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by: Dave Glotfelty I have two new drivers in my family, and four drivers total. We recently purchased a 2012 Nissan LEAF (“Leaf”), which we love, but with other cars failing and new drivers in the house, it was time for another new car.
The 2012 Leaf that we bought in December 2011 has spoiled me. Although I am a big guy – six foot tall – I am still generally comfortable with small cars. The Leaf is bigger than a small car, and is technically in the midsize class – it’s very roomy, and I find it very comfortable and relaxing to drive. The Bluetooth, Navigation system, Charging Station Locator, and backup camera are all very useful tools and fun to play with. And best of all – there is NO GAS! I pay only about three cents per mile for electricity.
My family drives many miles and could really use a second EV, but another $30K for a second Leaf or a Chevy Volt was not in the cards. Fortunately, National Plug-In Day made me aware of a great alternative – The Th!nk City (“Think”)! The Think is a two-seater with a very roomy square hatchback area. The Think originally retailed at $33K, but the European parent company has been in and out of bankruptcy. As a result, the price on the 2011 Think has been cut to a fire-sale price of $23K, including tags. I live in Maryland, which has an excise (sales) tax credit waiving up to $2000 in sales tax on EVs. There is also the Federal tax credit of up to $7500. The bottom line is that after the fire-sale price and federal and state tax credits, a brand new 2011 Think cost me only $15,500! Fortunately, the Think U.S. subsidiary is still in business, and currently covering warranty issues. We decided that the low price made it worth the risk on manufacturer support.
Here is my review of the 2011 Think, with occasional comparisons to my 2012 Leaf.
Car Type – The Think is a two-seater subcompact with a very nice hatchback cargo area – 27 cubic ft. The hatchback area is large and very open, and has a large clear back window as the hatch. It is small outside, but very roomy inside. The car weighs 2350 lbs., with an added passenger/cargo payload of up to 445 lb. It is 10′ long, and has a 15′ turning radius on 14” alloy wheels. I find it a blast to drive; however, it is not a Japanese comfort vehicle like the Leaf.
Exterior – The shell is made of ABS matte plastic in nice colors – very distinctive, durable, and eco-friendly with built-in color. One of my favorite aspects about the Think is that it is scratch and dent resistant; I can pound on the car with no damage! I wish that all of my cars were made of this stuff, it’s very tough. I picked a red Think, and it has a Fisher-Price look which is fun. Other available colors include Light Blue and Black. The styling is European, which you may or may not like, but I prefer it compared to the Smart EV two-seater. The Think stands out in a fun way, and you will frequently find yourself answering questions at vehicle stops.
Interior – The interior of the Think is simple, attractive, functional, and colored in black. The steering wheel and seats are adjustable, and entry and exit is very easy. The overall interior look and feel is European, and reminiscent of IKEA– plain with easy to use controls, a parking brake, and a shifter. The car includes AC and a heater. Driving position is comfortable, with decent visibility. The large rear glass hatch provides excellent rearward visibility. Upward visibility is slightly restricted, and taller people such as myself may have difficulty seeing stoplights at a stop. To alleviate this problem, many owners are adding a small stick on at the top of the windshield. Window switches are in the center front, which is unusual but reminiscent of other European makers such as SAAB. The cup holder placement is a bit strange but works OK. The unique keys (two are provided) have a built in remote for locking, unlocking, and popping the rear hatch.
Console and Displays – The console has gauges but no fancy electronics. There is a battery capacity gauge, which shows the percentage of battery capacity remaining and available for use. Another gauge indicates the amount of real-time energy used when driving, or recaptured during regenerative braking. There is no onboard Navigation unit, so I added a Garmin GPS. There is no charging station locator, but most phones can run a charging station locator app (such as PlugShare) to find plug-in stations. The Think stereo is a Sony CDXGT700HD with CD, HD radio and a USB plug for iPods or other USB-based music devices. Unfortunately, there is no glovebox, but in its place there is an incidentals tray, and good access to fuses. The rear cargo bay has nets on the sides and an under floor compartment for keeping valuables out of sight.
Compared to the Think, the Leaf has much more detailed information regarding a variety of metrics, including power output, energy captured during regeneration, estimated range (which is usually a bit – sometimes wildly – off), and miles per kWh. I prefer the Leaf instantaneous power bubble display (power output / recaptured) to the Think needle gauge, which has a small display range. The Leaf has a built-in Navigation system with a charging station locator. The Leaf also includes a nice graphic of Eco-trees that grows as you drive, indicating how much CO2 you have saved by driving electric. However, for estimating range, I find that the Think capacity gauge, combined with my experience, is just as useful. In summary, the lack of a full Navigation unit and entertainment system in the Think is not really an issue – especially for $15,500.
Driving – Like the Leaf, the Think was designed as an electric vehicle from the beginning, and it shows in a good way. Weight is concentrated in the low center of the vehicle, for a great center of gravity. The ride is a little rough, owing to the short wheelbase. The steering has a tight European feel with little power assist, like a German vehicle. The car corners well and is extremely easy to parallel park. The Think uses a simple drive/eco/reverse gearbox with a center shifter and transmission fluid, compared to no transmission in the Leaf. The Think is not as quick as the Leaf, especially in the high end. Going from 0-30 mpg is still zippy, like all electrics. If you are coming from a gasoline car, the Think will seem quite peppy around the city. Acceleration up to 50 mph feels like a typical econobox. Above 50 mph, the Think is slow and really needs to be in Drive mode, not Eco mode, to get up to its top speed of about 65-70mph. However, overall I find it quiteacceptable. The Think is very fun around town. I really smile driving the Think, and my other family members like it too. It’s a favorite!
Conclusion – So, if I did not already own an electric car, would I have considered the Think for my only electric? Yes, indeed! The Think has the same economy and range as the Leaf for $15K less, which is very tempting. As with any small company, the Think warranty is a bit of a gamble given the issues, but so far Think North America has come through when needed for service and warranty work, albeit slowly. The build quality on my car is good, and I believe that owners will find solutions to maintenance problems regardless of the company’s health, as with other small brand vehicles. Notably, the Think uses many Ford parts, which should help for long-term parts replacement.
In summary, when going with the Think, you do have to go in with eyes wide open that warranty and maintenance could a long-term problem. It will be interesting to compare the Think to the new Smart Electric Drive, which starts at $25,000. However for now, if you are looking for a new electric vehicle delivered under $16,000, the Think is the only answer.
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