Mitsubishi i

The Mitsubishi i is an inspired little city car, making unparalleled urban virtues of its slender proportions and clever interior packaging. The only drawback is a strict limit on numbers in the UK.

• Comfort

  Another string to the ‘i's bow is a surprisingly supple ride. Small cars rarely manage this, but the ‘i' seems to waft about with the refinement and composure normally reserved for much larger cars. Take it onto the motorway though and its small engine and skinny wheelbase begin to suffer.

  

• Performance

  There's only 660cc to work with here, but it is turbocharged and embellished with variable valve timing. So while there's plenty of immediate shove for urban driving, things get rapidly rather wheezy on the open road.

  

• Cool

  The ‘i' is unbelievably scarce due to Mitsubishi's decision to limit the number it imports to a few hundred. So it's got rarity on its side for one thing, but is also cool just because it's tiny and rear engined and a bit Blade Runner.

  

• Quality

  Mitsubishi has stuck the ‘i' together very nicely, as you'd expect. It's not exactly cheap after all. The plastics are good, the fit and finish top notch, and you can be confident that it's mechanically sound.

  

• Handling

  With its engine right back in the rear, 911-style, you'd expect (make that yearn for) the i to have similarly positive handling characteristics. And with so little weight over the front and the wheels pushed to each corner, it is remarkably agile and entertaining.

  

• Practicality

  This is a mixed bag for the Mitsubishi ‘i'. It's got proper rear doors and a decent amount of space back there, but the boot is severely hampered by the presence of that engine.

  

• Running costs

  Although the ‘i' is comparatively expensive in a seriously price-sensitive segment, its scarcity and desirability should see you right when you come to sell it. And its little three-cylinder engine is good for 54.6mpg.