Japan’s 2024 Nissan Sakura EV delivers a fun first drive experience.
When we think of an electric car from Nissan with think leave which dates back to 2010 and is a Pioneer in the space or perhaps the Arya which is the new face of EVS for Nissan but in Japan where Nissan is head quartered the Sakura is the best selling eevee in the country according for about half of all EV sales the four passengers boxy Mini vehicle is also cute as a button so we jumped at the chance to take one on a short drive while in Tokyo spoiler alert this key car is as fun to drive as it looks Tiny cars are izard to drive in a big city especially when not used to driving right hand drive because how much trouble can you get into with a short and Noro vehicle that it’s nicely in any lane.
Dashara developed jointly by Nissan and Mitsubishi comes in 15 colour and sales for about 15400 making it an affordable option for many Japanese customers who cannot afford a leaf or Arya and yes it is only sold in Japan a country that legs other Western market in pure EV adoption with be players like to auto and Honda leaning more heavily on high Birds.
The 2024 Sakura is not an economox but somewhat retro with bench seats with a folder between driver and passengers and Ultra cool spoke wheels designed to look like decorative Japanese cannots on a gift or a folded Kimono whatever the explanation we want them.
The Sakura Hai j7 inch driver display and now in dash mounted Centre touch screen to display the navigation system and Apple carplay the certainly copper cream is fresh and fun contrasting nicely with the blue grey cloth seats method head rest and darker blue grey textile across the dash and door cards there are pullout folder up front with a cherry blossom Motif appropriate since the Sakura is named after the economic Japanese cherry blossom or pull out the curry hook in front of the passenger seat for your carry out order or a purse.
The horizontal instrument panel Centre can hold a smartphone wallet and other small items for the second row their are co-folders in the doors and clever cargo nets on the passengers side State Bank that would nicely if it a phone and wallet with yet another pouch at the bottom of the seetback.
Head and leg room and down right impressive speed tested by some extremely tall colleges the pretty much fill the sort vehicle leaving little cargo to Reserve Bank is flats and first down or you can slide it forward to double the cargo space there is room under the floor for the charge cable.
You can acquired the sakuravel including a heated Steering Wheel and the sounds profile a driver assistance system it also has prope pilot park and automatic parking system then controls steering acceleration breaking shifting and the parking break that can prove involuable getting into the tight is faces that parking sport in provident Japanese cities where every inch of space is utilised.
Range is only 112 miles on the wl TC Japan test cycle but the circular is an urban vehicle for most buyers for shorts trips in a country with an excellent train and transit system.
The charging port is at the back of the vehicle on the right side and lights up when the lead is opened to make it is a to charge at night pain Japan the circular uses the CHAdeMO charging network but also type to chargers Standard Chartered tax about 8 hours but a quick charge needs only 40 minutes the lithium ion battery in the car can also power a home for a day in a emergency.
Small what does not feel our light or TP help by its low centre of gravity it is definitely nimble with a crazy 15 turning radius to navigate anything Japanese wrote can throw at you one driving you quickly forget how small it is and part because the streets are also full of dichotomy field with cycle St scooters and one end of the spectrum and lot of buses at the other larger EVS like this from Tesla are not as popular.
Does not have one Paidal driving the vehicle will slow when you left your foot of the Paidal but will not come to a complete stop turn on e-paidal step for more this generating breaking and smooth distillation to a Creep but not a. Nishan excutives se customer feedback is they pray for this over One pedal driving.
There are three dry modes Eco standard and sport and the instant tolk you makes the Sakura feel powerful beyond its sides the tiny car with 14 inch wheels likely would not fair well on North American highways where every vehicle that passes could swallow it will but the Sakura faces well with the rest of Japan traffic even on highway where driving is quite or deadly and event modest speed limits are obeyed there are no plans to bring its adobell fun mobile to not America but if you find yourself in Japan don’t be afraid to check one out.
