2017 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vs Volkswagen Beetle
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
RWD · Electric motor (49 kW) · Single-speed · 112 MPGe · 59 mi
The 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $810 a year to fuel (112 MPGe), versus $1,661 for the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle (28 MPG). That's roughly $851 a year, or about $4,254 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV
- Volkswagen Beetle
Side by side
| Mitsubishi i-MiEV | Volkswagen Beetle | |
|---|---|---|
| $810 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,661 |
| 112 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 28 MPG |
| 121 MPGe | City | 24 MPG |
| 102 MPGe | Highway | 33 MPG |
| 30 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | — |
| 59 mi | Driving range | — |
| 85 cu ft | Passenger volume | 81 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 7 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 322 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| 7 hrs | Charge time at 240V | — |
| Electric | Powertrain | Gas |
| Electricity | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| Electric motor (49 kW) | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| Single-speed | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| RWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV vs Volkswagen Beetle across model years
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV
- Volkswagen Beetle
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV has more passenger space (85 vs. 81 cu ft); the Mitsubishi i-MiEV has more cargo space (13 vs. 7 cu ft).
Among 43 2017 subcompact cars, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV ranks 2nd and the Volkswagen Beetle 8th for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Volkswagen Beetle; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV or the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?
Measured by cost to drive, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is rated 112 MPGe combined and the Volkswagen Beetle 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vs. the Volkswagen Beetle per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $810 for the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and $1,661 for the Volkswagen Beetle.
Which has more cargo space?
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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