Honda e Review

Honda’s smoking hot right now – and it aims to keep it that way with a bunch of fresh and updated models coming out in 2020. You can tell it’s especially eager to set the world alight with its funky new electric car - the Honda e. And it might just do that, given all the hype. The simply named vehicle has the right looks and the right tech to attract people who maybe don’t usually care about cars. But is it a practical set of wheels? And will its range prove enough? It’s hard to know unless you live with it day to day – but I think I got the measure of the all-electric car at its media launch in Spain.

The Honda-e can be ordered now, but it isn’t going to be on Britain’s roads until June. I drove the flagship Advance model – this has a 155ps motor compared with the basic Honda e’s 136ps electric power unit. Both shift swiftly, but it’s the Advance that’s the quickest, with a zero to 62mph time of 8.3 seconds. The entry model will do it in 9.0 seconds flat. Still, both only do 90mph, but that’s more than enough for a car that’s aimed squarely at urban driving. 

You should perhaps forget the performance aspect, and instead take note of the Honda’s clever Single Pedal Control System. This helps to improve efficiency in towns and cities. When switched on, the system enables you to flawlessly accelerate, slow and stop the vehicle using only its accelerator pedal.

The Honda e will do up to 137 miles when fully charged. However, the claimed range drops to 125 miles if you swap the standard 16-inch wheels for 17-inch alloys. That’s a fair way from the new Peugeot e-2008 SUV’s 193 miles, and light-years away from the Kia e-Niro's 280-mile electric range. But, with no CO2 emissions, you’ll still be doing your bit for the world we inhabit. Furthermore, you won’t be spending anything on car tax, and you’ll be immune from London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone tariff. 

The Honda e might look cute, but it can handle its own on the road. Its low centre of gravity keeps body roll to a minimum, meaning comfort is never compromised. What’s more, the Honda rides fluidly over potholes. It’s never ideal driving over broken tarmac, but we sometimes have no choice on Britain’s well-used roads. Therefore, the irregular blacktop at the Honda launch in and around Valencia was a perfect proving ground. 

The Honda e’s steering reacts instantly and exactly to driver inputs, yet the compact electric car never delivers quite enough engagement. In other words, I didn’t feel I desperately wanted to go for a long drive. But that's the whole point – it's not intended for long-distance trips – it’s a city car, and I had to keep reminding myself of this on the launch. When all is said and done, the new all-electric vehicle is a lovely little chariot - and it’s especially easy to manoeuvre in tight urban streets. This is thanks to its small boxy structure – and the fact it has a turning circle of just 4.3m. U-turns are so easy to do in the Honda e! Parking is a

There is little doubt that the Honda e is a sophisticated car. It’s more than prepared to take on this decade with a cabin that looks like a cross between a lounge and a spaceship. It’s also likely to withstand a good few years of school runs. The interior certainly accompanies the uncomplicated exterior well, with restrained, modern materials, creating a soothing and fresh space. The lounge-like feel of the four-seat cabin is heightened through melange-style sofa material and other tactile fabrics in chilled-out, fashionable tones. The wood veneer trim has a pleasing, premium appearance and an agreeably touchy-feely grain. What's more, discreet spot lamps in the headliner further contribute to the comfy and state-of-the-art feel. These are operated by a switch on the Japanese car’s responsive switchgear. 

Overall, the all-new Honda e is an unflustered place to be, even when picking up the pace. Because it’s a pure-electric vehicle, there’s little noise to interrupt anything. This enables you and your passengers to absorb some tunes, have an uninterrupted chinwag or indulge in much-underrated quiet time.

Inside, the all-new Honda e boasts multiple technologies that make it easy to use. For example, a Side Camera Mirror System replaces typical side-view mirrors, with cameras that deliver images to two screens inside the car. Adding to these, a Centre Camera Mirror System can be turned on to feed the image from a rear-facing camera to the Honda’s rear-view mirror. This enhances safety and comfort, particularly if your rear field of vision is blocked for any reason. 

The compact electric vehicle also contains easy to use infotainment services and apps that are accessed via dual touchscreen displays. Then there’s the delightfully simple two-spoke steering wheel. Gloss black accents frame the voice and audio recognition control switches,

The Honda e is not a big car – it’s for four people – and Honda has made this clear by fitting just two seatbelts in the rear. This could be a deal-breaker for some. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by the e’s bountiful wheelbase. It means passenger space is equal to that of vehicles in the segment above. What's more, step-through access contributes to a light and airy ambience. Then there’s the landscape aspect of the touchscreens. These enrich the sense of roominess, with a wide field of visibility through the broad panoramic windscreen. 

A centre console provides useful storage, located under the connectivity and charging sockets for easy access. The adaptable storage unit incorporates a smartphone storage tray and slide-out cup holder which can be placed in rearward or forward positions - or stored neatly. The storage area includes detachable partitions so the room can be personalised for large or small items. The centre console stowage pouch uses the same material as the door panels and seats for continuity of the fashionable design. Then there are the front door bins; these have a spherical section to house large bottles, while the rear door stowage areas are sized to hold a regular drinks can or bottle. 

Finally, the boot is small – my co-driver and I just managed to squeeze our large hold-all bags into the 171-litre load area. The saving grace is that the rear seats fold flat, freeing up 861 litres, should you need to cram bigger things in.

As well as buying the new Honda e for its cool looks and funky interior, you’ll want to get your hands on it for its greener than green absence of emissions. And, let’s face it, because it’s an all-electric car, it’s always going to be more cost-effective than a conventional internal combustion-engine propelled vehicle. The compact car’s pure-electric motor and its battery have a stated range of 137 miles, or 125 miles if you go for the Honda e Advance model with 17-inch wheels. And you can charge it at public charging stations or, maybe more conveniently, overnight at home. 

The time it takes to charge up depends on the power obtainable. Using a CCS2 DC rapid charger, you could regain 80 per cent of range in 30 minutes. Or you could be looking at around four hours to charge it to full using a Type 2 AC connection with a 7.4 kW supply. Whichever way you look at it, the fast-charge capability of Honda’s cutting-edge powertrain is geared up to provide excellent usability to meet the needs of low-cost daily commuting. 

Additionally, to increase battery efficiency, a thermal management system cools or heats the car’s battery to allow the Honda to retain optimal range capability in hot or cold weather. Active cooling also allows more frequent rapid charges. 

Regarding quality and reliability, Honda has got a bullet-proof reputation. Indeed, many old Hondas are still driving on our roads today. That’s evidence of the brand’s engineering and build quality. Pure electric cars are still in their relative infancy, though. So, at this stage, it’s difficult to measure how dependable the Honda e’s electric motor and battery will be. 

But Honda offers a three-year or 90,000-mile warranty. That means it will replace or repair any manufacturing or material defects free of charge, subject to the terms and conditions found in your Honda Service Book. A Honda Extended Guarantee is also offered. This is a good way to protect your vehicle when the warranty expires. 

When it comes to the inside of the all-new Honda e, the seats are well-cushioned. And with quality textures and materials fitted around the interior, the cabin should stand up to years of use. 

The all-electric Honda e can be accessed using a Digital Key, which enables the car to be locked and unlocked remotely using My Honda+ app via Bluetooth for smartphone users. This means you don't need to use a physical key, enabling you to share access to the car remotely via your smartphone. But don’t worry, Honda has ensured robust security protocols are in place to protect you and the vehicle.

Safety is something Honda takes very seriously, too. The all-new Honda e is, therefore, kitted out with the latest in safety technology. This includes: A Collision Mitigation Brake System; Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Keep Assist; Traffic Sign Recognition; and Auto High-Beam Headlights. 

Furthermore, should an accident happen, the range of Honda’s innovative connectivity services comprises Impact Alert and E-Call for roadside help in emergency circumstances.