Launched in 2022, the Sakura swaps the 659cc petrol engine of the Dayz for a front-mounted 63bhp electric motor, which draws power from a 20kWh lithium ion battery. That’s smaller than the first-generation Leaf offered but, with the Sakura weighing 1080kg, is enough for a 112-mile official range. 

It’s also enough to do the 0-62mph sprint in 9.8sec and hit a top speed of 81mph. Perhaps of more real-world relevance are the 4.8m turning circle, four seats and 107 litres of luggage space. And it’s all yours for around £13,000.

Enough stats, though, because let’s admire how boxily brilliant the Sakura’s styling is. To make best use of the allowable dimensions, most kei cars have become increasingly square, but that still leaves room for manufacturers to add some individual character. And, frankly, anything sat on 14in wheels looks incredibly cool.

The Sakura’s design is just as neat inside and actually quite refined. There’s essentially a bench seat up front, helping to add a bit of extra elbow room to make up for the car’s narrow width, and a surprising amount of space in the back.

The dashboard is clean, well laid out and quite tech-rich: Nissan hasn’t skimped on kit to keep the cost down. There’s a proper infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and a whole host of driver assistance systems, while all the materials feel of a decent quality. Certainly, it doesn’t seem built to cost like, say, the Citroën Ami or Dacia Spring.