Mitsubishi’s all-new eK X EV Wins Car of the Year in Japan

If you have traveled before, you may have noticed cars can be a lot different than what we are used to in North America in other parts of the world. I am not talking just about brands we don’t have here in Canada. The vehicles you find in Mitsubishi’s line-up in Japan are far away7 from cars offered in the Japanese manufacturer’s line-up here. 

Of course, an overseas model could be sold here, and some people would love that, I am sure. This would be the case for the all-new eK X EV, which is one of the cutest compact SUVs I have ever seen. The eK X is so eye-catching and exciting, in fact, that it just got crowned the Car of the Year by the Automotive Researchers and Journalists Conference of Japan (RJC). There are a few other categories, such as Technology of the Year or Import Car of the Year, but the most prestigious award is the Car of the Year by far.

The Car of the Year

There are many reasons why the RJC chose the Mitsubishi eK X EV over many other models. The compact Japanese SUV has a strong presence on the road with its dynamic design. Mitsubishi presented the model with quite a two-tone paint job, yellow and white, which is the kind of thing you don’t see here in Canada. I mean, it is more popular than before, but yellow and white is an exciting combo indeed.

The eK X

The Mitsubishi eK X was introduced on the market for the very first time in 2001. The second generation was introduced on the market in September 2006. Then the third generation came in June 2013 before it went out of production in 2019. Mitsubishi revealed the 4th generation to the world the same year. However, it took 3 years for the Japanese manufacturer to present the EV version with a totally new design.

The eK X EV might be a sub-compact SUV, but it is very roomy. The interior is full of modern technologies, and the color scheme is pretty dynamic too.

Perfect for big Cities

The Mitsubishi eK X EV range is around 180 km on a single charge. I am the first to admit that wouldn’t be enough for Canada, but it is more than sufficient for the Japanese market, where it will be the king of all the big cities.

Jean-Sébastien Poudrier