The trip itself is surprisingly comfy, an impact furthered by the sofa-like seats. Whereas the peak helps with the headroom it does imply the middle of gravity will not be so low, resulting in some physique motion. Energy comes from a 63 hp (47 kW) electrical motor mounted on the entrance axle which might ship 195 Nm of torque.
There are literally two types of braking regeneration, the traditional and the e-pedal selection. Whereas the braking regeneration underneath Eco is certainly noticeable, it’s nothing in comparison with what you get whenever you press the e-pedal button. With this engaged you get a close to one-pedal driving expertise, however it is not going to take you to a whole halt, only a crawl of round 5 mph.
Mark Andrews
Regardless of having solely a 20 kWh battery pack the vary as measured by the WLTC cycle is 112 miles, which is greater than sufficient for a commute. It must be famous that the Sakura will use much less electrical energy when pushed at metropolis speeds. Nissan studies that 83 p.c of householders say they spend lower than 5,000 yen ($33) a month charging the automotive.
Serving to cut back vitality consumption are options such because the LED lights and a warmth pump, which reduces the quantity of energy wanted to warmth the automotive in winter.
Quick-charging, the Sakura’s battery can go from 10 to 80 p.c in round 40 minutes. It additionally helps vehicle-to-load, that means you should utilize the automotive as an influence supply on family home equipment and related gadgets.
Past Japan
Surprisingly, the automotive’s programs such because the navigation have been doable to modify into English, so if the decided fan have been to import one to the US, they would not be caught with a Japanese UI. Tech typically is an space the automotive scores extremely on. The G model as customary has Nissan’s ProPilot. Though I didn’t strive it on the freeway, I did strive the automotive’s auto-parking operate. You then choose a goal area and maintain down acceptable park button whereas the automotive completes the maneuver. I discovered it to have variable effectiveness, with it claiming on events to have efficiently parked when it had not totally reversed into an area.
In such small vehicles, security is at all times a query mark—however, in 2022, the Sakura gained a 5-star score within the JNCAP take a look at, although it must be famous that this isn’t as stringent because the Euro NCAP score. The automotive does, nevertheless, include seven airbags, together with energetic evasive maneuver help, clever emergency braking, and collision warning.
Sadly, thus far Nissan has proven no need to promote the automotive exterior Japan, though just a few secondhand examples have ended up in right-hand drive markets corresponding to New Zealand.
The Sakura is perhaps Japan’s best-selling EV (certainly, robust demand led to Nissan having to pause gross sales in late 2022 as a result of it had too many orders), however it has the potential to be excess of that. It’s the EV that many metropolis EV drivers have been crying out for. Whereas it won’t be as ridiculously low-cost because the Chinese language micro EVs (which might go as little as $5,000), it’s nonetheless, comparatively, an absolute discount—and crucially extra of a “proper car” than any of its China rivals.
With actual security credentials, quick charging, good dealing with and sufficient energy to even be used for the odd (barely) longer journey on the freeway, certainly there is a marketplace for the Sakura in Europe and the US? We’ll need to hope Nissan involves suppose the identical.
