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2012 Green Car Buyer’s Guide, Mitsubishi

2012 model year highlight from Mitsubishi: the Mitsubishi i. 

GUIDE TO GREEN CARS, Summer 2012

Compiled by Megan E. Phelps, John Rockhold,
Hannah Kincaid, Emily Glover,
Bradley Berman and Zach McDonald  

See “What the Numbers Mean” in The Ultimate Green Car Buyer’s Guide, 2012 for a full description of the metrics we collected for each model.

Mitsubishi i

Electric, Compact Hatchback 

Price Range: $21,600 – $23,600
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe: 126/99/112
Annual Fuel Cost: $550
Air Pollution Score: 10
Greenhouse Gas Score: 10
ACEEE Green Score and Class Ranking: 58/Superior
Safety Ratings: N/A
Space: 84.7 cu. ft. p.v./seats 4
Drive Score: 3
Similar Used: New for 2012

Good to Know: 

• The i’s small size, light weight and overall efficiency earned it the top spot in the 2012 ratings by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
• The original name was “MiEV,” meaning “Mitsubishi in-wheel electric vehicle.” That got switched to “Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle.” Now the name is simply a lowercase “i.”
• Its technology is weak for an electric vehicle. The 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack is less than half the size of the Coda’s and one-third smaller than that in the Leaf.
• Its 47-kilowatt motor provides 63 horsepower for a max speed of about 80 mph, with real-world range of about 60 miles per charge.
• Charging time is about seven hours on a 240-volt outlet and up to 22.5 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet.
• Mitsubishi added a few inches inside and out to the U.S. version — but it’s still a tight fit with a cheap, light feel.
• The i is likely to draw comparisons with a golf cart — a stigma that other modern electric cars have recently eluded.

What the Press Says: 

• “It’s a refreshing, minimalist take on what an EV should be. ... For eco-minded drivers, an i-MiEV would nicely complement a 40-mpg Ford Fiesta in a two-car garage. Fun, frugal, functional — that’s all you need.” — Autoblog 
• “Driving the Mitsubishi i is so not fun that it might as well drive itself. ... Given the car’s intended purpose — shuttling people in blissful harmony with nature while using as little energy as possible — the i delivers.” — Automobile 

More 2012 green cars: Find details about many more green cars from other automakers in The Ultimate Green Car Buyer’s Guide, 2012.

Photo from Mitsubishi