May 19th 2022
Nissan introduced the IMk concept in Japan in October 2019, as an electric Kei car for eco-friendly buyers. While it wasn’t clear at that time if it will become a reality, we now see its production version. Nissan calls it Sakura, which means cherry blossom flowers in the Land of the Rising Sun. The 2022 Nissan Sakura is an entry-level electric car in the company’s lineup with a turning radius of 4.8 meters (15.7 feet).
Exterior
The boxy-styled hatchback, much like its petrol-powered Kei car siblings in Japan, has lots of similarities to the IMk concept. Since it is a Kei car, Nissan has to follow certain rules for its size. In essence, it is 3,395 millimeters (133.6 inches) long, 1,475 mm (58 in) wide, and 1,655 mm (65.1 in) tall with a wheelbase of 2,495 mm (98.2 in), which is fairly large considering its length.
Interior
Utilizing every inch of the vehicle is a dedicated EV platform to reduce the overhangs and enhance the distance between the axles for superior interior space. Seeing the length of the doors, anyone can tell it is spacious from inside. It can easily accommodate four passengers, allowing them to make use of 107 liters (3.77 cubic feet) of luggage capacity. Not only it is spacious, but it is also one of the lightest electric vehicles on the market weighing 1,070 kilograms (2,358 pounds) for the standard version and 1,080 kilograms (2,380 pounds) for the fully equipped model.
Powertrain
Propelling the lightweight Sakura is an electric motor that generates 63 horsepower (47 kW) and 195 Newton-meters (144 pound-feet) of torque. Of course, you cannot break a Nurburgring lap record with it, but its top speed of (130 km/h) is more than ample for urban driving.
Battery and Charging
Powering the vehicle is a lithium-ion battery pack, boasting a 20-kWh capacity and enough power to cover 112 miles (180 kilometers). Please note this range number is according to the Japanese WLTC cycle. Of note, you would be able to use the battery as a power bank to feed electricity to your home for a whole day, provided you do not go over 12 kW. That is a general power usage of a house in Japan. Once the battery drains out, it will take around eight hours to replenish itself completely. At times, when you need quick charging, you can juice up 80 percent of the battery in only 40 minutes.
Although we cannot compare the Sakura with EVs from Tesla, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Audi etc, in terms of power, it still offers Sport mode for livelier performance. The Sakura offers one-pedal function through regenerative braking. The automaker claims the 2022 Nissan Sakura has one of the calmest cabins in the Kei car segment. The EV even enjoys ProPilot Park system, allowing it to automatically steer, accelerate, brake, and shift while parking.
Availability & Price
The 2022 Nissan Sakura is accessible in three variants – S, X, and G – at a starting price of 1.78 million yen (around $14,000). This price includes the incentives the Japanese government offers to EVs.
Source and Images: Motor1