Spotted: a Mitsubishi Attrage

On vacation abroad, you sometimes see cars that you don’t easily come across in the Netherlands.
For example because it is simply an old(er) model that has long since disappeared from the modern Dutch fleet, or it is a local variant that was not delivered to us.
This week we have another one in the latter category.
Did you know the Mitsubishi Attrage?

The spotted specimen

Near Brussels Airport, just outside the village of Zaventem, we saw this Mitsubishi Attrage.
Here we see the first model from 2013.
With Belgian license plates, you can’t just ask for vehicle data like in the Netherlands, so we’re actually out of the loop on this particular one.
But what exactly is the Attrage a model?

The Mitsubishi Attrage

In short, the Mitsubishi Attrage is simply the four-door sedan version of the Space Star.
By that, of course, we mean the later A-segment hatchback and not the “Dutch” mini-MPV from longer ago.
The sedan entered the market in 2013, a year after the hatchback.
Otherwise, the Attrage is nothing more or less than a Space Star ‘with a butt’ and the same story applies to both models.
Like the hatchback, the sedan also underwent two facelifts, in 2015 and 2020.

Different type names

The compact sedan is sold worldwide under several type names.
In addition to Attrage, Mirage G4 is also a common name.
For completeness, the hatchback we know as Space Star is also called Mirage outside Europe.
In Mexico, the car has also been delivered under the name Dodge Attitude since 2015, as part of a local collaboration between Dodge (Stellantis) and Mitsubishi.
The Dodge and North American versions of the Mirage G4 differ slightly visually from the global version of the car due to different lighting regulations.

The Mitsubishi Attrage in Europe

The Mitsubishi Attrage was delivered in only a few (Western) European countries, including at least Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland.
In none of those countries did it become a success.
On a positive note, if you want to drive a very exclusive car for little money, then look no further.
Or you do, because just try to find a second Attrage… Apparently, three examples still ended up on Dutch license plates via gray import, according to the RDW’s license plate register.