Mitsubishi i Review & Outlook

The Mitsubishi i (formerly i-MiEV) is the leader of the pack for the smallest electric cars coming to market. The group includes the Smart ED, Mini E, and Think City. Although its size, or lack thereof, will be an issue for some American drivers, it is a fully capable subcompact than can carry four adults

Mitsubishi has scheduled its first U.S. deliveries for January 2012. Prospective buyers will make a $299 deposit, plus $99 for a home inspection related to installation of charging equipment. Mitsubishi will waive the home electrical inspection fee for the first 2,000 potential buyers who sign up at i.mitsubishicars.com.

The i can squeeze four decent-sized grown-ups, but shoulder room is very tight. In this sense, the car will be fighting the long-standing stereotypes of electric cars as glorified golf carts. The Mitsubishi i's performance will also have to work to dispel some of those myths. The electric version replaces the “i” engine, transmission, and fuel tank with a 16-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack, a 47-kilowatt motor producing 133 foot-pounds of torque, an inverter, and the car’s power electronics. The claimed maximum speed is 81 mph, with a range of roughly 100 miles on the Japanese test cycle, and 75 miles on the US cycle. However, some US reviewers driving in cold weather eked out about half that range.

In our test drive, carrying four adults, the car was a bit tentative off the line when the light changed. But it kept up with traffic, and like any EV, power delivery was smooth and linear. The tiny car rode well, though firmly, crashing somewhat over cracks and joints in the streets. With a very short turning circle and a center of gravity lower than the gas equivalent—due to the low-mounted battery pack—the Mitsubishi i handled perfectly for quick urban cut-and-thrust driving.

The car offers three driving modes: Standard, Eco, and “B”. The Eco mode limits the engine’s output to 18 kilowatts (one third of peak power), to increase the range of a single charge—and the decline in performance was substantial. “B” mode added more regenerative braking on downhill stretches and when the car is coasting, to recharge the pack more aggressively. In that mode, the regeneration felt “grabby,” and far less smooth than, for example, Ford's hybrid system. Unfortunately, the infotainment screen wasn’t activated, so no power-flow diagrams or numeric data were available.

The overall feel of the vehicle's fit and finish feels cheap.

Availability & Timeline for Mitsubishi i

The company begins taking orders of the i in spring 2011, with the first deliveries scheduled for January 2012. Prospective buyers will make a $299 deposit, plus $99 for a home inspection related to installation of charging equipment.

Mitsubishi said the initial goal is to deliver about 2,000 units of the i, and later expand to between 20,000 and 30,000 units per year. In other words, expect a slow rollout.

The undersized cabin space and drivetrain, and full-sized price tag might make the Mitsibushi i a runner-up to the Nissan LEAF or Ford Focus EV. But let's not rush to judgment. First, we need to get the car to the US in some kind of finished form, and then figure out if the Mitsubishi i is a good fit for urban dwellers looking for an electric ride.