'i' prices for new Mitsubishi city car

• Mitsubishi i city car on sale next month
• Power from 660cc three-cylinder petrol engine
• Just one trim, but extensive standard equipment

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Mitsubishi's i car will cost £9084 when it goes on sale in the UK next month.

The five-door city car is powered by a 57bhp 660cc turbocharged petrol engine. It makes the i capable of 54.6mpg on average and emits just 114g/km of carbon dioxide, making it one of the greenest superminis on the market. The engine, situated at the rear of the car under the boot, is mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox.

Compared with likely rivals such as the Smart Fortwo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo, the £9k price tag on the i car looks expensive. However, Mitsubishi claims its car is better equipped than its rivals and some of the kit it offers as standard isn't even available as an option on other rivals.

Just one trim level is available. The i comes with alloy wheels, remote central locking, climate control, electric windows and mirrors, a CD player and leather trim on the steering wheel and gearknob. Luxuries such as sat-nav, iPod connector and Bluetooth kit will be available as options.

On the safety front, the car comes with twin front airbags. The company's own in-house testing suggests the car will receive five stars in Japan's equivalent of the Euro NCAP crash tests. The car has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, because initially it will only be on sale in the UK and not the rest of Europe.

Customers will also be offered a cheap, three-year servicing package for £150, which Mitsubishi claims will save owners £165 on servicing costs.

Mitsubishi UK has imported just 300 i cars to gauge reaction to the uniquely styled city runaround, but says 150 customers have already ordered their car.

• An all-electric powered version called MiEV is still on schedule to go on sale in Japan in 2010 and in the UK shortly after. Lithium-ion batteries, situated under the floorplan, power the car for a range of almost 100 miles. The vehicle needs eight hours to recharge, but has a quick charge that can give 80% of the power in just 20 minutes.