Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017) Review
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017) At A Glance
Innovative technology. Exempt from London congestion charge. Fun to drive.
Range is 80 miles. Charging is awkward if you live in a flat. Limited space inside. Huge cost of replacement batteries effectively writes the cars off.
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is an innovative, fun and well equipped small electric city car. But there's one thing stopping you going out to buy one today and that's the list price. Initially a ludicrous £38,699, minus a £5,000 grant, later reduced to £23,990 after the Government grant to help subsidise the cost, making it ridiculously unaffordable to all but the earliest of the early adopters.
The figures just don't stack up. Compare it to a mid-spec Toyota Aygo and you're looking at 24 years, two battery changes and the best part of 300,000 miles before it recoups the initial outlay. The figures aren't quite as daunting for those who live in or commute to London as these owners would save £2000 a year through congestion charge exemption. But it still makes little sense to the average buyer.
And it's a shame that the cost casts such a long shadow over the car as it's actually very good. If it wasn't so expensive, we'd probably rate it as a four-star car. Start-up is silent and peak torque is available almost instantly, which makes it quick off the mark and fast to 30mph, which is ideal for town driving.
Power delivery is smooth, too, and it's jerk-free on the move. Although the range is limited to 80 miles, those who use it in towns and cities (where it was designed for) shouldn't have much of a problem. It's 'off' when stationary in traffic, so it doesn't unnecessarily use power, and as long as it's not being driven too hard, gets close to the estimated range.
A full charge takes around six hours (so can be done overnight or when you're at work) from a household socket, but takes just 25 minutes from a fast charging point, which are starting to spring up across the country.
Reviews for Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017)'s top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017) handling and engines
The gearbox offers Drive, Eco and B (brake) settings. Drive gives surprisingly quick acceleration and allows the i-MiEV to make full use of the power that's on offer. The 64bhp electric motor powers the i-MiEV to 60mph in around 13 seconds, but feels much quicker in town, where it quickly gets to 30-40mph.
Being an electric motor, the torque is available almost instantly and there's plenty of it - 133lb/ft compared to the petrol model's 62lb/ft - providing an near endless seam of power. Impressively, this power is delivered completely jerk-free. Under hard acceleration, the electric motor has the whine of a jet aircraft on take-off. Slide the gear lever into 'Eco' and preserving power becomes the priority.
Engine power is cut from 47kW to 18kW (62bhp to 23bhp). It's noticeably more sluggish as power is cut back to preserve power - acceleration is much reduced and the i-MiEV starts to struggle to keep up with the pace of traffic.
But it does make a big difference to economy and is the only way of reaching the claimed 80-100 miles range on a single charge. Under the B (Brake setting), the car runs at normal power (62bhp/47kW), but has higher motor brake-force enabling regenerative recharging. The top speed of the i-MiEV is 81mph.
The i-MiEV is built for town driving and this is where it excels. It's nippy and has light steering to make easy work of three-point turns. Being narrow, it slides into the tightest of parking spaces and easily nips in-and-out of traffic. Plus on shorter runs you don't have to worry so much about the range.
It handles in pretty much the same way as the standard rear-wheel drive petrol i-car, but with a lower centre of gravity, thanks to 200kg of batteries under the floor. Instead of holding the i-MiEV back, that extra weight helps plant the car to the road and helps provide a surprisingly comfortable ride.
Out of town, it holds its own on country roads and will hold its own on the motorway, too. Though at the back of your mind is always the worry of where the next charging point is - and whether you'll make it.
Charging the i-MiEV is no different to how you'd charge a mobile phone, only on a larger scale. One end of the charger goes into the car and the other end into a three-pin socket. Obviously the difference between the car and a phone is that the car has to stay outside, which makes it inconvenient if you live in a flat or can't get the car close to the house - messing around with extension leads isn't practical.
Charging takes around six hours from a standard household socket or it can be charged from flat to 80 per cent full in just 25 minutes at new 'fast-charge' points that are starting to spring up across the country as more electric cars go on sale.
A single full charge is around 96p, while means fuelling the i-MiEV for 12,000 miles is £150. A Toyota Aygo will cost £1115 over the same distance (assuming petrol is 117p per litre).
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| i-MiEV | - | 15.9 s | - |
Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017) interior
- Boot space is 227–860 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of four stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3475 mm |
| Width | - |
| Height | 1610 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2550 mm |
Entry is keyless, so there's no need to fumble around in a bag or pocket for a key. Starting the car requires a simple twist of a switch on the steering column (where you'd conventionally start the car with a key). Where in a petrol or diesel engined car, you'd hear the car fire (or clatter) into life, the i-MiEV is silent.
The only indication that it's ready to go comes from a 'bing' sound that wouldn't be out of place on a microwave. Put your foot down and there's still barely more than a hum as the car gets going. As you'd expect, it's quiet on the move, with only wind noise evident at speed.
The driver gets a great view of the road ahead and the dials are clear to read. They're the only indication on the inside that it's powered by an electric motor. In place of the usual rev counter and speedo, there's a dial that shows if you're driving economically (or not) and an electronic speed read-out.
Aside from that, the interior is pure Mitsubishi i. That means it's compact, but not uncomfortable. Up front there's enough room to stop the driver and passenger getting too cosy, while in the back headroom is good and there's a decent amount of legroom for such a small car.
The boot is accessed through the hatch at the back and with 246 litres on offer, there's sufficient for a few shopping bags. For larger loads, the back seats fold flat and it's possible to transport larger loads than you might expect.
Equipment levels are high - partly to help attempt to justify the stratospheric list price, with all-round electric windows, central door locking with keyless entry, driver's and front passenger's SRS front airbags, side and curtain air bags and air conditioning. Full spec details can be found here.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011 – 2017) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3475 mm |
| Width | - |
| Height | 1610 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2550 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | - |
| Boot Space | 227–860 L |
| Warranty | 5 years / 62500 miles |
| Servicing | 12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £28,554–£32,045 |
| Insurance Groups | 27 |
| Road Tax Bands | Exempt |
| Official MPG | - |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 4 |
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Hatch 5dr | £29,045 | - | - |
| Keiko 5dr | £28,554 | - | 15.9 s |
| Sugata Pack 5dr | £31,545 | - | - |
| Tamashii Pack 5dr | £32,045 | - | - |
Model History
July 2009
Mitsubishi i-MiEV launched in Japan
The i-MiEV, on sale in Japan since July 2009 was a sell-out success. The 1,400 units allocated by Mitsubishi for the 2009 Japanese market flew out the door and by November 2009 900 orders had already been placed in Japan from the 2010 build allocation. European production will begin in October 2010 with left hand drive i-MiEV’s available in markets across Continental Europe towards the end of the year.
The cars are taking part in one of the Government’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator projects, run by the Technology Strategy Board. Through an extensive selection process, members of the public have been selected by consortium partner, Coventry University, to trial the cars for 12 months allowing analysis of driving and charging behaviour.
The West Midlands CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) consortium combines the expertise of Arup – design and engineering consultant and project leader, power provider E.ON, the city councils of Birmingham and Coventry, three academic institutions, and five other car manufacturers, and is supported by Advantage West Midlands.
For orders delivered to the customer from 1 January 2011, to coincide with the UK government’s recently announced Consumer Incentive Scheme, the price was originally set at £38,699 including VAT. The government grant will be worth £5,000 off the purchase price of qualifying electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, making the transaction price a hefty £33,699 including VAT.
The ultra-low running costs of the i-MiEV are a key advantage over other cars, with additional incentives including:
- Only £115 fuel costs for 12,000 miles driving (£0.96 pence for a full charge)
- Low servicing costs and downtime – only approximately 4 working parts compared to over 300 in a typical internal combustion engine
- Exempt from road tax (saving approx £300 per annum)
- First year capital allowances for fleet vehicles
- Zero benefit-in-kind company car tax
- Lower rate of VAT for domestic electricity
- Exempt from congestion charge (saving up to £2,000 per annum)
- Free parking in many London boroughs and cities such as Milton Keynes
- Expected high residual values due to high demand outstripping supply for several years to come
Mitsubishi’s newly opened Electric Vehicle Centre in Central London has already taken its first orders for delivery in January, and enquiry levels have soared following the Government’s consumer incentive announcement on 25 th February.
Customers will be able to fully personalise their car from a wide range of environmentally friendly and premium accessories including floor mats made from bio-degradable bamboo fibre; specialist leather seat trims including a monogram service; and a special collection of exterior vehicle designs – from Union Jack Flags to special customer requests. The European Whole Type Vehicle Approved i-MiEV has been engineered to achieve a target Euro NCAP crash test rating of 4-stars and illustrates that customers do not need to compromise in any area.
The days of the ‘milk float’ mentality are truly over as the following specification proves.
Vital Statistics:
- Zero CO 2 tailpipe emissions
- Top speed 81 mph
- Range 80 miles (EU combined mode, estimated)
- Seating capacity – 4 adults, plus luggage
- 12-months / 12,500 miles service intervals
- 3-year warranty and pan-European accident and breakdown cover
- Kerb weight – 1,105 KG
- Dimensions – 3,475 (l) x 1,475 (w) x 1,610 (h)
Mechanical:
- 47kW AC permanent magnet synchronous motor (max power)
- 1-speed fixed gear
- Front McPherson strut and coil spring suspension
- Rear 3-link de Dion suspension
- Front stabilizer bars
- Front 14" ventilated disc brakes
- Rear 8" drum brakes
- 9" master vac brake boosters
- ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
- Brake assist
- ASC (Active Stability Control)
Exterior:
- Alloy wheels
- All-round ‘green’ glass
- Colour-keyed front bumper
- Projector type halogen headlamps with levelling device
- Variable intermittent windshield wiper and washers
- Black foldable and electronically controlled door mirrors
- Rear combi LED lamps with clear glass
- Colour-keyed rear bumper with rear fog lamp
- Roof Spoiler with High-mount stop lamp
- Tailgate intermittent wiper and washer
Interior:
- All-round electric windows
- Central door locking with keyless entry
- Driver’s and front passenger’s SRS front airbags
- Side and curtain air bags
- 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel
- Leather wrapped shift knob
- Headlamp levelling device
- Odo and Twin trip and Rest driving range meter
- EV system check warning indicator
- Activation complete buzzer and indicator
- Batteryremaining indicator
- Dusk sensor
- Glove box with card holder
- Instrument panel secret box (above glove box)
- Front cup holders (floor console, front of the passenger)
- Electrical manual air conditioner with deodorant filter
- Front 2 speakers and Front 2 tweeters
- Seat belt warning (driver, front passenger)
- Front passenger air bag cut off switch
- ASC on/off switch
EV Functions:
- Brakeforce regeneration
- Lightweight electronic power steering
- On-board recharging system with cable (flat-to-full in 6-hours, 240V 13 A input)
- On-board rapid charging system (flat-to-80 in 30 minutes)
- Energy-saving drive mode (reduces output to 18kW)
August 2010
Price cut to £28,990
For orders placed for delivery from January 2011. This coincides with the UK Government’s recently confirmed consumer incentive of £5,000 – which means customers will pay £23,990.
What to watch out for
I n the summer of 2012 Mitsubishi MiEV ‘s French counterparts, the , Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn started using a battery with reduced capacity, 14.5 kWh (80 cells) instead of 16 kWh (88 cells). Mitsubishi i-MiEV kept the 16 kWh battery.
A t the time PSA said that cars would keep the previous range because the regenerative braking was now more efficient. The truth is that there was a change in cell chemistry, LEV50 was replaced by LEV50N . A change of electrolyte that allows it to be more heat resistant, similar to what happened in the Leaf with the lizard battery. The Ragone curve (battery efficiency) also improved.
“We have developed new large sized 50 Ah lithium ion cells with specific energy of 110 Wh kg for electric vehicle (EV) applications. The cells were redesigned on the basis of advanced technologies optimized composition of lithium manganese oxide positive active material and adoption of electrolyte additive. The cells exhibit excellent performances namely, the high rate discharge capability at 6 C rate at 25 °C is 96% based on 0.2 C rate, and the retained discharge capacity is 90% after 700 cycles under the condition of D.O.D. 100% at 45 °C.”
These new cells retain 80 % of the initial capacity after 5.500 charge/discharge cycles (100 % DOD @ 25°C).
14-02-2016:Identical Peugeot iOn now down to £12,495 OTR. Reader report: "What a terrible car - slow, rattly, narrow, impossible to demist, blown all over the road by sidewinds, awful build quality. The windscreen cracked spontaneously overnight. And when our car had a low-speed rear impact with a lamp-post, I had a look under the back bumper and found practically nothing between that and the back axle/motor/gearbox. I was able to pull out the dented bumper and thin supporting metal strut with one bare hand! If the car had been rear-ended by a bloke on a pushbike it would have been a write-off. We got it for £12,995 and still lost £6,000 in one year, after which we could stand it no longer."
08-03-2018:Report of total battery failure of 2013 Citroen C-Zero. PSA quotes 22,610 Euros + tax for the full battery pack.
