We’ve been marveling at this piece of automotive mechanical packaging since we first saw a concept version at last fall’s Toyko motor show (“Epic Story,” Oct. 31, 2005). As soon as the production car arrived on the Japanese market this year, we were pounding on Mitsubishi’s door for a test drive.
Spending a few days with the tiny city car around Tokyo’s busy streets is enough to appreciate a vehicle of this nature. The i’s 660-cc, 64-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine might not sound like anything too exciting—and to be honest, it isn’t—but there is sufficient power to allow you to zip past traffic and propel you to more than adequate speed on the occasional express- way drive.
The exterior dimensions (134 inches long, 58 inches wide, on a 100-inch wheelbase) are what make the car a real joy. The trim size allows the i to squeeze into tiny holes in traffic and miniscule parking spaces that would be impossible for normal-sized cars.
The compact exterior dimensions don’t cramp the interior space, though. By placing the engine behind the rear seats, Mitsubishi freed up impressive levels of space. And thanks to the cocoon-like design, headroom is more than ample. The rear seats split 50/50 and fold flat to give you useful space for loading groceries; but keep those eggs away from the engine cover or they will be hard-boiled by the time you get home!
As with many small Japanese cars, the seating position is far too high, but the i’s driver’s seat is fitted with plenty of adjustments to allow for a comfortable position. The seat’s backrest is contoured for more compact frames, leading to pain as the actual inner frame of the seat digs into the back of a taller driver—a problem Mitsubishi will need to address if it decides to sell this city car outside Japan.
Equipment levels are impressive for an entry-level car. Our four-wheel-drive model (2wd is available) was packed with xenon headlights, air conditioning, power windows, twin airbags, keyless entry and a hard-disk-based navigation unit.
The i comes with a smooth-shifting four-speed automatic transmission; there is no manual. The electric power steering system might be compact and light, but it is lacking when it comes to overall steering feel. A light curb weight and low-profile tires lead to a less-than-refined ride, but the i handles city cornering with ease and contained body roll.
Mitsubishi says the 4wd i is good for 42.3 mpg, but the best we managed was a rather disappointing 29.4 mpg, proving how hard the tiny engine has to work despite the car’s 2116-pound curb weight.
The big question is whether the i will be considered for sale in the United States. We hear Mitsubishi has shipped two stateside for evaluation, and considering the ever-increasing gas prices, we can’t rule out the possibility of cars like the i on our roads—at least the urban ones—in the future.
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