So what’s it like to drive? Well, a short wheelbase, tiny wheels, a light weight, nimble steering and instant electric torque sounds like a good mix, doesn’t it? Of course it is. The Sakura has a sprightly zip under acceleration and the power delivery is smooth and effortless.
It’s hugely responsive and has Mini-esque small-car pep. It even remains quite composed over speed bumps. There are drive modes, although I couldn’t really detect much extra sportiness in Sport.
The caveat is that my relatively short outing didn’t take me outside of Yokohama’s centre, and the limitations of the Sakura would show up quickly on faster roads, while the range would be prohibitive outside of urban areas.
And ultimately it’s that relatively short range that you suspect would potentially doom any kei car class in the eyes of many European buyers, even at a £13k starting price.
After all, a reworked version of an electric kei car has reached Europe before: the 2009 Mitsubishi i-Miev, which was also rebadged as the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero. They are fondly remembered by many but weren’t exactly sales hits.
Electric technology has come a long way since those vehicles, of course, and even a short drive in the Sakura is enough to convince me of the potential of a small, genuinely affordable EV.
And it feels like, much as with Anpanman, we’re the ones missing out on Japan’s wonderfully individual creations.