Video: We become the first foreign outlet to review BYD’s Racco kei car

EVs and Beyond group EV editor Gavin Shoebridge has become the first non-Japanese reviewer to get behind the wheel of BYD’s new Racco kei car, and the full video review is live now.

Gavin flew to Japan, collected the Racco in Tokyo, and put hundreds of kilometres on it road-tripping across the country, taking in rapid charging tests, a full walkthrough, and the twisty mountain roads near Mt Fuji to find out how the tiny EV handles when pushed a little on its tiny tyres.

He also attempted to sleep in it. That part, in his words, ended in defeat.

The Racco sells in Japan in three grades: the 210km-range Racco 200, and the 300 Plus and 300 Premium, whose larger battery delivers up to 320km, making it the first kei car past the 300km mark. Its X-Pack battery integrates the inverter and other electronics into a single under-floor unit to free cabin space within Japan’s 3.4-metre kei length limit, motor output sits at the class’s 47kW cap, and 100kW DC charging takes the pack from 10 to 80% in around 20 minutes. Japanese pricing runs from 2.14 million to 2.49 million yen, with the base car dipping under two million after subsidies.

Importers we have spoken to suggest a Racco bought in Japan now and brought here would land at around $38,000, and that is for the top-specification 300 Premium at its full Japanese price.

BYD’s first kei car will lend its technology to a new budget EV for Europe and other markets, and the company has indicated on social media that it is watching coverage to gauge interest in markets like New Zealand. It landed in a Japanese market where Suzuki’s rival e Sky was revealed the same week.

A members’ version of the video with extra content is on the way, and Gavin teases that the next video features something bigger. As he concedes, most cars are technically bigger than the Racco.

Would you put one in your driveway if BYD offered it here? The comments are open, and BYD is reading.