Sizing Up the Mitsubishi i (formerly iMiEV)

Although we do not need a second car right now, we have been doing some
research, just in case. We currently commute together in an '08 Prius. We're
lucky, but that could change with different jobs in opposite directions or
non-matching work hours. Volume-wise the Prius is more than enough car
for the two of us. So, for what is typically a one hour, one way drive we don't
mind down sizing.

Basically, we are trying to get smart on various cars that would be used as an
urban commuter, ~30 miles round trip. It seems like an EV would not only do
just fine, it is the preferred alternative as gas costs creep upward. We have test
driven the LEAF, and the Scion iQ. (And may drive the FIAT 500 just for fun.
Test driving new cars can be addictive!)

The LEAF, for all its technological savvy, seemed like more car, and particularly
more features than we need or want. The iQ was an amazing little car, but it's
gas powered and too small. It would probably take two trips out-and-back to
do the weekend errands/shopping. (There are some EV iQs in Oregon as part of
an exploratory for-hire EV program.)

We have read that the I is a "small" car. Well, OK. But compared to what?
We felt that being significantly smaller than a Honda Fit might be too small.
So, we did a quick I-Fit-Prius specs comparison. (Data from Edmonds.)

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5	Column 6
0	(In inches)	I	Fit	Prius	Note
1	Length	144.8	161.6	175.0	*
2	Width	62.4	66.7	67.9
3	Height	63.6	60.0	58.7
4	Wheel Base	100.4	98.4	106.3
5	Front head room	35.6	40.4	39.1
6	Front hip room		51.5	51.0
7	Front leg room	33.8	41.3	41.9	@
8	Front shoulder room	54.8	52.7	55.0
9	Rear hip room		51.3	51.6
10	Rear Head room	34.3	39.0	37.3
11	Rear leg room	30.0	34.5	38.6	#
12	Rear shoulder room	54.8	51.3	52.9
13	Cargo	seats in place	13.2	20.6	14.4
14	Max cargo	50.4		57.3
15	Curb weight (lbs)	2579	2496	2932
16	Turning circle (ft)		34.4	34.1

* I-Prius length difference mainly due Prius front/rear overhangs
@ I can stretch out in the Prius, was "just a little" cramped in the I.
# 30.0"! Seats hard and flat. Should not be a big problem due 95%+
one/two person use.

So, without getting too overly critical, the I is roughly the size of a Fit.

There is a Mitsu dealer who is selling the I within 5 miles of our home. However,
despite there being dealer test drive cars on the ground in the Port of Baltimore,
the dealer does not yet have any chargers installed and has no Is on the lot.

With Fiddlerjohn's assistance, I identified other Mitsu dealers in the greater
Baltimore/Washington area that have Is on their lot. After calling around we found
that although Safford Mitsu in Silver Spring isn't open on Sunday, their Is are out
front, easily accessible…
and at least one would be unlocked !!!???

Last Sunday, we drove to Safford to see the I -- 80 miles round trip, just over
1.5 gal. gas in the Prius.

The cars were there and the silver ES was unlocked. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves
poking around, getting in and out, and identifying the various features. I'm 6' 1" tall
and had plenty of head room. The white/blue SE was locked. Still we were able to
identify and compare, at least by sight, differences due upgrading.

We'll test drive the I when our local dealer gets their Is on the lot.

Our preliminary assessment was that at least with regard to driver/passenger room,
the I would do just fine. Although the predicted range is only 76 miles -- I suspect
that I can do better -- we could live with that too. While we don't need a second car,
urban commuter right now, should the need arise -- changes in employment or gas
going above $5 -- the I will be first on our list for consideration...

Ah, but then, the Ford Fusion EV is due out in 2013 isn't it...

Oh boy, another opportunity for a new car test drive!

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NB: Previously posted at myimiev.com

 

For the record:

Overall, the U.S.-spec Mitsubishi i-MiEV is now almost a foot longer
measuring in at just over 12 feet. It is not clear where that extra length
was added in, but the production i-MiEV does sport a much longer snout
than the version intended for Japanese and European markets. As for the
width, it too has been stretched by about four inches to give the i-MiEV an
overall width of 5 feet 2 inches. The height of the car remains pretty
much the same as the foreign-market versions.
Mitsubishi Releases Photos, Info on U.S.-spec i-MiEV | Car.com