Honda e:Ny1 Review 2024

Another day, another electric SUV that's set to rock the market. This time it's the Honda e:Ny1... a surprisingly normal EV with a particularly un-normal name.

Honda wants the e:Ny1 - its second ever electric car - to appeal to a slightly more mainstream audience than the niche (but cool) Honda e. That's why it's an ever-popular small SUV, set to rival the Hyundai Kona Electric, the new Jeep Avenger and the excellent Mazda MX-30.

It looks a lot like the hybrid Honda HR-V, although the Honda e:Ny1 is actually based on a new electric car platform that will underpin future models (which will also take the e:N nomenclature). It's a front-wheel-drive car, using a single electric motor powered by a 68.8kWh battery pack positioned under the floor.

The Honda e:Ny1 prioritises range and comfort rather than outright performance, which means it officially manages to travel 256 miles between charges. The only fly in the ointment is the relatively slow 78kW charging rate, although Honda says that's more sustainable than rivals that boast headline-grabbing charging capacities.

To drive, the Honda e:Ny1 is comfortable and unintimidating. That means it won't come as a shock if you're trading in your petrol SUV, while performance is brisk rather than outrageous.

The interior of the e:Ny1 adopts a similar dashboard layout to the Honda HR-V, but with new technology at its core. The most striking feature is the 15.1-inch portrait-style touchscreen, similar to those found in premium models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model X.

The touchscreen is divided into three sections for audio and navigation, EV charge and consumption information, and climate control. Physical buttons are retained on the centre console and steering wheel, offering a blend of modern and traditional controls.

With regards to practicality, the Honda e:Ny1 matches the spaciousness of the Honda HR-V, with a very useable 361-litre boot. You can pick up a Skoda Enyaq iV for the same price as the e:Ny1, though, and that's a much bigger SUV that'll be more suited to family buyers.

Ah, prices. When orders open in November 2023, the Honda e:Ny1 will start from around £45,000 for the entry-level Elegance model, while the e:Ny1 Advance will be more than £47,000. For that kind of money, you can pick up a lightly-used Audi Q4 e-tron or Mercedes EQA, and we reckon a lot of buyers will struggle to ignore the lure of a premium badge. If you can, though, the Honda e:Ny1 is a really impressive electric car.

Comfort is the order of the day in the Honda e:Ny1. It's lighter than most electric SUVs, which helps with the ride quality, although it's also surprisingly good to drive (in a typical Honda fashion).

The steering is well judged, while there's only a modicum more body roll than in, say, a Honda Civic hatchback. You can choose from three different drive modes: sport, normal and econ. We'd stick with normal mode in a car like this - there's not a lot to be gained by trying to hustle it along (or by reducing the climate control output in econ mode).

A word about the regen braking. This is how much the car slows down using the electric motor (which is more efficient than using the brakes). You can ramp it up in the e:Ny1, but not as much as in rivals. That's a shame as we quite like the near-one-pedal driving offered in cars like the Kia Niro EV.

There's only one powertrain option in the Honda e:Ny1. It's a single motor, driving the front wheels and powered by a 68.8kWh battery pack.

Performance is brisk rather than forceful. It'll accelerate to 62mph in 7.6 seconds, and it'll certainly feel quick if you haven't driven an electric car before. Honda's engineered some of the punch out of e:Ny1 - it says the instant acceleration of some EVs is bad news for car-sick passengers, and the e:Ny1 is intended to be a comfortable family car rather than a Tesla-baiting performance car.

As you'd expect for a high-tech electric vehicle. The Honda e:Ny1 is loaded with driver-assistance tech as standard. The full range includes Collision Mitigation Braking, Blind Spot Information, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keep Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, as well as front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Essentially, there's a full suite of cameras and sensors on hand to prevent a crash.

The Honda e:Ny1 is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP.

The Honda e:Ny1 is quite large for a B-segment SUV (that's cars like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Peugeot e-2008), yet it's not as big as family SUVs like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y.

It feels spacious inside (especially if you get the top-spec Honda e:Ny1 Advance with its panoramic sunroof which floods light into the cabin), while the sloping rear roofline doesn't eat into passenger space as much as you might expect.

The Honda e:Ny1's boot can carry up to 361 litres of luggage, which is less than the new Hyundai Kona Electric and Renault Megane E-Tech can manage. The rear seats can be dropped if you do need more space but families might want to look at something like the Skoda Enyaq IV instead.

The interior finish of the Honda e:Ny1 is superb. From the padded dashboard to the quality switchgear, the Honda e:Ny1's interior is becoming of a car with a premium price tag. Which is convenient, because that's what it is.

The central infotainment system is a big talking point in the Honda e:Ny1's interior. It's a huge portrait-style 15.1-inch display which, if we're being cynical, looks a lot like the system you'd find in a Tesla.

It's more user-friendly than Tesla's display, though. It's split into three distinct sections: one for the navigation; one for the driver assistance gubbins (including EV charging information) and one for the climate control. It's a really impressive system to use, with super-sharp graphics and lightning fast responses. Boy, has Honda come a long way with its infotainment over the last few years.

In-car WiFi is standard in the Honda e:Ny1, while you can also connect your phone wirelessly for Apple CarPlay, or via a lead for Android Auto.

We also like the Honda e:Ny1's 10.25-inch digital instrument binnacle. It's a frameless display, which adds to the modern and upmarket vibe of the e:Ny1's cabin. Its graphics are sharp and it's full of information, although there's only a limited amount of customisation available.

From launch, the Honda e:Ny1 Elegance is priced at £44,995, while the top-spec e:Ny1 Advance is £47,195. That's a lot of money for a small SUV, especially for one without a premium badge.

If you don't need the space of a big SUV, though, we don't think it's quite as overpriced as first appears. For a start, it genuinely feels a step above cars like the Volkswagen ID.3 in terms of interior quality.

And you get a lot of kit as standard - the entry-level car has everything you could possibly need. Unless you want a fancy sound system and a big sunroof, in which case you'll want the Advance model.

Honda e:Ny1 orders open from October 2023 with deliveries expected early in 2024.

With a 68.8kWh battery, the Honda e:Ny1 has an official WLTP range of 256 miles. Expect slightly less than that in the real world - especially over winter - but we were seeing an efficiency figure of 3.9 miles per kWh during our drive in Norway. That equates to a range of around 237 miles, which is pretty decent.

The Honda e:Ny1 has a maximum charging rate of just 78kW, which means a rapid charger won't be able to top it up as quickly as some rivals. Honda says it can sustain this rate for a longer period, though, and it'll be better for the longevity of the battery. A fast charger can top up the e:Ny1 from 10 to 80 per cent in around 45 minutes.

If you're charging at home, a 7kW home charger will perform the same charge in around six hours. The cost will depend on how much you pay for your home electricity, but around £20 or so should cover it.

The Honda e:Ny1 Elegance features a a 15.1-inch central touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat finished in synthetic leather, heating functionality for both front passengers, auto dimming mirrors, dual zone air conditioning, a wireless charging pad and multiple USB ports, smart entry and push button start as well as power heated mirrors, sequential indicators, and privacy glass.

The range-topping Honda e:Ny1 Advance adds a choice of either black or light grey premium synthetic leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, heated leather steering wheel, and premium audio system. A handsfree power tailgate is also standard, as well as Honda's Parking Pilot system, which is supported by a multi-view camera system as well as additional side sensors.