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One segment that almost faded into obscurity is now making a remarkable comeback as electric vehicles (EVs) gain momentum worldwide—the mini car. Small cars have always held a special place in our hearts, appealing to a sense of simplicity and efficiency that larger vehicles often lack.
Designed to maximize the benefits of an urban environment, these compact cars are tailor-made for city life. They are easy to drive, simple to park, and practical for short commutes. Living with a small car can streamline everyday tasks, from weaving through tight city streets to squeezing into narrow parking spaces, making them highly convenient.
However, mini-cars come with certain limitations, particularly in terms of space and versatility. While their size can be advantageous in crowded urban areas, it often translates into a lack of cargo room, reduced passenger space, and a limited range in earlier models. These dimensional drawbacks sometimes outweigh their benefits, especially for those who need a vehicle with more flexibility or power.
Yet, as the world shifts toward sustainable transportation, modern EV mini-cars are addressing these challenges with innovative designs and extended-range capabilities. This evolution brings renewed potential for mini cars to blend their iconic charm with practical urban mobility.
One such car within the Nepalese market is the Kaiyi e-Qute 02, a small car with big promises. Kaiyi Auto is a Chinese car manufacturer and it is being distributed by Laxmi E-Mobility Pvt. Ltd in the Nepalese market.
Before this, we reviewed one other Kaiyi, the X3 Pro EV which left us highly impressed at the value the car offered. Having scored good marks with their first offering we are going to tell you if this small car has the potential to make it big.
The e-Qute 02 looks small, but it does not look all that mini. Comparing dimensions with one other popular EV hatchback, the Tata Tiago EV, the e-Qute 02 is 409mm shorter in length, 23mm wider, 69mm taller, and has a 240mm shorter wheelbase. Apart from the length, the e-Qute 02 is made in such a way that the car looks bigger than it is. Instead of designing it like a box on wheels like every other mini car, Kaiyi has given this car curves and bulges that make it look like a decently sized conventional hatchback.
Right up the front of the e-Qute 02, you get a closed-off grille with a honeycomb mesh pattern for an added style. The mesh also opens up lower down to supply air for the A/C. You get angular LED headlights and DRLs that look feisty and the Kaiyi logo on the center to finish off the front look.
Over to the side, you get that mini car feel with a shortened wheelbase but it doesn’t look all that small thanks to the tall stature and proper use of bodywork to add some heft. You get a strong shoulder line and meaty haunches over the wheels. That weight is taken a step further with the non-mini-sized tire that the e-Qute 02 drives on. The 165/65 sized tire with 15-inch wheels that the e-Qute 02 brings is a size you will find in everyday regular-sized hatchbacks.
At the rear, the same weight building continues. The rear bumper brings chubby muffin tops that make the e-Qute look very cute indeed. You get LED tail lights with arrow motifs that look striking when lit, you get a small diffuser that adds a little sporty feel to the car and a Kaiyi logo to finish off the look.
It is clear to see that Kaiyi has done good homework to avoid the e-Qute 02 from looking like a little box on wheels. It gets all the right curves and more importantly, it gets that addition of heft that all mini cars available today are sorely missing. It doesn’t look frail and fragile, it doesn’t look like heavy winds will topple it. It looks normal and not something an 8-year-old would draw and that is quite nice.
The interior of the e-Qute 02 carries the "look cute" mantra of the exterior. You get a basic black cabin, with brown and white highlights. These highlights are in the middle of the dash and on the steering wheel. Finished in glossy material, these will be easy to keep clean on top of looking good. The white trim on the door pads, however, will attract all the nasty dirt, sweat and grime so watch out for that.
The seats are finished in black and grey fabric and come with a good amount of cushioning. Although small the comfort is not lacking. Finding a decent driving position is fairly simple and while you can force 3 adults to sit at the back this car is better off as a 4 seater. One other miss courtesy of the compact dimensions is the storage spaces. You get two bottle holders and a glove box and the boot can fit only 4 backpacks fully packed.
You get a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment that can connect over Bluetooth for music and phone calls. There is also a 6.7-inch driver’s instrument screen. You get 4-speakers that give off a decent sound. You get steering-mounted controls for ease of use. You get manual AC but the cabin cools off or warms up quickly again thanks to the compact dimensions, so you’re good.
Despite being small the e-Qute 02 brings a rather large glass area so the cabin doesn’t feel claustrophobic even with 4 people on board. Overall, Kaiyi has made a commendable use of this small cabin.
The e-Qute 02 is, in a word, feisty out on the road. It is like driving a fully furnished go-kart. Bear with us. The e-Qute 02 comes with a small 28 kWh battery pack and makes 40 KW (54 hp) of power and 110 Nm of instant torque. It doesn’t sound like a lot because it isn’t a lot. But just like in a go-kart, the e-Qute 02 feels fast. It is lightweight, small, and thanks to a wide tire it can put the power down faster. And that feeling of speed is further amplified by a thought in your head that goes “Maybe I shouldn’t be going this fast on a small car like this”.
Put the e-Qute 02 in sport mode and mash the pedal and you will wheelspin your way rather terrifyingly into 50 km/hr which is a lot on the B-roads of the valley. It is fun, totally fun to drive the e-Qute 02 and to especially chuck it around corners knowing it won’t flip over at speeds where other little boxes do.
We wouldn’t expect overtakes on highways from this but as a tool for having fun on the narrow tarmacs of the valley outskirts, only a few other cars have made us feel this happy. We felt like a kid again.
The compact dimensions come in handy inside the city. The narrow roads can be navigated like slicing butter. It is effortless, plus the e-Qute 02 brings in a 360-degree camera to make this even easier. Driving through the narrow cobblestone paths of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur whilst dodging pedestrians and motorcyclists without breaking a sweat feels almost like an underrated superpower.
The suspension is decent as well, it soaks in all the bumps and potholes easily and the brakes to a good job of stopping you on your track. You get a decent selection of safety features as well. You get ABS, EBD, front airbags, ISOFIX points, TPMS, and much more.
At the end of the day, we think that the e-Qute 02 is one of the best mini cars available in our market. You get good looks, a great cabin, and fun performance in a well-built package. If Kaiyi were to go full throttle on their marketing and promotion and focus on building their brand and providing after-sales service tailored to the customer then the e-Qute 02 can carry this big dream of being the best mini on its little shoulders.
