2024 Mitsubishi eK X EV quick drive
Mitsubishi is testing the Australian waters with its quirky eK X EV electric kei car – but is it ripe for local consumption?
To date, Australians haven’t had much exposure to the Japan-unique kei car.
Before we go further, the kei car category exists in Japan to accommodate micro-sized cars that cost far less than conventional-sized cars. Diminutive in both size and price, kei cars are also subject to tax and insurance discounts.
It’s uncommon to see these mini-mes in Australia, but you might recognise kei car nameplates such as the Daihatsu Copen, Suzuki Jimny, and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
While that last model kick-started Mitsubishi’s zero-emissions intentions in Japan, in 2024 the brand offers the Mitsubishi eK X EV (spoken eK 'cross' EV).
Key details | 2024 Mitsubishi eK X EV |
Price | $30,000 estimated |
Motor | Single electric motor |
Power | 47kW |
Torque | 195Nm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Single-speed |
Electric range | 180km |
It’s one of the world’s smallest – and most affordable – electric vehicles, said to blend SUV-like design qualities with the small, boxy, and tall kei car size class.
Ever keen to expand its showroom line-up, Mitsubishi Australia is considering offering this unique prospect Down Under.
It is seen as an “exciting opportunity” for Australia; however, questions over its safety remain a barrier to its entry into Australia.
The car was engineered primarily for the Japanese market, which has different safety standards to Australia’s independent ANCAP organisation. It could be re-engineered for a five-star ANCAP result, though it would then drive the asking price too high.
This is one of the internal battles Mitsubishi is currently weighing in its consideration for Australia.
However, with a product evaluation example on the ground in Australia, Mitsubishi invited Drive to give the unique car a quick go on local roads.
First and foremost, let me call out how small the eK X EV is. It’s roughly one metre shorter nose-to-tail than the Mitsubishi ASX small SUV and closest in size to a Kia Picanto – shorter and narrower, but slightly taller. I’m 194cm tall for reference and it looks positively tiny in my shadow.
The external dimensions are driven by the size-restrictions that govern the kei category in Japan. Design-wise, the front end adopts Mitsubishi’s familiar Dynamic Shield styling language. I can see a lot of the Mitsubishi Triton’s face in this car, although translated in a weird tall boxy fashion.
I’ve heard conflicting opinions from colleagues about its styling – it sounds like a love or hate affair – but tell me what you think about its looks in the comments below.
In Japan, the top-spec eK X EV is priced around the $AU30,000 mark which, if transported over to Australia, would make it Australia’s most affordable electric car – especially compared to Chinese rivals such as the GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin.
But as for the eK X EV, it comes with a 20kWh battery that sends power to a 47kW/195Nm motor mounted on the front axle. They’re small outputs in today’s age, but the eK X EV only weighs about 1100kg – really light for an electric vehicle.
With that in mind, the eK X EV is claimed to travel 180km between charges. It also can offer vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-load capabilities to manage power supply shortfalls.
At the time of writing a BYD Dolphin Dynamic starts from $38,890 plus on-road costs, with a 70kW/180Nm motor, a 44.9kWh battery, and a claimed range of 410km.
Plugging the eK X into a wall outlet, the small Mitsubishi will charge in roughly eight hours, or it’ll fast-charge to 80 per cent in about 40 minutes.
In the flesh, the space offered inside the cabin is a story best told in two parts. Below the window line, it’s a tight space to stow your legs – especially up against the dash cut-out. You’re also seated shoulder-to-shoulder with your front seat passenger due to not being separated by a centre console.
To give you an idea, my arm span could touch the passenger-side door, which is obvious considering the car is less than 1.5 metres wide.
However, what the eK X EV lacks in width it more than makes up for in height. Head room is totally fine, even for my head, plus the driving position is surprisingly comfortable. The front seat bench is plush and the fabric is soft.
In terms of infotainment, it’s got a 9.0-inch display running Mitsubishi’s familiar system – it also comes with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity – but the Mitsubishi system is straightforward to control.
It’s great to see the tech interface is like what you’d get in more expensive models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander – the fact the brand’s been able to incorporate that into this tiny, cheap car is impressive.
Second-row accommodation isn’t as tight as you’d think. Sitting behind my driving position, my legs were cramped in terms of knee room, but there was plenty of head room and more than enough room side-to-side (remember this model is a four-seater).
No doubt it’s diminutive outside and compact inside, but the small kei car blends into Australian traffic better than expected.
With a single electric motor on the front axle that outputs 47kW and 195Nm, shove from the motor is no-one’s idea of brisk. That latter torque number is available instantly as you depress the throttle and affords good movement from a standstill, but the eK X EV is not typical electric-car quick.
My time in the car was spent with three passengers on board and, even with the extra weight, it didn’t struggle.
However, it is relatively lightweight itself, so overtakes around trucks and cars in suburban Melbourne are easily dispatched and it’s light on its feet around tight bends. Being that the eK X EV is so tall, there’s an element of unnerving body roll, but at city speeds it’s unlikely to induce too much anxiety.
The Mitsubishi eK X EV isn’t bullied by harsh roads or scraggly potholes – in fact, it absorbs these imperfections with a damped effect. But with its narrow track, you do have to make sure you slow down over speed humps or risk sending your passengers skyward.
Being so narrow, the Mitsubishi does wander between lane markings easily. The steering is light, which makes it simple to turn, while visibility is clear thanks to its tall glasshouse.
Stocking a 20kWh battery, Mitsubishi suggests the eK X EV will do 180km on a full battery. But the range in our car showed around 140km using a 96 per cent charge – it’s unlikely real-world range will be close to that claimed figure.
It’s a short electric vehicle range by today’s standards, but arguably enough to ferry city-dwellers on the daily commute for at least a few days.
Australians have been crying out for affordable electric vehicles, and Mitsubishi’s eK X EV feels as though it squarely fits the bill.
There’s a decent amount of interior space, surprising practicality, and the driving experience stands up to Australia’s unique conditions.
It won’t be to every buyer’s requirement, but for what it would cost, the Mitsubishi eK X EV would plug a gap in the affordable electric car market.
What do you think? Is there a place for the electric kei cars on local roads and is the Mitsubishi an attractive solution?