Photo: Mitsubishi
Although it got a head start from the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV never saw the success of its bigger competitor. Maybe it’s because of the looks or the fact it wasn’t available in US dealerships from the begining. Well, at least the availability part will change now as the 2014 model hits showrooms across the States.
You can’t say that the Leaf looks cooler than the egg-shaped i-MiEV. Look closer and you’ll see it resembles a frog... maybe a leaf frog is actually what the automaker hinted its name at and we all thought of green forest leafs for all these years.
So if styling wasn’t necessarily the decisive factor, maybe it was the fact that the i-MiEV is much smaller, comes with less amenities and doesn’t inspire that much safety when you see its tiny wheels sticking out of each corner.
On the other hand, the Leaf might be ugly, but at least looks more like a car and comes with more features. Things that seem to concern people more than having a cheap EV which takes you from A to B at the cost of a hamburger.
For those who are indeed looking for an entry-level electric car in the United States, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV can now be had at a lower price, thanks to incentives, and with more features to make clients forgive its looks.
If you meet the requirements for federal tax savings, the i-MiEV can be bought now with $15,495. Compared to the lowest Leaf price of $21,480, this makes EV traveling as cheap as you can get in the US of A.
The powertrain remains the same 49 kW (66 hp) electric motor good for 145 lb-ft fed by a 16 kW lithium-ion battery pack, which provides a 112 MPGe “fuel consumption”, just a tad bellow the Leaf, but above the smart fortwo Electric Drive or the Ford Focus Electric.
Standard equipment now includes heated front seats and mirrors, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, daytime running lights, more speakers, fog lamps, CHAdeMO DC quick charge port, remote keyless and more.
So if styling wasn’t necessarily the decisive factor, maybe it was the fact that the i-MiEV is much smaller, comes with less amenities and doesn’t inspire that much safety when you see its tiny wheels sticking out of each corner.
On the other hand, the Leaf might be ugly, but at least looks more like a car and comes with more features. Things that seem to concern people more than having a cheap EV which takes you from A to B at the cost of a hamburger.
For those who are indeed looking for an entry-level electric car in the United States, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV can now be had at a lower price, thanks to incentives, and with more features to make clients forgive its looks.
If you meet the requirements for federal tax savings, the i-MiEV can be bought now with $15,495. Compared to the lowest Leaf price of $21,480, this makes EV traveling as cheap as you can get in the US of A.
The powertrain remains the same 49 kW (66 hp) electric motor good for 145 lb-ft fed by a 16 kW lithium-ion battery pack, which provides a 112 MPGe “fuel consumption”, just a tad bellow the Leaf, but above the smart fortwo Electric Drive or the Ford Focus Electric.
Standard equipment now includes heated front seats and mirrors, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, daytime running lights, more speakers, fog lamps, CHAdeMO DC quick charge port, remote keyless and more.
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