Nissan LEAF, Fisker Karma, Mitsubishi i Contenders for 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year

Nissan LEAF contends for Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year title.

In 2011, the Chevy Volt captured Motor Trend's Car of the Year honor. But with 2012 around the bend, it's nearly time for Motor Trend to narrow down its next Car of the Year contenders and pick a single winning vehicle.

This year's list of Motor Trend Car of the Year contenders include three plug-in vehicles: Nissan LEAF, Fisker Karma and Mitsubishi i. Will one of the three emerge the victor? Well, for a definitive answer to that question, we'll have to wait until Motor Trend reveals its 2012 Car of the Year at next week's 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. But here's a rundown of Motor Trend's evaluation of the trio of plug-in contenders.

In the plug-in pack, the front-runner seems to be the 2012 Nissan LEAF. Here's Motor Trend's summary of the electric hatchback LEAF:

"Nissan has done a spectacular job in creating what's quite frankly the world’s first quasi-affordable, smooth-riding, solid, quiet, comfortable, and well-made electric commuter car. Indeed, as we speak, the LEAF’s mere appearance on the market is ruthlessly erasing lesser EV competitors."

"Despite its impressiveness, there were a few quibbles. Some felt it was a bit pricey. Others, that the info-display’s estimation of range is too unreliable, or they disliked its unusual styling. And, yep, a couple still couldn’t swallow that sacrifice of potentially endless driving."

Fisker Karma in running for Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year award.

While the LEAF received significant praise, Motor Trend wasn't exactly thrilled with the Fisker Karma. In the words of the Motor Trend staff:

"Hiding behind the Karma’s slinky sheetmetal and bespoke 22-inch wheels is some of the most sumptuous leather and wood you’ll find in any interior today. The Karma is downright plump at 5,408 pounds, though the dynamics were deemed decently sprightly."

"But every evaluator was inundated with the various and numerous pre-production quirks that crept up. The driver-side A-pillar trim piece came off, and some outer panels warped in the desert sun. We had to be conscious of where we rested our left arms—a sensitive door-release button was used in lieu of a handle, and a few editors inadvertently popped the driver’s door onto its catch while in motion. The powertrain also had its issues as well, on occasion lagging considerably when it needed to switch into extended-range mode."

Mitsubishi i gunning for 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year honor.

So, the Fisker Karma didn't exactly impress Motor Trend's staff, but did the Mitsubishi i? Well, yes and no. In general, Motor Trend seemed to enjoy the electric i, but the i fell short when the magazine's staff compared it to the Nissan LEAF:

"For first adopters on a budget who understand the i’s strengths and weaknesses, the Mitsubishi could be a good bet. Before running out of juice, the i is EPA-rated for 62 miles of travel, and 112 mpg-equivalent combined. The Leaf doesn’t do as well by the EPA’s mpg-equivalent standards, mustering 99 mpg-equivalent combined, but its claimed range is 73 miles. The Mitsu i, however, has more limitations."

"Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph comes in 13.4 seconds, but the Mitsubishi i feels quicker. We’d stay away from highways in the electric Mitsubishi, and it’d be best to avoid winding roads as well. Handling limits are very low. Not everyone who drove the i came away disappointed and for people with the right set of expectations, the i could serve as a tailpipe emissions-free urban runabout."

The trio of plug-in vehicles face stiff competition conventional vehicles in the battle for Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year honor. But tell me: Which car could possibly represent a more profound shift and advance in the automotive world than the Nissan LEAF?