Mitsubishi Electric Car Price Jacked Up

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Citing “unforeseen changes in market conditions” Mitsubishi Motors announced recently that they’ll be raising the price of the 2012 Mitsubishi i electric vehicle (EV). From now on, if you’d like to get behind the wheel of the i, it will cost you an extra $1135.

Mitsubishi claims that the 2012 Mitsubishi i remains the most affordably-priced mass-market electric car available in the marketplace today. The company’s ES model has a new retail price of $29,125. Subtract the $7500 federal tax credit for buying an EV and the net price of the ES is $21,625. The SE model now retails for $31,125. Minus the federal tax credit and the car nets out at $23,625.

mitsubishi-i-miev_1

image via Mitsubishi

The standard Mitsubishi i is a rear-drive vehicle and features regenerative braking. It’s equipped with a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery system and a 49 kW AC synchronous rear-motor with will propel the EV at a top speed of around 80 MPH. Upgrade to the SE model and you’ll be treated to an in-dash navigation system, a rear camera, heated mirrors, a battery warning system, and a DC quick charge port that claims to give the battery 80 percent capacity in only 30 minutes.

The EV has a range of about 98 miles and a 126MPGe fuel economy rating for city driving and 99MPGe rating for highway driving, to give the electric car a combined score of 112MPGe, which is about on par with is competitor the Nissan Leaf.

Posted on September 27th, 2011 · Comment ↓

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Posted in Electric Vehicles, Transportation

  • Toyhooter

    To expensive still and in CA where I live, I believe the range is not enough to get the typical burbs commuter to bite. On the Mits WEB site they claim a 62 mile round trip commute on one charge. Thats probably an accurate real world estimate. The above stated “about 98 miles” is not a real world/what you would get range. In my case the commute home is up hill to about 2000 ft above sea level. My range probably would be around 42 miles round trip.
    When someone offers a 150 mile real world range for around 20 grand, I don’t belive they could produce them fast enough.

  • Jay17quin

    II took the car for a test drive on Saturday and I have to admit, I was impressed.  I have to agree with Toyhooter the car is way overpriced.  Instead of a $7,500 credit Uncle Sam, take the discount off of the sale price that way we can save money at the financing end.  I believe the car should be priced at around $24,000.  Mines the credit we would be around $13,500 and one would be parked in every driveway in America!!!!!

  • Toyhooter

    Well I went to to Glendale Mitsubishi and talked to the sales gumbie and sales manager gumbie about getting a 24 hr test drive. I need  to prove that the MiEV will actually make my commute before I purchase. As I suspected that idea was dismissed because they didn’t have a demo car that they could put miles on. The sales manager did have a good idea though. Why don’t you rent one he said. Well that is an awsome idea if someone in CA actually rented them. So far I have found no MiEV’s for rent in CA. I will go back and talk to to someone with a higher pay grade.