This is the new Mitsubishi eK X EV, essentially a close cousin of the Nissan Sakura, with both being all-electric kei cars. Developed and manufactured by the Nissan Mitsubishi Kei Vehicle (NMKV) joint venture, the eK X EV features the same powertrain as the Sakura, albeit styled to resemble the current eK X launched back in 2019. Said powertrain consists of an underfloor-mounted 20 kWh, 350-volt lithium-ion battery that provides up to 180 km of range following the WLTC standard. The battery powers an MM48 electric motor driving the front wheels that is rated at 64 PS and 195 Nm of torque, with the former meeting kei car regulations in Japan.
Like the Sakura, it takes eight hours to
fully recharge the battery to 100% using a 2.9-kW AC input (Type 1 connection),
or about 40 minutes to get to 80% with a 30-kW DC input (CHAdeMO connection).
There’s also support for vehicle-to-home (V2H) as well as vehicle-to-load (V2L)
bidirectional charging so the vehicle can serve as an emergency power source or
to power electronics when required. Design-wise, eK X EV is nearly a carbon
copy of its non-EV counterpart, featuring the same X-shaped face, dual-tier
headlamp configuration (upper DRLs, lower mains), “floating roof” look with partially
blacked-out C-pillars, vertical taillights and overall boxy shape. There are
differences if you look closely, as the upper portion of the eK X EV’s grille
is closed off with black trim that is accompanied by silver accents. The corner
fog lamps are also rectangular in shape instead of circles like on the internal
combustion engine eK X.
It’s the same story on the inside, as
Mitsubishi’s pint-sized EV doesn’t get the Sakura’s dashboard, but instead
carries over the one fitted to the eK X. Like the exterior, it isn’t an exact
duplicate, as the elevated console that houses the gear shift lever and climate
controls is made to appear more contemporary and resembles what you’ll find in
the Sakura. Elsewhere, the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment
system are different from what the eK X gets, the latter coming in seven- or
nine-inch sizes depending on the variant. Both options – the base G and
top-spec P – come with Mi-Pilot, which is what Mitsubishi calls its safety and
driver assistance suite.
Standard systems include autonomous
emergency braking, lane departure alert and assist, automatic high beam, pedal
misapplication control and traffic sign recognition. These add to passive
systems like seven airbags, vehicle stability control, ABS, EBD, front and rear
parking sensors and hill start assist. As for other features, there’s LED
lighting (headlamps, DRLs, taillights; fog lamps only on the P), black or grey
fabric upholstery (synthetic leather is optional), six speakers, keyless entry
and start, Mitsubishi Connect (optional for the G) as well as 14-inch (G only)
or 15-inch (P only) wheels.
The eK X EV’s two variants is one less
than the Sakura’s three, and pricing starts from 2.398 million yen for the G, while the P retails for 2,932,600 yen. These figures are
well beyond the ICE-powered eK X’s price range of between 1.463 million and
1,688,500 yen.
However, thanks to Japan’s subsidies for
clean energy vehicles, customers will enjoy 550,000 yen off, so the
actual starting price is from 1.848 million yen. Factor in further
reductions that come from the eco-car and light vehicle tax schemes as well as
municipal subsidies – 450,000 yen in Tokyo – the eK X EV can be had
for as little as 1.018 million yen.
