Photo from Smart ForTwo

City cars like the Smart Fortwo, also known as “ commuter cars,” are conversation starters. Unfortunately, those conversations usually start with “ Can that thing top 40 mph?” or “ How do you keep it from flipping over when the wind picks up?” But a new breed of electric city cars are hitting the market, seeking to challenge those stereotypes while burnishing their eco-friendly credentials. Bradley Berman recently test drove three of them for The New York Times and found that although they sport some impressive features, gaining widespread acceptance with American consumers will remain an uphill battle.

Berman drove the Think City, the Smart Fortwo ED and the barely pronounceable Mitsubishi i-MiEV (thankfully to be renamed the “ i” ). Both the Think City and the i-MiEV proved fun to drive: fast, nimble, and with relatively smooth acceleration. Neither will win design awards for their interiors, which Berman describes as “ cheap.” The Smart Fortwo ED turned out to be just the opposite. It’ s tastefully designed on the inside, but its lack of power and lightweight frame made Berman’ s harrowing description of driving it on a busy highway in high winds read like the last chapter of Moby-Dick.

Most disappointing of all were the prices. The cheapest of the three is the i-MiEV, and it starts at $28,810 (although Federal tax rebates and a $5,000 rebate available to California consumers can push the price down to $16,310). The City is currently on sale for about $34,000, but could go up to $40,000.

All of this begs the question: Why are these cars priced comparably to the Chevy Volt (around $40,000) and the Nissan Leaf (around $32,000), which are roomier, more powerful and don’ t crumple like a used tissue in crash tests? Their small size gives them an advantage in city driving and parking, but compare the monthly cost to lease the Smart Fortwo ED ($599) versus the monthly cost of an unlimited MetroCard in New York City ($104) and a few Zipcar rentals. Until manufacturers find a way to lower their prices, electric commuter cars aren’t going to be the smartest way for urban residents—or anyone else—to get around.