Alluring style, great handling, a futuristic cabin, and a completely fun automobile, Honda’s first all-electric urban car is like nothing we’ve seen before. This electric car is quite unique, even down to its name, ‘Honda e.’ Drawing inspiration from the manufacturer’s historical past, the Honda e is given a distinctive styling that is reminiscent of the first-generation Civic. A project led by Kohei Hitomi, the Honda e’s design is however credited to Ken Sahara and Akinori Myoui.
Also available in a more fortified variant called the ‘Honda e Advance,’ this electric car is a dream automobile that combines dynamic performance, sophisticated comfort, and ultramodern technology, into a simple subcompact automotive package. Assembled in Japan, the electric car is built as a 5-door hatchback and has been in production since 2020. There are so many things that make the Honda e such an appealing car (and one that doesn’t) and we’ve listed them all here.
10 Things We Love – Power
The cute and compact Honda e is powered by an electric motor with an output of 136 hp in the base model and 154 hp in the ‘Advance’ model, with both variants delivering 232 lb-ft of torque. The EV is fitted with a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which Honda internal data claims to give it a range of about 137 miles.
Honda was quick to dispel rumors of a higher-performance variant, but this horsepower and torque output are relatively good for an entry-level small car.
9 Things We Love – Performance
The Honda e is built on a dynamic automotive fabrication philosophy that helps it deliver an exceptional driving experience. This dynamic approach is further highlighted and heightened in the ‘Sport Mode’ option in the Honda e – as it boosts the EV’s performance through a more responsive acceleration.
The Honda e also features an independent rear suspension which improves its sporty handling. According to Honda, e can go from rest to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds.
8 Things We Love – Handling & Stability
As a city car, Honda ensured to give special focus to e’s driving dynamics to provide great fun and an enthralling overall driving experience. The e’s stability, balance, and handling are further optimized by its small size as well as its short overhangs.
Notably, the car’s liquid-cooled battery is placed centrally within the car’s wheelbase, giving it a low center of gravity as well as a rare but precise 50:50 weight distribution, for enhanced handling and stability.
7 Things We Love – Honda Sensing
Like in conventional ICE cars, driver assistance technologies have become necessary features in the fabrication of automobiles and the same is applicable to EVs. Honda e is fitted with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, collectively known as Honda Sensing.
These include Lane Keeping Assist System, Blind Spot Information with audio and visual warnings during a lane change, as well as an Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, that helps Honda e maintain safe driving distance from the vehicle ahead of it.
6 Things We Love – Fast Charging
Right from inception, charging has been one of the biggest issues with electric cars, and ‘fast charging’ on the other hand was even more puzzling. There’s been great improvement on that front, and Honda has incorporated modern charging technology into e.
A ‘Rapid Charging’ option gets the e’s battery from low to 80% in just 31 minutes through a 50 kW charger. Also, Honda ensured that e’s charging point is centrally located on the hood, making it easier to reach from either side of the car.
5 Things We Love – Spacious Cabin
There are several reasons why we love the Honda e and one of such, succinctly put, is simply because it’s a “spacious small car.” Honda adopted a minimalist approach in creating e’s cabin, which is forged in tactile and contemporary materials.
The interior is designed to have a serene lounge-like demeanor, and it can comfortably seat four adults, as well as provide adequate legroom. Also, the rear seats can be folded down to provide more space if required.
4 Things We Love – Digital Dashboard
The dashboard remains an integral part of a car, and that of the Honda e has to be one of the most epic we’ve seen. Honda fitted e with a dual-screen digital dashboard that provides information and entertainment while also serving as an interface through which the car users can connect to a wide array of smart applications and services.
The unique and futuristic digital dashboard is another reason we love the little e, and it even heightens the fun factor of the car.
3 Things We Love – Living Colors
Color options would always be a great factor in the production and eventual sale of an automobile. Hence, Honda has provided five different exterior finishing color options for e. The Japanese automotive company called the options “living colors” and they include Crystal Black Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Charge Yellow, Crystal Blue Metallic, and Platinum White Pearl.
These colors are great options for the car, and they provide a unique window of fun for prospective buyers when ordering.
2 Things We Love – Futuristic Design
The Honda e’s refined retro looks make it such as class act. The electric car has a state of the art technological features that are fitted crisply within its smooth and flowing design. One of such is its hidden door handles which flush seamlessly with the exterior body surface but pops out when needed.
The Honda e also has a streamlined side camera mirror system as well as a panoramic sky roof which allows adequate illumination of the car’s cabin.
1 What We Hate – Range
Although the Honda e is largely a lovely car, however, we find its relatively low range quite displeasing and hope it gets improved in subsequent models. For an electric car, the range is probably one of the most (if not the most) important factors considered by enthusiasts when prospecting – hopefully, Honda will offer an improvement in that area, soonest.
That said, Honda has also decided to restrict the e to the European and Japanese markets, meaning Americans can only take a trip in the epic car in their imaginations. Sacrilegious!