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Statistics

How much? £15,000
On sale in the UK: 2008 (est'd)
Engine: AC electric motor, 63bhp @ 6500rpm, 133lb ft
Transmission: None, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 14.0sec 0-60mph (est'd), 80mph
How heavy / made of? 1080kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)? 3395/1475/1600
Need to know

CAR's rating

Rated 4 out of 54

Handling

Rated 3 out of 53

Performance

Rated 3 out of 53

Usability

Rated 3 out of 53

Feelgood factor

Rated 4 out of 54

Readers' rating

Rated 4 out of 54

Mitsubishi i-EV (2007) electric CAR review

By Ben Oliver

First Drives

05 October 2007 09:50

Just another pie-in-the-sky electric concept car, right?

Wrong, for two reasons. Firstly, we’ve driven it: CAR Online is the first to get behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi i-EV. Second, Mitsubishi reckons it can have it on sale in the UK as early as next year - though 2009 seems a safer bet – for under fifteen grand. That will buy you a properly engineered, four-seat city car with a decent boot, an 80mph top speed, a 100-mile range and a charge time of as little as half an hour.

What if I need to do more than 100 miles in a day?

Don’t buy it. But the vast majority of cars cover nothing like as much, and if Mitsu can bring the i-EV here for that price there will be so much interest from those whom the range suits, those with a second car and those who simply want to be seen to be green that the UK importers will sell every one they can get their hands on. And as we discovered, you won’t be deterred by its dynamics.

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Mitsubishi i-EV (2007) electric CAR review

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joe-hxc

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joe-hxc says

RE: Mitsubishi i-EV

Aparently around 2:50 at peak times !

12 September 2009 08:30

 

JohnnyBimmer

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JohnnyBimmer says

Funky but what's this electric cars mpg?

Very funky looks and targeting electric motors at the 'city car' sector who are less conscious of the need for an engine is a good move.. however saying it takes 1 hour to recharge doesn't inform anyone what this runabout will cost to run/recharge. We need to know!

16 January 2008 08:40

 

andrewkelsey

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andrewkelsey says

Shame it's so expensive

But as the first real, properly engineered, properly crash tested electric car on sale to the public, with a reasonable range for a city car, it's a fantastic achievement. Who would've thought that Mitsubishi would be first in the market with an EV? Perfect for the school run madam and much more economical than your SUV. Plus no congestion charge and no more petrol to buy...ever! They'll sell all they can build.

04 January 2008 15:44

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