2013 Mitsubishi i-MiEV all electric

      We continue in The Fast Lane today with our green theme. I spoke highly yesterday of the Nissan Leaf, with a promise to review it's rival today: The all new Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Of course I say new because that's what it is to us here in the U.S. Over seas however the i car has been in production and on sale for over five years now. You'll remember I greatly enjoyed the Leaf, so let's see how the i stacks up against it.
   As usual we start with our first impressions. The exterior of the i is a matter of some debate. Some see it as a European chic car that's stylish and unique, while others merely see a bug eyed little car on tiny wheels with no hood. I personally like the little i car and find it's styling unique and funky. I like the way the wheels are at each corner and the front of it looks like a smiling face. I like the color palette that Mitsubishi chose and find the Raspberry color particularly attractive. On first glance we're not so close to a regular car with this electric , but then again the swooping body lines are designed with function before form on this one, and aerodynamics were at the top of the priority list when it went to the drawing board.
  Stepping into the interior you're immediately greeted by the pleasant surprise of space. Looking at the i from the outside you expect it to be cramped and uncomfortable, but there's plenty of leg room both front and back, TONS of headroom throughout the whole car and very nice cargo space when the seats are upright and even more when they're folded flat. One point for the i car over the Leaf in the space department at least. We move on to the driver's seat, where we find a heated driver's side seat, blue tooth, navigation and all the standard amenities we've come to expect from new cars these days as well. As far as actual features the two electrics are pretty evenly matched although the Leaf is more sleek and futuristic, and the i has the option to choose what features you'd like to leave off. Driving the i is quite a bit more like a regular car in that you get an actual key instead of a button and an actual gear shift selector and handbrake instead of a joystick and button. Which is better? Well that's personal preference.
   We select D or Eco mode and head down the road. Straight off the bat, like with the Leaf we're greeted with silence, a bit more so in this model though to be fair because with narrower tires the road noise is significantly lessened. The visibility is excellent as well due to the large, tall windshield, side and rear windows. Power wise we're in the same ballpark though, lots of torque and plenty of top speed, perfectly capable of keeping up on the freeway. Ride is smooth and comfortable, although, since the range is a little less than the Leaf you're rarely in the car for long enough to get sore (unless you're stuck in Portland traffic). Parking is very easy as well due to the short hood, compact body and available backup camera.
  So far pretty evenly matched I'd say. The Leaf is more futuristic and sleek, but the i car is significantly less money. The Leaf has a bit more range but the i has a better warranty. The Leaf has more toys, but the i has more room and is less noisy. So which do you choose? Well from the driver's seat I'd say it's a great choice either way!
    In closing I'd just like to say how pleased I am to finally see a valid effort being put forth to save the environment and these two pioneers are paving the way for the future. Until tomorrow night stay green and keep in The Fast Lane.