Mitsubishi i Miev

If you thought electric cars were impractical with odd looks and questionable safety, Mitsubishi is out to prove you wrong. Its i MiEV is the first proper electric model from a mainstream auto maker, and takes the petrol-powered i into new territory.

Combining five doors, four seats and a 246-litre boot in a compact city car package, it’s the ultimate zero emissions urban runabout. Demand for the conventional i was such that the 600 cars allocated for the UK sold out almost immediately. But the switch from petrol to electric power has had no impact at all on its spacious interior.

So what’s the newcomer like to drive? Silent and quick is the best way to describe it, as it has 64bhp, and its 180Nm torque output is more than double that of the petrol car. With the 200kg lithium-ion battery under the floor, stability is improved, too, although the rear-driven MiEV’s skinny tyres and light steering don’t encourage you to press on.

But what about the range? Mitsubishi says a single charge gives up to 100 miles. Run with the lights, wipers, heating and stereo on, though – as you might on a winter commute – and that plummets. Still, an ‘eco’ mode cuts power and boosts the range in town, giving most drivers enough to get to work.

The six-hour charging time from a domestic socket lets you top up the batteries during the day, ready for the drive home, while a 20-minute fast charging station is also in development.

Technology like this isn’t cheap – the i MIEV is likely to cost at least £20,000. But plenty of people have already paid deposits, and Mitsubishi should easily sell the 200 i MiEVs it aims to bring to the UK this year.