Suzuki e SKY: Brand's first electric kei car features 26kWh battery and 310km range

Suzuki isn't trying to make the e SKY the fastest or most powerful EV on the road. It's trying to make switching to an EV feel easy.

The brand's first pure-electric kei car is due to make its debut in Japan in autumn 2026, and its compact size, low weight and modest battery are all part of the same idea: keep things simple.

Small size, big on practicality

Suzuki knows small cars better than most, and the e SKY sticks to that formula. It retains the dimensions of a typical Japanese kei car, measuring 3,395 mm long, 1,475 mm wide and 1,625 mm tall, with a 2,460 mm wheelbase.

The prototype weighs just 1,030 kg and has a turning radius of 4.4 metres.

26kWh battery, 310km range

The e SKY uses Suzuki's HEARTECT e EV platform, with a 26kWh LFP battery mounted flat beneath the floor. Despite its small battery, the prototype has a claimed 310 km range, which works out at more than 10km per kWh.

DC fast charging is supported at up to 50kW, with a 10-80% charge taking around 25 minutes.

Made to feel familiar

Suzuki has tuned the e SKY's accelerator response to be smooth at low inputs and more responsive when you push harder, avoiding the abrupt surge that can take some getting used to in an EV.

The cabin also retains some road noise and road feel, while the Easy Drive Pedal one-pedal mode is designed for stop-start driving in busy traffic.

A 10.1-inch central touchscreen comes with Connected Nav, which takes the remaining battery range into account when planning routes.

The e SKY may be a very Japanese take on the kei car, but there is something refreshing about a small EV that isn't trying to win the numbers game on size or power.

With more than enough range for everyday driving and a footprint that makes sense in the city, it could be an appealing alternative to the bigger EVs on the market. What do you think?