Mitsubishi iMiEV

Overview:

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is a proud product developed by Mitsubishi, which was launched in the year 2009. This vehicle is the first electric car launched by any automaker in Malaysia. This 5-door and 4-seater hatchback is sold in Europe with a different badge, viz, PSA Peugeot Citroen. This electric hatchback has a good looking exterior with body colored side vents along with front and rear bumpers. The company's insignia on the bonnet looks good along with the black mesh underneath on the bumper. For sufficient lighting to drive during dark and foggy weather, fog lights and headlights are provided in this vehicle. This car has wipers for front and rear windscreen for good visibility. The rear section has high mounted taillights and stop lamp for a safe drive. This Mitsubishi product comes with a dashing interior to attract its onlookers. The interior trim is designed with black color to give it a classy and urbane look. The interior comes with comfortable seats and height adjustable headrests. To provide more comfort, the driver seat can be height adjusted. The front seats can also be reclined and slided for better seating comfort. This vehicle has an wide windscreen, which adds value to the aesthetics and also makes this vehicle look more roomy and airy. The 3-spoke steering wheel and gear shift knob of i-MiEV have leather cover on them to add grace to the interior. Coming on to the dashboard, it embeds a silver colored instrument panel with all the controls. The controls are placed appropriately to make it convenient for the driver to manage them. Apart from all this, automatic air conditioning system is also provided in this vehicle for a comfortable drive everytime. Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric hatchback has various safety features to ensure a safe and fun filled drive to its occupants. This vehicle employs 4 seat belts for all its said 4 passengers along with 6 SRS airbags for the best protection. Active Stability Control with OS-control, Anti-Lock Braking System and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution are provided in i-MiEV for the best braking experience. Apart from this, Traction Control feature is also given so that the vehicle stays stable on slippery surfaces and deliver a safe ride. Safety of the battery is also given equal importance in this vehicle to avoid any accidents. To safeguard this 330V Lithium-ion battery, a waterproof battery pack is provided within the bodyframe. Also, the exterior is designed with Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution, which minimize the impact on the occupants after any collision or hit. This electric hatchback from Mitsubishi comes with a Y51 electric powerhouse and carries a 330V Lithium-ion battery. This motor generates a maximum power of 49kW and a peak torque of 196Nm.

Mileage and fuel economy:

The Y51 electric engine of Mitsubishi i-MiEV has decent energy efficiency by consuming 135 Wh/km. This vehicle can go upto 150 kms after a full charge of its 330 V Lithium-ion battery. It takes approximately 7-8 hours to fully charge the battery after getting low energy warning. A quick-charging option is also given in which, the battery can be recharged upto 80% in approximately 30 minutes after connecting with the Quickcharge outlet.

Power:

The sole electric powerhouse of Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the Y51, delivers a maximum output of 49 kW and a maximum torque of 196 Nm, which is quite good.

Acceleration & Pickup:

Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a slow acceleration and pick up. This hatchback accelerates in 15.9 seconds from a standstill position to touch the 100 km/hr mark with its Y51 electric powerhouse. The top speed achieved by this engine is 130 kmph.

Exterior:

Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a compact exterior design with various features to attract its buyers. This vehicle has body colored front and rear bumpers and side airdams. Talking about the front of this hatchback, it has Mitsubishi insignia on its bonnet and the bumper has black grille to complete the design. This front also carries headlights, fog lights and turn indicators. The exterior mirrors and door handles come in body colored housing to add grace to its look. This car has dual wipers for front windshield and single wiper for rear windshield for a clear visibility of site for the driver. The rear flaunts roof spoiler along with high mounted stop lamp and taillights for ample lighting.

Exterior Measurements:

The i-MiEV hatchback by Mitsubishi has decent exterior dimensions with 3475mm of length, 1475mm of width and 1610mm of height. The wheelbase of this 4-seater measures at 2550mm and a low ground clearance measuring at 150mm.

Interior:

The 4-seater Mitsubishi i-MiEV comes with a good looking interior. The interior is designed in black for a sporty look. The large windscreen of this hatchback makes it look more roomy and airy. Its 3-spoke steering wheel and gear shift knob come in leather wrapping for more comfort in driving and a great addition in interior look. The dashboard flaunts a silver colored instrument panel with digital speedometer, which compliment the black interior trim. This vehicle has an automatic air conditioning system for an appropriate temperature inside the cabin.

Interior Comfort:

Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a comfortable interior with adjustable front seats, which can also be slided and reclined. The height of the driver seat can also be adjusted for a comfortable drive. Headrests are provided for all the 4 seats at front and rear with height adjustment feature. With 50:50 split fold and reclining function of the rear seats, more luggage space can be created.

Interior Measurements:

The interior measurement of i-MiEV is done considering its total passenger capacity. This 4-seater stands at 1790mm at length, 1270mm at width and 1250mm in height giving a comfortable cabin to all the passengers. Also, this hatchback has a cargo space of 235 litres, which can be enhanced to a maximum of 860 litres after folding of rear seats. Door pockets, cup holders and glove box are also provided in this car so that the passengers may store handy things.

Engine and Performance:

This Mitsubishi i-MiEV comes with Y51 electric engine with 330V Lithium-ion battery. This powertrain churns a peak power of 49kW between the range of 4000 to 8000rpm and a peak torque measuring 196Nm between the range of 0 to 3000rpm.

Stereo and Accessories:

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is equipped with AM/FM radio and single CD along with MP3. The 4 speakers of this car includes 2 tweeters and are neatly fitted to deliver the music to all the occupants. Overall, the audio and entertainment system does not look impressive for hardcore music lovers. Also, this hatchback comes with an optional AVN unit along with satellite navigation for the convenience of the passengers.

Wheels:

Talking about the wheels and tires offered in Mitsubishi i-MiEV, it has 15-inch alloy wheels with 145/65 R15 tires at front. The rear wheels are embraced with 175/55 R15 sized tires to complement and to get a good grip on road. These tires give a confidence to drive this electric vehicle on any terrain.

Braking and Handling:

To deliver a safe and secure drive, this Mitsubishi product has ventilated disc brakes on its front wheels and solid drum type brakes on rear wheels. For an effective handling on high speeds, i-MiEV is equipped with McPherson Strut and coil spring type front suspension and 3-link de-Dion type rear suspension.

Safety and Security:

This electric hatchback comes with various safety features for the safety and security of vehicle and its occupants. This car has 6 SRS airbags in total, which include 2 airbags for the driver and front seat passenger, 2 side airbags and curtain airbags, which provides better protection to the passengers in case of a collision. This car comes with 4 seat belts to optimize the protection of the occupants. Apart from these features, it has active stability control (ASC) with OS-control, anti lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) for effective braking. The traction control (TCL) feature improves the stability of this hatchback on slippery terrains. To safeguard the battery, i-MiEV comes with a waterproof battery pack inside the body frame. This battery pack is well fitted in a frame to safeguard it from any sort of damage. The exclusive Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) design has been given by Mitsubishi to the exterior body of this hatchback to absorb the impact after a hit.

Pros:

1. Good safety norms.
2. Expanded windscreen and roomy interior.

Cons:

1. Poor mileage.
2. Low ground clearance.