View All Media
If you want a short-range EV for a short commute, that can fit into tiny parking spots, or just want to spend the absolute bare minimum for an electric vehicle, then the Mitsubishi i-MiEV might be a good fit.
The i-MiEV’s shortcomings start with its 60-mile range, which could be beaten by a carefully driven Chevy Volt, a car that isn’t even a pure EV. It seats only four, its interior is sparse and offers few amenities, it’s uncomfortable, odd-looking, and takes 20 hours to charge.
The 2017 i-MiEV rolls into the new year unchanged from 2016.
The 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV is a great example of the difference between price and value. With a base price of less than $24,000, the i-MiEV is the least expensive electric car available in the U.S. Its tiny dimensions means it is easy for it to slip into narrow parking spots, and of course you get priority parking at recharging stations. However, none of that makes it a good value. The cabin feels crude, the ride is jittery at best, and its 62-mile projected range isn’t just small to start with, in our experience it’s also wildly optimistic. The Nissan Leaf is far more comfortable and offers better range, and the Chevrolet Spark EV offers a considerably nicer interior and better range, for only about $1,000 more.
Used 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV pricing starts at $11,169 for the i-MiEV ES Hatchback 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $23,845 when new. The range-topping 2017 i-MiEV ES Hatchback 4D starts at $11,169 today, originally priced from $23,845.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$23,845 | $11,169 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Mitsubishi’s 2017 i-MiEV is the kind of electric vehicle that gives EVs a bad name. Pros are decent acceleration from a dead stop, plus quick steering and a tiny footprint that makes it maneuverable in parking lots. But that’s about it. It takes forever to get to a 60-mph freeway speed, and once there the ride is jittery and uncomfortable. That’s fine if you never go over about 40 mph and stay close to home, or at least close to a good charging network, as we found the i-MiEV’s purported 62-mile range to be wildly optimistic. Not only will you need to go extremely light on the throttle, you’ll have to forgo any climate controls as well…have fun on a hot or cold day. To help, the transmission offers Eco and B-modes, with the "B" especially helpful at slowing the car using regenerative braking when descending hills.
Proponents of the i-MiEV would call its interior "purposeful," but we just call it cheap. The dash is drab and feels cheap, and the entire interior is awash in hard lowball-feeling plastics. The 7-inch navigation system dresses it up a little, but it’s small comfort. Most EVs have a fancy instrument cluster that shows your driving habits to help you save on electrons, but the i-MiEV sticks to the basics. There’s room for four, and it’s surprisingly roomy-feeling thanks to the ample headroom. Just pack light, as the cargo space behind the rear seats is pretty small.
"Bubble car" is what comes to mind when looking at the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to you, but it’s unique either way. Some might think the elongated headlights, sharply cut rear end, and balloonish shape make it "cute." More cynical types see a golf cart with delusions of grandeur. Its four doors do open wide, and the high roof makes it easy to get in and out. The hatchback makes loading cargo a snap, and the 144.7-inch length means it’s shorter than even a Mini Cooper Hardtop, and a breeze to park.
PRICING
The low price is far and away the best thing about the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It undercuts the Nissan Leaf by about $6,000, and the Chevy Spark by $1,000. Deduct federal tax credits and state incentives — $7,500 and $2,500 in California, for example — it comes out to less than $14,000.
SPACE-EFFICIENT DESIGN
While we’re not wowed by the looks, we have to admit there’s a lot of space in this tiny car. The tall profile, big windows and hatchback design maximize space, as do the compact electric motor and battery pack placed underneath the rear seat.
The 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV comes in only one model — ES — and amenities are few. There are heated front seats, which use less energy than the heater in the heater setting on the climate control. There’s also a 6-speaker/100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system, keyless entry, folding rear seats and a 6-way manual-adjust driver’s seat. Also standard is a Level 3 DC quick-charge port that can get the battery up to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.
There’s only one really notable option for the 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and that’s the Navigation Package. It adds a 7-inch touch-screen display to the cockpit that gives you 3D mapping, real-time traffic and points of interest. It also offers voice command, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a USB port, and steering-wheel controls for audio, Bluetooth functions, and a rearview camera, making it worth the $2,000. Other add-ons are limited to accessories like a map light, rear parking sensors and a USB kit for iPods.
The i-MiEV’s short hood hides nothing, really, since the powerplant itself is actually behind the rear seat. Comprising an electric motor, a fixed-reduction-gear transmission and a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery (with an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty), it delivers 66 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque to this little hatchback’s rear wheels. Top speed is 80 mph, so short freeway trips are possible when there’s enough charge. On a regular 120-volt home outlet, a full charge for the i-MiEV takes nearly a day — 22 hours. On a 240-volt outlet, that time is cut to six hours. A public "Level 3" quick-charging station can charge the battery to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.
AC synchronous permanent magnetic motor
16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack
66 horsepower @ 3,000-6,000 rpm
145 lb-ft of torque @ 0-300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy equivalent: 126/99 mpge
EPA-estimated range per full charge: 62 miles
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 2579 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 84.7 cu.ft. | ||
EPA Total Interior | 97.9 cu.ft. | ||
Front Head Room | 35.6 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 33.8 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 4 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 6.1 inches | ||
Overall Length | 144.7 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 54.8 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 50.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 30.8 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 100.4 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 62.4 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors |
City | 121 MPGe | ||
---|---|---|---|
Combined | 112 MPGe | ||
Highway | 102 MPGe |
Drivetrain | RWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 speed | Available |
Horsepower | 66 @ 3000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 145 @ 300 rpm | ||
Engine | AC Electric Motor | ||
Estimated Electric Range | 62 miles | ||
Charge Time (240V) | 7 hours | ||
Battery Capacity | N/A |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 7 years / 100000 miles |
Used 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV | Used 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric | Used 2017 Ford Focus | Used 2017 smart fortwo electric drive | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $11,669 | $14,463 | $11,446 | $11,542 | |
KBB.com Rating | 2.4 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.1 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 5.0 | |
Fuel Economy | City 121/Hwy 102/Comb 112 MPGe | City 150/Hwy 122/Comb 136 MPGe | City 118/Hwy 96/Comb 107 MPGe | City 124/Hwy 94/Comb 108 MPGe | |
Fuel Type | Electric | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Estimated EV Range | 62 Miles | 124 Miles | 115 Miles | 58 Miles | |
Safety Rating | 4.0 | N/A | N/A | 4.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
0-60 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 11.5 Seconds | |
Horsepower | 66 @ 3000 RPM | 118 HP | 143 HP | 47 HP | |
Engine | AC Electric Motor | Electric Motor | AC Electric Motor | AC Electric Motor | |
Drivetrain | RWD | FWD | FWD | RWD |
Following a one-year hiatus, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV returns to the automaker’s lineup for 2016. Arriving in dealer showrooms late next…
Hoping to boost its competitive position – not to mention its decidedly modest sales numbers — the 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just published its latest and most comprehensive mileage ratings for 2013 vehicles and while…