Looks cute, if somewhat familiar...
If you’re a regular reader of CompleteCar.ie then you’ll be aware of the new Renault Twingo EV, also due in Ireland next year.
Nissan and Renault are part of the same automotive alliance group, so they’ve worked together to create the Twingo and new Nissan Pixo on the same electric platform.
The Dacia Spring is also related, incidentally, though the Pixo and Twingo are conceptually more similar in design terms as they both play on personality and, well, cuteness.
The overall profile of the Pixo, and things such as the door handles and shape of the side glass, may be shared with the Twingo, but the detailing is unique and despite the expected low price, there’s plenty of interest in the design.
Nissan tells us there are 23 (2-3 is “Ni-San” in Japanese) Easter eggs to discover around the car, using the distinctive motif already seen on the Nissan Leaf combining two vertical lines and three horizontal.
Aside from that and echoing the “friendly” face of the Pixo, there are myriad patterns around the car that can only be described as smiley robot faces. No, we’re not making this up, and while some of you might cringe, we’re all for injecting a bit of fun into car design.
Speaking of which, we adore the ‘Wonder Purple’ paint colour shown on the launch car.
What’s under the skin of the purple Pixo?
A 60kW motor sends up to 82hp and 175Nm of torque to the front wheels, for an expected 12.1-second 0-100km/h time. We’ve driven the Renault Twingo with the same powertrain and a similar 1,200kg weight and it feels more than nippy enough.
Buyers will be as interested in the Pixo’s range. A compact LFP battery of 27.5kWh capacity helps keep the price down and results in a quoted WLTP range of 259 kilometres to a charge, more than sufficient for most drivers.
Impressively, the Pixo will be fitted with 11kW three-phase AC charging and 50kW DC charging as standard, with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability from the off. The peak DC speed enables a 15-80 per cent charge in about 28 minutes – though of course most owners will do the majority of their charging at home for maximum savings.
What’s the Pixo’s cabin like?
Remarkably spacious given the exterior dimensions, which show the Pixo is nearly 200mm shorter than the Nissan Micra EV. The interior spaciousness is explained by the Pixo’s long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear axles), which is less than 50mm shorter than the Micra’s.
Aiding versatility in the Pixo is the rear-seat layout. Though we don’t know yet if it will be standard across the Irish lineup, the Pixo was shown with two individual rear seats that can slide forwards and back independent of each other.
Their backrests fold down as well and the footwell is flat all the way across – with extra storage found on the sides of the rear seats.
Nissan quotes a boot volume of 356 litres with the seats in use, which includes a useful 50-litre cubby under the floor. Perfect for stashing charging cables, as pictured.
Fold down the back seats and a total volume of 1,221 litres is liberated, with easy access through the wide tailgate.
Up front, and presumably depending on specification again, the Pixo will feature Google built-in, including the Gemini AI assistant, using a seven-inch driver display and 10-inch touchscreen.
Nissan also makes mention of hands-free parking technology, along with one-pedal driving and the option to personalise the car using face recognition.
How much will the Nissan Pixo be in Ireland?
That has yet to be confirmed, but with the Nissan Micra priced from €25,995, there’s no doubt the Pixo will be among the most affordable EVs on the market. It’s set to arrive in early 2027, alongside an all-new, all-electric Nissan Juke.
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