Linxys G50 Piccolo Review: Basically Speaking

In an era where the word “minivan” has been stretched, bloated and reinterpreted to mean anything from a seven-seat people mover to a small bus in denial, the Linxys G50 Piccolo turns up and politely reminds us what the term was meant to be: Mini. Van. Full stop.

In Singapore’s urban pressure cooker, where space is precious and manoeuvrability is currency, this all-electric kei-style commercial minivan makes an immediate case for itself. Think Honda’s N-Van proportions, but with electrons instead of petrol coursing through its veins. Cute, upright and unapologetically functional, the Piccolo looks like it wandered out of a Japanese back alley; and that’s entirely the point.

The Inside Story

Let’s talk numbers, because for business owners, numbers matter. The Piccolo offers a 2,500-litre load space; in simple terms, that’s the total volume available behind the seats for cargo - boxes, parcels, equipment, supplies - the things that actually keep a business alive. Folded flat and squared off, it’s a proper little cave of utility. Payload capacity is rated at 350 kg; which means that’s the maximum weight you can safely carry on top of the vehicle’s own weight. Roughly speaking, just imagine loading up four and a half adults - and it’ll still cope.

Inside the cabin, Linxys has clearly tried to squeeze every ounce of practicality out of every square inch. There’s overhead storage above both the driver and front passenger, which is perfect for documents, gloves or that stray kopi cup lid. Between the front seats sits a handy storage slot with removable tray for daily essentials, while a surprisingly sizeable glovebox takes care of the rest. There’s even a small drawer tucked under the rear floor, the sort of thoughtful detail you only appreciate when you need somewhere discreet to stash tools or straps. It’s all very honest and very purposeful, Linxys clearly understands that in a commercial vehicle, clutter is the enemy.

Driving It

On the road, the G50 Piccolo is delightfully… unintimidating. It’s easy to drive, easy to place and hilariously easy to park - even in those tight loading bays that feel like they were designed during the Morris Minor era. Steering is light, visibility is excellent, and the turning circle is more forklift than van. For commercial entities navigating dense HDB estates or shophouse-lined streets on the regular, this matters more than outright speed.

That said, speed - or at least the legal kind - isn’t an issue. It’s surprisingly easy to hit Singapore’s 70 km/h commercial vehicle speed limit. In fact, you’ll often find yourself there quicker than expected, right until the speed limiter starts chiming insistently, reminding you to hold your horses; mildly amusing, but also reassuring. Despite its modest 30 kW (40 hp) and 125 Nm output, the Piccolo doesn’t feel anaemic. The traffic lights turn green and off it goes - not fast fast, but brisk enough to catch the Camry driver beside you mildly off guard.

From behind the wheel, there are definite echoes of the Suzuki Wagon R of yore - that same upright seating position, airy cabin and sense that you’re piloting a very willing appliance.

Power comes from a small 30 kWh battery. Linxys claims a WLTP range of 259 km, but in the real world, after half a week of enthusiastic driving (yes, yours truly drives a lot), we saw closer to 200 km. Still, efficiency was commendable, consistently returning around 8 km/kWh.

Comfort is adequate, which is all a workhorse needs to be. The front seats are supportive enough for longer stints, and there’s a head unit with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, radio reception seems oddly unstable, with occasional static even along open stretches like Bartley Road; a small but curious flaw.

Safety-wise, the Piccolo comes with ultra-alert electronic nannies, including lane keep assist and forward collision warning. Sometimes a bit enthusiastic, but hey, better overprotective than absent.

The real surprise? Attention. The Piccolo draws curious looks wherever it goes, especially at loading bays. Perhaps it’s the cutesy exterior, perhaps it’s novelty; either way, it stands out.

In A Nutshell

In conclusion, the Linxys G50 Piccolo isn’t trying to be aspirational. It’s trying to be useful. And in Singapore’s commercial landscape, that honesty - compact, electric, efficient and thoughtfully practical - makes it quietly, surprisingly perfect.

Oh, and the price tag? S$102,000 with Category C COE. Yeap...

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

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