Devon test drives an all-electric Mitsubishi (Used)

Electric cars are the future of green car technology. The whole concept of electric cars may not be new, but they are certainly packing new ways to extend range and make them more practical for everyday driving. With the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Mitsuhishi is trying to reach out to the buyers who are more budget minded. With the low starting price of the i-MiEV can Mitsubishi justify a reason to buy electric?

Performance: The i-MiEV's electric motor produces 66hp with 145lb-ft of pull, which means its really smooth around town. If you find yourself in stop and go traffic, or feel that you want to boost your range. There's an eco-button which reduces the power of the electric motor and helps extend the range of the battery. The i-MiEV has a top speed of 81mph, so highway driving isn't a 'no-go' for this car.

Ride & Handling: The i-MiEV is best left for urban use, where you can benefit from its tiny dimensions and tight turning circle. However, the steering can be quite heavy at parking speeds and the ride is never settled. Leave the city streets and the car is easily upset by crosswinds. The narrow front tires provide very limited grip and makes highway driving a pain.

Refinement: i-MiEV has a boat load of wind and road noise which makes you wonder if electric cars are as quiet as they say they are. You can hear small amounts of whirr from the electric motor at town speeds, on the highway the whirr turns into an irritating whine.

Behind the wheel: Getting comfortable behind the driver's seat is a rather mixed note. The driver's seat adjusts for height, but the steering wheel is fixed which means it will be difficult for some to get comfortable. The instrumental panel controls are rather fiddly and you'll have to stretch to reach them.

Space & Practicality: The i-MiEV is a strict four-seat vehicle, but it depends on who the four are. Headroom isn't a problem, legroom is the bigger problem if you want to squeeze two adults in the rear seat. Their knees will be in the backs of the front passengers due to the thinly padded seats. With four passengers aboard, the boot is very small.

Equipment: The base trim adds 120V portable charging cable, CD-playe with MP3 compatibility, air-con and regenerative braking system. Top of the range adds alloy-wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel, power windows and an upgraded sound system.

Buying & Owning: The benefits of having an electric car is not having to pay for fuel. Instead you'll be paying very little on your electric bill. The only trade-off is that your range is very limited and the actual use of the i-MiEV is limited unlike the Nissan Leaf.
Buying a i-MiEV isn't a cheap proposition either. A $7,500 tax credit does help take the sting out of the purchase price.

Quality & Reliability: The build quality seems solid enough, some of the materials in the interior feel rather cheap but have a sturdy feel. Mitsubishi has enjoyed average reliability, with the i-MiEV however it is still unknown.

Safety & Security: The i-MiEV comes with front and side airbags with a roof mounted airbag to protect drivers in the event of a rollover. Stability control and traction control are standared to help aid traction due to the narrow front tires. There is a vehicle security system and immobilizer system to help keep theft at bay.

The i-MiEV is fun to drive around town. There's enough space for four passengers and running costs are very low. However, the downsides outweigh the positives. The ride comfort and handling outside of city limits is poor. The front tires are narrow and the range of the battery limits the practicality of the vehicle. Even with the tax credit, the i-MiEV is expensive and way too impractical for what it is. A more conventional hybrid offers better range while a smiliar sized gasoline counterpart offers a lower purchasing price. If a electric car is what you want and you won't have any need to venture outside of the city or drive further than the battery range. The i-MiEV is worth a look.

Devon's Pick: The ES makes the most sense because it's the cheapest. We'd wait for the technology to get cheaper or more sophisticated. 

Likes: Most affordable electric car compared to others. Compact size and abundance of torque means its a breeze to drive around town. There's enough room for four and running costs of course are low.

Dislikes: Expensive to buy. Some of the cabin materials feel cheap. Steering wheel offers no adjustments, ride and handling is awful. The 'can't-go' far battery range limits practicality.

Devon M

Can Devon find a Spark in a micro-sized Chevy? (Used)

Gas prices are high and the cost of owning a vehicle is going up. Chevy figured this would be the perfect opportunity to launch the Chevy Spark. It's a subcompact hatchback that has real potential to go toe to toe with the Fiat 500 and Toyota iQ. Even though Americans haven't really warmed up to small cars yet, will the Spark be able to spark something in this steadily trendy segment? Let's find out! 

Performance: There's only one engine available with the Spark and that's a 1.2-liter four-cylinder producing 84hp. It's not the peppiest engine and won't spark any excitement. Fuel economy however is the main concern here and that's where the Spark really sparks. It's at home around town where the little horespower it has is peppy and can catch up to traffic with ease. On the highway you may want to plan out your overtaking because it will take a while to get up to pace with the rest of traffic. We suggest sticking with the manual gearbox as it works better with the small amount of horsepower the engine has to offer. 

On the road: The Spark has a comfortable ride for a city car. Around town the suspension copes well with bumps and helps the Spark dart around tight urban areas with little to no effort needed. Venture outside of the city limits and the Spark's composed ride often feels unsettled. Most city cars feel out of their element outside of the city, so the Spark isn't too far off from its main rivals. 

Refinement: You'll have to work the engine hard to get any momentum out of it. The manual gearbox is better suited with the small engine size and output. Wind and road noise will intrude in the cabin at higher speeds making the Spark feel less refined than its rivals. 

Behind the wheel: The dashboard has a very user-friendly with most of controls and dials easily labeled and easy to reach from the driver's seat. The instrumental panel has a motorcycle like gauge which helps spark a little flare inside the cabin. There's plenty of adjustments for the driver's seat, but the steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach. This isn't a deal breaker but can compromise the driving position for taller drivers. 

Space & Practicality: Even though the Spark is small, the interior is roomy and offers plenty of space for four adults. There is plenty of headroom and legroom for front and rear passengers if the passengers are willing to share out the space. The boot space won't wow you but it's pretty decent compared to most rivals, you'll have to push the front seats forward to fold the rear seats down to extend cargo space. 

Equipment: The Spark starts at the right price tag but the base trim loses out on cd-player, keyless entry and a few other bits that you'd desire. You'll have to step up to the mid-range trim to add these features which we highly suggest. Top of the range trim adds leatherette seating surfaces, Chevy's MyLink, alloy wheels with roof rails. 

Buying & Owning: The Chevy Spark running costs should be low thanks to the ultra efficient engine under the hood. You may lose some of the fuel economy benefits due to the fact that you have to work the Spark's engine harder on faster paced roads. Starting prices for the Spark are below $13,000 which should appeal to the tight budget minded buyers. We however suggest sticking with the mid-range trim which adds keyless entry and few other bits that you'll want on your daily drive. 

Quality & Reliability: The Spark's interior is very nice but is surrounded by hard and cheap looking plastics. You can tell that this car was built to a price. It's a shame because the Spark has such a fun loving character. 

Safety & Security: The Spark comes with front and side curtain airbags standard. Hill start assist and electronic stability are standard across the range as well as traction control. The base trim loses out on a theft alarm and keyless entry which leaves the Spark vunerable to break-ins. 

The Chevy Spark is a spacious and roomy city car that benefits from an extra pair of doors for added versatility. It's stylish and quite a joy to drive around the city. Venture outside of the city and everything goes down hill from there. The engine doesn't offer enough momentum to really get you off the line and you'll have to plan out your overtakings. The rear seats are very difficult to fold down and the base trim feels rather short on kit. If you need a small urban runabout that can seat up to four and is cheap to buy and run. The Spark really does spark up these and shows that it is indeed a great car to consider.

Devon's Pick: The 1LT trim makes the most sense. You get air-con, keyless-entry, cd-player and cruise control standard. You still get the same 1.2-liter engine as the base trim but you're not losing out on comfort features. 

Likes: Fuel efficient, fun to drive around town, roomy for four adults. Stylish exterior looks and a well thought out interior design. 

Dislikes: Obvious sign the car was built to a price. Overwhelmed outside city limits. Rear seats fold down feature is fiddly to use. Color choices won't appeal to all. 

Devon M