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Mitsubishi i MiEV road test report

MiEV

The Mitsubishi i MiEV is the newest electric vehicle available in the UK and unlike some of its rivals- it is a proper car rather than a quadricycle. The name means Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle and according to the Japanese giant, it is hoped to do well in the business market and the private car sector. The car looks quite funky with its bubble-esque shape and its four doors. Small scale trials are in place now, but further delivers are due in 2010…

Road Test Reports Says 3 star rating
A front-facing image of the Mitsubishi i MiEV

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Image number 2 of the Mitsubishi i MiEV Image number 3 of the Mitsubishi i MiEV Image number 4 of the Mitsubishi i MiEV
SIMON SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

The Mitsubishi i MiEV is based on the petrol driven i model which went on sale in the UK in 2007. The only difference between the two is that in place of a petrol engine and fuel tank, you get an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. In terms of performance the electric version has the equivalent of 57hp and offers twice the torque of the petrol model. The 47kw output gives 180Nm of torque available instantly. Acceleration to 62mph is available in 13 seconds, respectable enough for a small city car and it buzzes up to a top speed of 81mph. Because the car is so nimble it feels quicker than its actual time 62mph time. With no engine noise to bother you, you will need to keep an eye on the speedometer so that you do not break any limits.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

On the open road the i MiEV buzzes along merrily but if you are taking the Mitsubishi out on country roads then the driver will have to be fully concentrating as you can come up behind other road users unawares. You will need to take a wide berth of cyclists and horse riders as they will not hear your near-silent electric car. Due to the narrow track, the i MiEV can come unsettled by side winds and the narrow wheels make cornering at speed challenging. Although electric power train should actually make the i MiEV better in high winds than the i as the battery pack is situated in the underside of the car, giving it a lower centre of gravity. Due to its compact shape, it is quite high-sided and this means that regardless, the car suffers from body roll. However, drive the i MiEV in town and you’ll find that the car comes into its own. The soft suspension gives for a good ride and makes negotiating road humps child’s play.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 3 stars

On the inside the i MiEV looks like it has been made well. Yes, the plastics may be a little on the cheap side but the car is aimed at those who tend to ‘scoot’ around the city. The mechanical side of the electric car is quite new to the UK and many owners will have to ‘suck it and see’ but Mitsubishi claims that this car will be as reliable as its vehicles that are powered by combustion engines. Precise service intervals have to be confirmed – but are unlikely to be as frequent as a standard combustion engine car, Mitsubishi has said. Many motorists and industry experts have been deterred from electric cars in the past due to concerns over the life expectancy of the batteries and the expense to replace them. However Mitsubishi say that the i MiEV battery should last for at least 93,600 miles although full warranty details have yet to be confirmed by MMC. After 10 years the battery should still retain an 80 per cent of its charge capability.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 2 stars

Plug-in cars may be weak when it comes to securing them fully as you need to ‘plug’ them into a mains system. This could mean that you will need a garage or have to leave a window open during the evening so that you can recharge your battery. This needs to be looked at as leaving windows open in big cities is not a great idea, but Mitsubishi remains confident that those that buy the car will be able to recharge the car with no worries. Unlike a quadricycle electric vehicle like the G-Wiz, the i MiEV is a proper car meaning that it has to pass the same stringent EU safety regulations of any other car, which should afford its owners a bit more piece of mind. Like the i model, the i MiEV is expected to have much of the same specification including ISOFIX child seat mounting points, twin airbags and ABS with EBD.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

Small in stature, that’s the i MiEV as it measures 3,395mm, that means that the it is 143mm shorter than a Fiat Panda. However the wheelbase is 251mm longer, this is great help when it comes to rear passenger room and means the i MiEV has a real advantage over similar cars in this sector of the market. The car has a high driving position and for this tester it felt slightly awkward, however for those that like a lofty view will love it and this setting will suit them down to a tee. A down side is that the boot floor is high and gives a limited space for luggage, the reason for this is that the electric power plant lies underneath. Like most electric cars currently available, the i MiEV is best suited to city driving. Although the car promises a driving range of between 80 and 100 miles, this can be reduced by cold weather, driving style and speeds, use of heating, air con, lights and other electrics plus steep inclines. It will take 6 hours to recharge it from a standard domestic mains supply or it can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 20 minutes using Mitsubishi’s high power charger.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Residuals should stay quite high, as Mitsubishi will trickle feed the iMiEV to UK dealers in early 2010. 25 i MiEV’s arrive in the UK November 2009, with this first delivery destined for the West Midlands CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) trial, which allows a handful of lucky motorists to lease the iMiEV for a subsidised £350 per month. For those who want to get their hands on one themselves but missed out on the trial opportunity, prices are expected to be quite high. Mitsubishi has confirmed nothing yet but it is suggested that it could cost around £17,500 to £20,000 to buy or around £750 per month to lease. Mitsubishi is pinning its hopes on promised Government subsidies of up to £5,000 for electric car buyers to bring the price down, however these are not expected to be introduced to 2011. The trim level of the i MiEV is expected to resemble the i, with lots of goodies including alloys, air con, electric mirrors, ISOFIX child seat mountings and remote locking. Although it won’t be cheap to buy, the running costs could still be a major attraction. Mitsubishi say that at current UK domestic electricity rates the i MiEV could drive 100 miles for a cost of just 45 pence. Equally the car will be road tax free and entitled to free parking in certain London boroughs.

Submitted: 05/10/2009 11:54:49

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