I agree! Healthy competition strengthens the breed.
Everything I've read says the new Spark is much better than the last one, and some reviewers are saying it's the best overall pick of the "city cars". (Still haven't driven one, personally.) And Mitsubishi improved the Mirage's braking & handling for 2017, plus a small (4 hp) power increase in its 1.2L triple.
I think this is in part because the Micra put some fire under the butts at GM and Mitsu to try harder, and that's good.
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View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...