As of the spring of 2014, you can pick up a Mitsubishi i-MiEV for $22,995 – that’s after a massive $6,130 price cut. After state and Federal tax credits, that price can drop another ten-grand (depending on where you live). Why is Mitsubishi dropping the the Mitsubishi i-MiEV so low? Sales have been dismal with less than 20 (twenty) units being sold in month of November.
The 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV will also feature optional equipment as standard. These items, which should have been standard equipment in the first place, add to the bargain basement overall savings. These items include:
- Driver and front passenger heated seats
- Leather covered steering wheel and shift knob
- Daytime running lights
- Front fog lamps
- 8A/12A switchable Level 1 charging cable
- (CHAdeMO) DC quick charger
- Battery warning system
- Heated mirrors
- Rear door speakers
The 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, 49 kW/66 horsepower still makes 145 lbs-feet of torque and all of the performance numbers are expected to be the same in 2014. The EPA rating of 112-MPGe combined remains the same too. When these prices kick in, the 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be one of the cheapest mass produced electric cars for sale in North America.
Next time, Mitsubishi should lead with numbers like this instead of gouging buyers. Maybe the sales numbers would be more respectable. I drove a Japanese version of the i-MiEV in California and it was a fine city vehicle. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi refuses to send a test version to this region. Come to think of it, they haven’t had ANY vehicles available for testing in this region.
Sadly, Mitsubishi is walking on thin ice in North America. I hope their new Mitsubishi Mirage does well. Hell, I hope they allow me to drive one. They need a few home-runs to reverse their North American downhill slide.
Hopefully, the big discount for the 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV will help.
Speaking of electric cars, check out the North American debut of the Volkswagen e-Golf!
