On 11 November 2026, at the final selection stage at Mobility Resort Motegi (Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture), the jury of the RJC Car of the Year award named the winner for 2027: it was the Suzuki e SKY, the brand's first-ever light passenger electric vehicle. For Suzuki this is its ninth victory in the competition run by the non-profit Japan Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference (RJC), which has been operating since 1990.
The car was conceived on the "Easy to Switch" principle: an owner of a conventional petrol kei car should be able to switch to an electric vehicle almost without changing their habits. The basis is the HEARTECT-e platform, created exclusively for electric vehicles, and the compact eAxle unit, in which the motor, inverter and reduction gear are assembled into a single block. Together with a lithium iron phosphate battery of 26 kWh, they deliver consumption of 97 Wh/km on the WLTC cycle and a range of 310 km. According to Suzuki, this is the best figure in the class. The turning radius is 4,4 metres, which matters for narrow city streets.
The jury separately praised the exterior: the body's shoulder line borrows elements from the Suzulight, Suzuki's first kei car. Ergonomics also received high marks: the RJC noted that a driver switching from the petrol version barely notices any difference in handling. It is precisely such details, and not only consumption figures, that often decide whether a buyer of a familiar compact car is ready to go electric.
In the final, the e SKY scored 129 points and beat the Nissan Kicks (99) and Honda Super-ONE (89). They were followed by the Nissan Elgrand (82) and Mazda CX-5. In the technical category, the third generation of Nissan's e-POWER won (118 points), while among imported cars the BYD RACCO took first place: according to Car Watch, it is the first foreign-branded kei car conforming to Japanese kei regulations. The Mitsubishi Delica D:5 received a special award. The minivan has been on sale for 20 years and last year posted record annual sales. For Suzuki, the award confirms a successful streak: last year the brand received a special prize for the e Vitara, and this year — the main award.
Sales of the e SKY will begin on 16 November 2026. Prices, according to Suzuki, range from 2,12 to 2,79 million yen including tax. With the government subsidy, as publications report, the base version may cost around 1,55 million yen. For everyday driving this means noticeably lower "fuel" costs and a quiet cabin, and for the city — simple and predictable journeys.
In Japan, where kei cars are traditionally chosen for city trips and shopping, the arrival of an electric vehicle with a familiar look and intuitive handling is an important signal. It shows that the shift to electric traction can proceed gradually, without giving up the compactness and practicality that owners of such cars are used to.
If you live in the city and mostly drive short distances, the e SKY is worth considering as an example of how an electric vehicle can fit into ordinary life without demanding sacrifices in comfort.
