Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £9,149 to £9,149
Quirky, unbelievably spacious, ideal for city driving, economical and tax-efficient.
May look too oddball for some, no manual gearbox option, poor audio system.
The four-seater Smart should have made.
The i is most at home in an urban environment, where its tiny turning circle, narrow width and auto gearbox make for quick yet relaxed progress. It can squeeze through gaps and park in spaces few other (if any) four-wheelers can go for and, with its large windscreen, long windows and clearly-defined corners, there's an excellent view all around.
The controls are well laid-out; the Japanese-issue indicator and wiper stalks are the 'wrong' way round but you'd get used to this.
The i copes well on faster roads, too, and although - as with any small-but-tall car - it pays to be wary of crosswinds on the motorway, it leaves you feeling no more vulnerable than in, say, a Panda or 107/Aygo/C1, with its 1,600mm height also giving it reasonable visibility to larger road-users.
It's even amusing on country roads, with well-tuned suspension and steering - much more fun than a Fortwo, if not quite as agile as the more conventionally-configured 107/C1/Aygo. Its balance is good, resisting wallowing and leaning, and it grips well with its 15" wheels and narrow tyres (145/65s up front and 175/55s to the rear). It would take a lot to unsettle it, despite its upright shape, rear-wheel-drive and its rear-biased weight distribution with its engine at the tail end.
The i is no mini hot hatch, but its gutsy little 57bhp/63lb-ft engine is more than adequate for a runaround. The four-speed gearbox is relatively unsophisticated (no sequential-shift facility) but effective and quick to react, and it lurches less than the system in the Smart Fortwo.
Top speed is 84mph and it's not too painful to get there: the i keeps pace well on the motorway, with a little extra speed in reserve for overtaking and hasty manoeuvres. No need to stay stranded in the slow lane.
The i is good for 0-62mph in under 15 seconds, and is certainly sharp enough off the mark for nipping about town and getting away from the traffic lights. It's everything it needs to be.
