaker is embracing this newfound power.

While the new Corvette Stingray and Porsche Taycan are reaching 60 mph in four seconds or faster, other offerings in 2021 still need over 10 seconds. The slowest model of the year, the

Mitsubishi

Mirage ES, can only do it in 12.1 seconds.

Obviously, the Mirage was never built for the

race track

. Its intended audience needs four wheels to get from point A to point B, and that’s about it. Mitsubishi manages to offer exactly that for less than $16,000.

For some car buyers, top speed and acceleration aren’t big selling points.

The slowest car available is also one of the cheapest

Speed costs money. It always has. The fastest cars on the market might not guzzle gas like they used to, but their prices are still too high for the average driver.

Consumer Reports

(CR) says the average prices of the Corvette Stingray and the Porsche Taycan are both over $100,000.

Buyers on a budget

not looking for breakneck speeds can be relieved to know that the opposite is also true. The two slowest cars on the market according to CR’s test results are also the two cheapest.

The starting price for a Mitsubishi Mirage is $15,300. The only car cheaper than that, the Chevy Spark, happens to also be the second slowest car released in the 2021 model year.

MORE:

Chevy Spark vs. Mitsubishi Mirage: Both Aren’t Too Great Small City Cars

Is the slow acceleration-for-savings trade-off worth it?

If you’re looking for the cheapest way into a new car and the lackluster engine in the Mitsubishi Mirage doesn’t bother you, the car makes a strong case for being your best option.

Besides the low entry price, it also offers some of the best

fuel economy

available in a gas-powered car. CR says its overall gas mileage rests at 37 mpg, offering 28 mpg in town and an incredible 47 mpg during highway driving.

Car and Driver

says Mitsubishi also offers a 10-year warranty on the car.

That said, the general consensus says

Chevy

Spark is a better option. For a better price, the Spark comes with a more refined interior, a better driving experience, and comparable fuel economy.

Another benefit of the second-slowest car—car insurance prices

MORE:

The 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure (2020)

Despite being similar in many ways, the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Chevy Spark have oddly contrasting average

car insurance

rates. On average, coverage for a Mirage costs $300 more than it does for a Spark.

If you want to save money on car insurance, the

Jerry

app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

Car Buying

Written By

Andrew Koole · Expert Insurance Writer

Andrew Koole is an insurance writer who specializes in writing automotive news articles. Andrew’s mission is to create informative and instructional content car owners can use to reduce costs, master repair skills, and learn more about the automotive industry. Andrew has published over 600 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from automaker history to car insurance deductibles. Before joining Jerry in 2021, Andrew split his time between freelance writing in the entertainment and travel industries and creative writing in poetry and fiction. His writing is featured on a variety of arts and travel websites, including his own Ponytail Press.

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