[2024] Top 15 Safest Kei Cars: “Sakura,” “ek Cross EV,” and “N-BOX”

This time, we’ll be presenting a ranking of the safest minicars on sale in Japan as of May 2024 ( Reiwa 6 ). The data was compiled based on the “Automobile Assessment” published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims’ Aid (NASVA). We’ll be presenting the rankings, including models that have received the “Five Star Award,” the highest rating for safety performance.

“Automobile Assessment” evaluates and publishes automobile safety performance

The National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims’ Aid (NASVA), a third-party organization that evaluates automobile safety performance, has established evaluation standards for automobile safety performance, and the Five Star Award is one of the highest safety performance evaluations given to automobiles that meet those standards. This evaluation indicates a high evaluation of an automobile’s collision safety and advanced safety devices, and is an important indicator for consumers when choosing a car.

Starting in fiscal 2020, the rating will be called “Automobile Safety Performance 2020,” and will comprehensively evaluate collision safety performance, preventive safety performance, and automatic accident emergency reporting devices.

The 2022 Automotive Safety Performance Awards have been released, with a total score of 199 points for collision safety, preventive safety, and automatic accident emergency notification systems. To receive a Five Star Award, a vehicle must achieve the highest rating of A for collision safety and preventive safety, and be equipped with an automatic accident emergency notification system.

Starting in fiscal 2023, the new standard will be called “Automobile Safety Performance 2023,” and will include evaluation of devices that suppress acceleration when pedal misapplication occurs and evaluation of responses to pedestrian accidents, with changes to the scoring system.

Top 15 Safest Kei Cars

If we rank the current models of light vehicles that will be released as of May 2024 in order of NASVA’s overall ranking of vehicle safety performance, the EV models “Sakura” and “ek Cross EV” come in first and second place.

*Please note: This ranking is based solely on the overall score. The overall score varies depending on the evaluation year. When viewing, please also consider the year and the overall score.

*Based on the latest automobile information

1st place: Nissan Sakura

The Nissan Sakura mini EV received the highest rating of Five Stars in the 2022 Automotive Safety Performance Awards. Furthermore , the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi ek Cross EV won the 43rd 2022-2023 Japan Car of the Year Awards . On May 20, 2022, Nissan announced that it would release the Sakura mini BEV (battery electric vehicle) on June 16, 2022. The effective purchase price, when utilizing the Clean Energy Vehicle Adoption Promotion Subsidy (550,000 yen), will start from approximately 1.78 million yen (including consumption tax).

This is the first time that a minicar is equipped with advanced features. In addition to adopting “ProPilot,” a driving assistance technology for single lanes on expressways , the car is also the first to be equipped with “ProPilot Parking,” which automatically controls the steering, accelerator, brakes, gear changes, and parking brake when parking. From city streets to expressways and even parking lots, the advanced technology supports driving.

The exterior design, featuring a front face and luminous emblem that evokes the next generation of Nissan , exudes a calm, mature atmosphere. The light from the advanced, elegant, thin headlights, which feature three projector-type headlights – a first for a minicar – assists safe driving even on nighttime roads. The back door also features wide LED rear combination lamps inspired by a lattice pattern.

The interior features two displays laid out horizontally: a 7-inch meter with an Advanced Drive Assist Display and a large 9-inch navigation screen .

2nd place: eK Cross EV

Mitsubishi’s eK Cross EV mini electric vehicle (EV) received the highest rating of “Five Star Award” in the 2022 Automotive Safety Performance Assessment. Mitsubishi announced on May 20, 2022, that it will launch a new mini electric vehicle, the eK Cross EV, on June 16, 2022. It will be available for purchase at affiliated dealerships nationwide and at the Rakuten Ichiba store. The effective purchase price, when utilizing the Clean Energy Vehicle Adoption Promotion Subsidy (¥550,000), is approximately ¥1,848,000 (including consumption tax). Furthermore, depending on the region, subsidies from local governments (for example, a ¥450,000 subsidy for purchases in Tokyo) can be utilized to further reduce the purchase price.

The new eK Cross EV is a new EV model in the eK Cross series, a light vehicle with an SUV feel, and is equipped with a newly developed drive battery with a total capacity of 20kWh. It has a driving range of 180km in WLTC mode on a single charge, which is sufficient for everyday use, and achieves the smooth and powerful acceleration that only an EV can offer, as well as overwhelming quietness and a comfortable ride.

The car is the first Mitsubishi Motors model to adopt “My Pilot Parking,” which supports smooth parking . It also comes equipped with “My Pilot,” a single-lane driving assist function for highways. The radar cruise control system [ACC] and lane keeping assist function [LKA] reduce the burden on the driver by maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and staying near the center of the lane. (Available as a manufacturer option on “P” and “G” models) The car also features “MITSUBISHI CONNECT,” which supports a safe, secure, and comfortable car life.

3rd place: Honda N-BOX

Honda will fully redesign its tall wagon-type minicar, the N-BOX, to be announced on October 5, 2023 , and released on October 6, 2023. Attention is focused on how the N-BOX, Japan’s best-selling car as of 2023 , will evolve.

The exterior adopts a new design while maintaining the same concept. Continuing with the current model, it employs Honda’s now traditional ” center tank layout ” and adopts a ” super sliding passenger seat ” (available for different types). The rear seat slide is standard on all vehicles, and instead of a bench seat, it is a separate seat that allows for a walk-through. An electric parking brake and auto brake hold are also adopted. Honda SENSING is standard on all models. The full model change has resulted in engine improvements and a revised platform, which are expected to reduce weight and increase rigidity, as well as slightly improve fuel efficiency. Usability has been improved with the adoption of a “7-inch TFT LCD meter” that clearly displays Honda SENSING functions and various information, a large glove box that can store luggage all in one place, and large side pockets in the rear seats.

3rd place: Nissan Roox

Nissan will make minor changes to the new Roox, which will be announced on April 17, 2023, and released around late June.

The current model ” Roox ” was announced at 10:00 on February 25, 2020, and released on March 19, 2020, making it the first minor change in three years. This time, the exterior design has been changed, and the exterior and interior design have been changed to resemble the new Serena released on December 22, 2022. It also features a new “Nissan emblem” and the latest V-motion design language. It incorporates a V-shaped grille and aggressive headlights.

Furthermore , it adopts S-HYBRID (Smart Simple Hybrid) . Safety equipment includes “Emergency Brake”, “Around View Monitor” and “High Beam Assist” as standard. Furthermore, ProPilot can be selected as an option.

summary

Nissan and Mitsubishi are by far the best when it comes to safety equipment when it comes to minicars, but the fully redesigned N-BOX is also excellent. Personally, I think minicars are attractive from an economical standpoint, but because the body shape is made to fit minicar standards, the body is thinner and smaller than a regular car, so it is inevitably weaker in strength. I think that by compensating for this with safety equipment, even if just a little, you can enjoy driving with peace of mind. I hope this information will be helpful when making your purchase.

NASVA

https://www.nasva.go.jp/index.html