Domenick's thoughts are spot-on. Option #2 is probably more sensible, but once you drive an i3 (if you haven't already), you may reconsider. It really is a hoot to drive these cars and after four months, I still love it. I've learned to modulate the throttle more effectively for near one-pedal driving. Occasionally I'll hit the friction brake for quicker stops, but not often. If the majority of your driving is highway, however, you might take advantage of the Active Cruise Control feature. The sensitivity of the throttle regarding regen mode requires precise pedal placement, meaning the pedal is sensitive to minor throttle inputs. One doesn't just let off the throttle and coast... you'll experience aggressive regen as a result. Over a long period of highway driving in non-AAC mode, your foot could get a little tired from maintaining precise foot control. However, I haven't driven longer than 30 minutes at highway speeds and I didn't find the pedal action obtrusive. I've utilized the ACC twice and found it interesting, but I'm still not quite comfortable with the feature yet. It may take time to acclimate. I'm a long-time manual transmission guy, so I like human control.
The 2015 models are hitting a sweet spot coming off three-year leases. Ours is a Certified Pre-Owned version, so there's an extra measure of security regarding condition and maintenance. It's pretty amazing these were $50K cars at the time. Well kept models look and drive virtually new. And yes, I'd recommend the REx model... the flexibility has been quite worthwhile. That said, if the driving experience isn't paramount, then the Outlander and Clarity are perfectly reasonable choices.
