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Suzuki\u2019s first kei-class EV goes on sale this fall with a 26-kWh LFP battery.
The prototype targets 193 miles (310 kilometers) of range while weighing just 2,271 pounds (1,030 kilograms).
Suzuki says it isn\u2019t chasing the biggest battery or longest range, but efficiency.
Ever wonder what the exact opposite of the GMC Hummer EV is? It\u2019s the Suzuki e Sky, the brand\u2019s first foray into Japan\u2019s electric kei car segment. This adorable little hatchback is a belated answer to other models in this class, such as the Nissan Sakura, Honda N-One e:, and Mitsubishi eK X. Like those diminutive electric city cars, it tries to do more with less instead of cramming a big battery into a small body.
Previewed last year as a concept, the production version remains faithful to the Vision concept we saw at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Because it must meet the dimensions required for the kei class, the e Sky is refreshingly tiny. At 133.7 inches (3,395 millimeters) long, 58.1 inches (1,475 mm) wide, and 64.0 inches (1,625 mm) tall, the e Sky is about as compact as you\u2019d expect from a kei car.
Its 96.9-inch (2,460-mm) wheelbase is relatively generous for such a small vehicle, while the prototype weighs 2,271 pounds (1,030 kg). The low curb weight stems not only from the car\u2019s minuscule proportions but also from its small battery. Its lithium-iron-phosphate battery has 26 kWh of capacity, which doesn\u2019t sound like much and would typically be a recipe for range anxiety. However, Suzuki\u2019s engineers prioritized efficiency above all else to squeeze as much range as possible from the LFP pack.
Suzuki quotes an energy consumption figure of 97 Wh/km, resulting in a projected range of 193 miles (310 kilometers). Those figures are still listed as prototype values, but they give us a pretty good idea of what the company is trying to accomplish. While that doesn\u2019t sound like much, it\u2019s plenty for a kei car that\u2019s primarily driven in the city for the daily commute. A heat pump, one-pedal driving, and bidirectional charging are also onboard.
Speaking of charging, the e Sky can handle DC charging at up to 50 kW, which takes about 25 minutes to juice the battery up to 80 percent. If you\u2019re not in a hurry, a full AC charge takes approximately eight hours with a 3-kW charger and four and a half hours with a 6-kW charger.
We reckon that, given its small size and a turning circle of just 14.4 feet (4.4 meters), the e Sky should be ideal for Japan\u2019s often narrow and crowded streets, just like every other kei car. But the e Sky isn\u2019t an electric conversion of an existing gas-fueled kei car; Suzuki says it was developed from the ground up as a dedicated EV. While some models in this segment offer all-wheel drive, this one is strictly front-wheel drive, at least from what we know so far.
The cute exterior is paired with a straightforward cabin featuring a combination of physical controls and a pair of screens. A digital instrument cluster is joined by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, along with plenty of goodies such as a heated steering wheel and an electronic parking brake. Suzuki makes the most of the small cabin by giving the e Sky a two-level center console for extra storage space. The passenger side of the dashboard even has a tray-like design with a built-in cup holder for added practicality.
The e Sky could be one of the more interesting small EVs to emerge from Japan, where even China\u2019s BYD is getting in on the electric kei car action with the new Racco. Rather than trying to beat everyone else with an enormous battery, Suzuki is taking the lightweight, compact approach that has defined its kei cars for decades and applying it to an electric powertrain.
Full technical specifications along with pricing details will be disclosed closer to the car's launch in Japan this fall.
Motor1's Take:\u00a0Suzuki is taking the same small-and-light approach that has worked so well for its kei cars and applying it to electrification. If it can keep the e Sky affordable, it could have a winner on its hands.
See Other Electric Kei Cars: Nissan Sakura Debuts As $14,000 Electric Kei Car With 112 Miles Of Range Mitsubishi eK X Looks Like A Cartoon Outlander That Hit A Brick Wall
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