2014 i-MiEV Interior

2014 i-MiEV Available Now

Here in the U.S., we rarely hear a peep in relation to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, so imagine our excitement when we came across this mostly glowing review of the 2014 i-MiEV (a car that is remarkably still hard to find on any Mitusbishi dealer lot...hard to sell them Mitsu if you don't ship any):

"It's almost hard to write a serious review of a car that looks as silly as the MiEV. With its bulbous cab and skinny tires, Mitsubishi's tiny all-electric car appears to have escaped from a carnival ride. You expect it to come packed with clowns that tumble out when the doors open." "But make no mistake, the MiEV — which stands for Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle — is a real car. In a week of testing, it did everything required in day-to-day driving, from commuting back and forth to work to running short errands. And it made many of the trips fun, too, thanks to its torquey electric motor, nimble suspension and microcar dimensions, which allows it to be parked practically anywhere."

The reviewer over at the Portland Tribute states:

"But the big news for 2014 is the MiEV's new low price. Mitsubishi has it by a whopping $6,130 since last year, dropping the purchase price to $22,995. The existing federal tax credit of $7,500 for all-electric vehicles brings that down to $15,495, making it the least expensive freeway-legal electric car in America. That's about as much as Mitsubishi's new Mirage, which is the cheapest conventional gas-powered car in the country."

How easily we all seem to forget just how cheap the i-MiEV really is.

There are a few drawback you'll have to deal with though if you chose the i-MiEV:

"The interior of the MiEV is spartan and made largely of cheap plastic. The seats are thin. And the body is composed of steel so thin it sounds like tin when the doors close." "In truth, the construction is not all that different than the wave of small foreign economy cars that arrived in America in the 1980s like the Geo Metro, Subaru Justy and Toyota Starlet. But the MiEV stands out compared to today's much more sophisticated economy cars."

However, unlike those cars of the past, the i-MiEV does meet all current U.S. safety standards

The reviewer closes with this statement:

"Electric cars aren't for everyone and the MiEV will not appeal to all potential buyers. But if you're willing to take the plunge, you'll find the MiEV can be a practical and even entertaining alternative to gas-powered cars. The bulbous body design results in a surprising roomy interior. Although the suspension is unsophisticated, the steering its responsive, making it fun to drive around town. It's a little jiggly but ultimately stable at freeway speeds, and the motor is powerful enough to make passing even large trucks safe."

It's not often that we find an i-MiEV review and even less often one that sheds a positive light on Mitsu's first EV, but when you think of what the i-MiEV has to offer at its low price point, there's really no competition out there. The only other EV close in price, the Smart Fortwo ED, seats just two and is two doors shy of the i-MiEV. Maybe it's time all of us give the i-MiEV another shot?

Source: Portland Tribune