New Suzuki eSky EV coming to the UK with ultra-compact design
Another electric Japanese Kei Car is coming to Europe, and this one will nearly crack 200 miles
Suzuki has officially revealed its all-new eSky, a tiny all-electric kei car that’s destined to come to the UK after first going on sale in its home Japanese market. Specific arrival times and pricing are yet to be confirmed, but when the eSky arrives in 2027, it could undercut many of its city-car rivals on price, while packing more range and kit.
It’s important to clarify first that this is a Japanese kei car, which means that it complies with a very precise set of regulations that inform its proportions and performance. This is similar to the Honda Super N, but where that car has been modified with wider bumpers and more power to suit European tastes, this Suzuki eSky should remain largely unchanged from the Japanese version.
This means that the eSky sits at just 3,395mm long, which is nearly 400mm shorter than the already compact Renault Twingo. However, more dramatic is the fact it’s 245mm narrower than the Renault, which will make it even more proficient at navigating urban streets. It may also, however, make it less suited to motorway and extra-urban driving.
Suzuki is quoting a predicted range figure of up to 193 miles from a charge of its 26kWh battery, making the eSky more efficient than both the new Twingo and the aforementioned Honda Super N. DC charging is rated at 50kW, but with such a tiny battery to refill, we expect the 10-80 per cent charge time to be well under 30 minutes. For context, the Honda Super N’s range is limited to 128 miles, and the Twingo 163 miles.
No official power or performance figures have been revealed, either, but all kei cars in Japan – regardless of engine type – are limited to 63bhp, suggesting this new eSky will have a power figure at that level or slightly below. Performance should still be quite spritely, though, as Suzuki has quoted a weight figure of just 1,030kg, thanks in large part to its tiny footprint, intelligent packaging and small battery pack.
Inside, there’s seating for four passengers, plus a simple compact dashboard with space for a large touchscreen display and plenty of storage. Suzuki will also integrate a vehicle-to-load charging capability so you can use the car as a giant battery in order to power anything with a three-pin plug.
While we know for certain that the Suzuki eSky will be on its way to the UK and potentially elsewhere in Europe, the extent of any potential changes compared to the Japanese version is still to be confirmed. What it will certainly offer is some very impressive space efficiency, and a cute cartoon-like look that might help make it a hit.
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