Think City (2008) CAR Review

Could I drive it and not hate it?

The Think is refreshingly familiar to operate – turn the key, shift the lever into Drive and a diminishing hum indicates the 40bhp motor’s readiness. It takes a second for the speed to build but then all of a sudden it shucks its 1400kg bulk. The force of the silent shove is a welcome surprise after the sluggishness of the G-Wiz and the old Think. I’m very quickly having to back off on tight test circuit.

The Think is nimble in the corners too (all that battery weight low down) and seems to ride well.

It must be time for the ‘But’

The ‘but’ is in the price: £14,000 plus £100 a month to lease the battery. Centrally fixated Londoners could see the sums swing away from petrol with the free (or reduced price) parking in certain boroughs, estimated energy costs of just £110 a year over 10,000 miles and free road tax. Congestion charging might have been the clincher had Ken not waived it for the likes of the £7000 Citroen C1 from October. Potential Thinkers will also be checked by the 2009 arrival of the electric Mitsubishi i – four proper seats, same 100-mile range and 85mph are all promised for £15,000.

Verdict

This is tantalisingly close to the perfect urban runabout in these taxing times. The lithium-ion batteries give crucial leeway in the range – enough for a dash to the beach, or a 40-mile foot-to-the-floor commute with the heater and stereo on full. It’s roomy for two, quick off the mark and well built. In a first for electric mini-cars everywhere, it even looks appealing. This is a proper car, just one that sleeps attached to a plug. But oh, how expensive. At that price, it’s surely beyond the help of green carrot taxation.