The inexpensive finish of the brand new automotive market is presently dominated by the Chinese language manufacturers, notably within the electrical car (EV) area. Mitsubishi is trying to get in on the motion in Australia.
Whereas nearly all of Australians gravitate in the direction of diesel-guzzling dual-cab utes and household pleasant SUVs, there’s nonetheless sizzling competitors for consumers trying to enter the EV possession membership for minimal coin.
BYD, GWM and MG – noticing a sample right here – are duking it out towards one another with sub-$40,000 compact electrical autos. Whereas the quantity of those cheaper EVs is nowhere close to Tesla’s scale, the title of “Australia’s least expensive EV” nonetheless appears to be fascinating sufficient to struggle about.
One of many few legacy manufacturers that hasn’t forgotten about its budget-conscious roots is Mitsubishi, which has been promoting the eK X kei-class electrical automotive for a while in its dwelling market of Japan.
We examined it on Japanese roads over a yr in the past, however such is the curiosity in doubtlessly getting into the Australian market the model has flown one out for analysis testing – they usually even allowed us a fast stint on native public roads.
Has it obtained what it takes to win over Australian consumers on the lookout for an affordable, city-sized EV? Or is that this finest left for the bustling streets of Tokyo?
How does the Mitsubishi eK X examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Mitsubishi eK X towards equally sized autos.
Mitsubishi
eK X
How a lot does the Mitsubishi eK X price?
Mitsubishi Australia hasn’t indicated what the eK X may cost if it ever makes it Down Underneath, however within the Japanese home promote it’s priced from 2,398,000 yen – or the equal of AUD $23,435.
The high-spec mannequin we drove with all of the package is extra like 2,932,600 yen (AUD $28,660), however even nonetheless if the eK X was to be offered right here for that form of cash it might grow to be the most affordable electrical car on sale in Australia.
Presently, the GWM Ora is priced from $35,990 drive-away earlier than incentives. It’s a a lot bigger automotive with extra driving vary, and comes from a challenger model with manufacturing sourced from China.
It’s price noting that some manufacturers have provided related merchandise abroad, just like the Volkswagen e-Up! and Skoda Citigo-e iV. Mitsubishi’s personal i-MiEV was in all probability nicely forward of its time, too, given its conceptual similarity to the eK X.
What’s the Mitsubishi eK X like on the within?
This was my first expertise with a kei automotive, and I used to be instantly impressed with the superb maximisation of area in such a compact bundle, in addition to the accessible know-how in such an inexpensive automotive.
Measuring simply 3395mm lengthy, 1475mm extensive and 1655mm tall, the eK X is shorter in size and narrower in width than even a Kia Picanto, however appears to supply higher area for passengers because of its taller top.
It’s a really open-plan inside idea, with as a lot ground area as attainable and the primary two rows being successfully all seats with no actual centre console – although entrance occupants get a neat folding armrest that’s properly padded.
At round 6’1 I didn’t really feel like a cartoon large squeezing into a bit automotive, fairly the alternative really. The tall roof and minimalist entrance cabin meant that it’s deceptively ethereal and spacious inside.
Plus, you’re confronted with acquainted switchgear and tech gadgetry from fashions greater up within the Mitsubishi vary – dare I say it, it feels extra fashionable and tech-laden than the present ASX or Eclipse Cross in locations.
Our take a look at automotive’s white inside with quilted leatherette may not be to all tastes, however I’m all for choices past simply boring black.
There’s a small configurable digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with loads of widgets and layouts to make sure you have the knowledge you need, and sitting atop the dashboard is the acquainted 9.0-inch touchscreen from Mitsubishi and Nissan fashions just like the Outlander and Triton.
All the things is inside simple attain, and the tactile multifunction controls on the steering wheel are good too. Actually, it’s the identical tiller you’ll discover in lots of Nissan merchandise, although the tough leather-based trim isn’t fairly as upmarket.
Under the touchscreen you’ll discover vents and contact capacitive controls for the local weather controls, a slot in your telephone that extends forward of the entrance passenger, a stubby shift-by-wire selector with buttons for the one-pedal drive mode, in addition to auto park help – keep in mind, our Japan-spec take a look at automotive got here absolutely loaded.
The shiny end over the contact controls would shortly entice finger prints, however it’s in any other case pretty simple to make use of and clearly labeled. You even get a digital rear mirror within the spec examined.
There’s good adjustment within the driver’s seat and steering wheel to get comfy, even should you’re taller than common like myself.
Visibility out all angles is superb because of the tall physique and plentiful glasshouse, and there’s respectable storage within the dash-mounted cupholders and varied open cubbies in your odds and ends.
Maybe extra spectacular is the rear lodging. With a sliding two-seat rear bench, the eK X provides nearly palatial second-row area to the purpose the place a number of bigger vehicles ought to be ashamed.
I simply had sufficient area for my legs and ft behind my very own driving place, and headroom in spades because of the tall and boxy roofline.
There are different neat touches too, like netted pockets in your telephone or pockets on the again of the entrance passenger seat, cupholders nestled within the doorways, in addition to ISOFIX anchors on the rear seats with prime tethers.
You get a cupholder in every door forward of the armrest too. Honestly, this transcends conventional segments by way of rear seat area.
All that second-row adjustability and area means the boot isn’t fairly as massive.
You possibly can slide the rear seats ahead to open up extra capability, they usually additionally fold ahead – although it leaves a noticeable hump from the boot ground to the seat backs.
Have in mind this can be a kei-class automotive is designed for metropolis use fairly than loading up for household street journeys, however a lightish grocery run or just a few small baggage is pretty much as good because it will get with all seats in use.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Mitsubishi eK X is powered by a bit electrical motor on the entrance axle.
Mitsubishi’s media launch for the Japanese market doesn’t element charging specs, although the eK X provides each Kind 1 and CHAdeMo ports for AC and DC charging.
In accordance with JDM specs, the eK X will take round 8 hours to completely cost through AC200V/14.5A ‘common’ charging, or 40 minutes to 80 per cent utilizing ‘fast’ charging.
How does the Mitsubishi eK X drive?
We had been afforded a brief stint behind the wheel of the eK X beneath supervision of a Mitsubishi Australia consultant.
Within the hour or so-long interval we had within the driver’s seat, we drove in and across the northern suburbs of Melbourne, together with the Keilor Park enterprise district, in addition to on the high-speed Metropolitan Ring Street.
The eK X could solely quote measly outputs on paper, however its compact measurement and respectable torque means it will get alongside high-quality should you’re not anticipating one thing to essentially zing in the direction of the pace restrict.
It’s clean, refined and linear in its acceleration response, and being electrical it’s fairly quiet too, save for the high-pitched whirring of the e-motor beneath load.
Understand that 195Nm from relaxation is as a lot as some turbocharged mainstream hatchbacks, and this factor weighs a smidgen over 1.0 tonne.
The Mitsubishi eK X feels nicely suited to city and metropolis environments, the place its torquey electrical motor provides easy efficiency and its teeny dimensions don’t really feel misplaced.
Its tall physique means you possibly can really feel the physique lean in turns, however the floor-mounted battery pack retains the centre of gravity decrease down and the correct and properly calibrated driver controls makes this really feel like an even bigger, extra substantial automotive.
Punch it off the road and it will get as much as 40-60km/h shortly (nearly), and it actually responds with extra enthusiasm and fewer noise than one thing like a Toyota Yaris Hybrid, not to mention a naturally aspirated Kia Picanto.
The pedal button subsequent to the shifter prompts a pseudo one-pedal driving mode, however very like the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV and the likes of Nissan e-Energy hybrids, it slows the car all the way down to round 10-15km/h after which tapers regen off to permit the motive force to regain management.
Don’t assume this little electrical field on wheels can’t deal with a freeway run both, as a result of it’s succesful.
The high-spec automotive we had on take a look at was decked out with Mitsubishi’s Mi-Pilot freeway assistant, the identical tech accessible on the Outlander in addition to the Nissan Qashqai and X-Path (often known as ProPilot in Nissan’s vary).
Adaptive cruise management and lane centring are activated by a single button push on the steering wheel, and the eK X will fortunately cruise alongside at 100km/h alongside a lot bigger vehicles whereas staying centred in its lane.
It remained surprisingly planted and secure at freeway speeds, and the trip wasn’t too unhealthy both. That stated, its kei-class roots begin to emerge because the speeds rise, with loads of street and wind noise permeating the cabin.
Have in mind there’s not an entire lot of vary on provide from the small 20kWh battery pack for touring stints both. Mitsubishi quotes 180km per cost on the Japanese WLTC take a look at cycle, although a just about absolutely charged automotive was exhibiting nearer to 160km after we first set off.
However remembering the premise of a kei automotive, the freeway stuff ought to solely be occasional anyway, and the attainable worth means this can be a well-equipped zero-emissions second automotive for placing across the metropolis with sufficient within the figurative tank for the odd freeway jaunt, if wanted.
What do you get?
Two grades can be found in Japan.
eK X P highlights:
14-inch metal wheels7.0-inch LCD clusterClimate controlCloth seat trim
eK X G provides:
14-inch alloy wheelsLED entrance fog lightsBlack physique claddingRoof spoilerHeated seats, steering wheel9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systemUSB-A and USB-C ports
Is the Mitsubishi eK X protected?
Being Japan-only at this stage, there’s no ANCAP or Euro NCAP security knowledge for the eK X.
Customary security package in Japan contains:
AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bike owner detectionForward collision warningMisacceleration prevention assistAutomatic excessive beamHill begin assistLane departure warningLane preserve assistLead car departure alertParking sensors entrance, rearTraffic signal recognition
You may as well specify the eK X with the complete Mi-Pilot suite which brings adaptive cruise management with lane retaining and lane centring assists, in addition to a semi-autonomous parking assistant and encompass cameras.
Given its tiny dimensions with restricted crumple zones, one compromise of the eK X’s packaging is the unlikelihood of it reaching a five-star ANCAP security ranking.
It has a five-star ranking from Japan’s NCAP crash take a look at agency, however the lack of a central airbag and its slim physique imply it wouldn’t earn the identical in Australia or Europe towards the most recent standards.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi eK X price to run?
If it had been to be offered in Australia, the eK X would possible be lined by the model’s 10-year, 200,000km guarantee offered you service in accordance with the service schedule inside Mitsubishi’s vendor community.
Mitsubishi Australia additionally covers the high-voltage drive battery within the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid for eight years or 160,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.
Given the eK X and Outlander PHEV each utilise 20kWh li-ion drive batteries, it wouldn’t be shocking in the event that they had been successfully the identical models and lined by the identical guarantee if each had been offered right here.
Service pricing can be topic to the eK X’s launch in Australia.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi eK X
The Mitsubishi eK X presents a really particular resolution for a really particular sub-section of the Australian new automotive market, however there could possibly be some potential there.
If it is available in on the proper worth, and a few Australians might change their mindset to align with the extra pragmatic method of the Japanese and Europeans in relation to measurement and packaging, one thing just like the eK X might make an impression.
Whereas EV costs are slowly coming down because the Chinese language EV worth battle rages, an enormous barrier to buy low- and zero-emissions autos continues to be pricing – loads of individuals nonetheless can’t afford or need to purchase a car over $30,000.
Urbanites can be nicely served by one thing really easy to drive on the town and area environment friendly, whereas emissions-conscious households needing an affordable runabout for errands and faculty runs likewise might get a number of one thing just like the eK X.
These are very particular use circumstances for a rustic that also calls for autos be able to all of it. A sub-five-star ANCAP ranking would render the eK X unsuitable for council and authorities fleets, and the quick vary limits its enchantment to anybody shopping for this as a major car needing the occasional longer journey.
The quirky seems to be may polarise, however actually worth is essentially the most essential issue. Something above $30,000 and the little Mitsi is knocking on the door of the GWM Ora, BYD Dolphin and MG 4, and would possible be solid apart just like the i-MiEV.
I’d nonetheless like to see it come right here, particularly if a future replace brings about extra vary – fingers crossed!
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MORE: All the things Mitsubishi eK X
