Video | Driving a Nissan Sakura

Tiny kei cars are a huge deal in Japan, you will see them everywhere from Tokyo’s busy streets to remote mountain roads. For decades these bijoux vehicles have been providing mass transportation without taking up too much space, and now kei cars are going electric. Enter the Nissan Sakura. Named after Japan’s famous cherry blossom, the Sakura looks like the Nissan Ariya in miniature and currently accounts for over 40 per cent of electric cars sold in Japan. But, what’s it like to drive?
In this video Rory travels to the Land of the Rising Sun to experience the Nissan Sakura for himself. The regulations for kei car mean the performance is modest, but the Sakura has an official range of 112 miles which should prove plenty for inner city commutes. It also recoups braking energy, allowing you to drive the Sakura using just the accelerator if you choose ‘e-Pedal’ mode. Rory demonstrates all its driving modes and discovers how, despite being just 3.4m long, the Sakura is still capable of transporting four adults in relative comfort. It even comes with a decent amount of standard kit including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And the cost? In Japan the Sakura will set you back around £13,000, which is considerably less than the Dacia Spring or Leapmotor T03. As Rory explains, there’s a lot to like about the Sakura. However, unfortunately the Sakura is sold exclusively in Japan, and you won’t be able to buy one here. So, how does Rory feel about the Sakura by the end of his test drive? Was it worth the trip? You’ll have to watch to the end to find out. If you enjoyed this video give it a like and let Rory know your thoughts on electric kei cars in the YouTube comments. You can also subscribe for more videos like this one.