New Honda e:Ny1 (2023 - )

I’m a great believer in giving cars a decent name, especially one that consumers can easily pronounce. Enter the fray the Honda e:Ny1. You have to pronounce each letter and digit individually to say it correctly and will be shot down for looking for the “e:Anyone” short-cut. I rest my case.
The e:Ny1 is Honda’s second fully electrified car following the Honda e (a name that makes perfect sense) and it is a five-door compact SUV that sits in the B segment.
While Honda claims it is targeting a younger audience with this model, it’s launch price topping the £47k mark would suggest otherwise. However, just a few months down the line we are seeing a £5k price-drop, along with some very attractive finance schemes to attract new customers to the fold.
Buyers have a choice between two trim levels called Elegance and Advance and we opted for the range-topping e:Ny1 Advance for our test drive.
 

The Honda e:Ny1 is very easy on the eye with a modern look that’s is neither bland nor too garish to scare off potential customers. Eye-catching design cues include a smooth body-coloured grille that conveniently opens outwards to reveal the charging port. The rear door handles are flush to the bodywork and there are sleek, narrow headlight clusters that are connected by a thin horizontal LED strip that lights up while charging. Our range-topper also featured a panoramic glass roof and striking 18-inch alloy wheels. 
Moving to the back of the car, a light bar stretches the width of the vehicle and connects the taillights, while there is e:Ny1 badging with the Honda name in lower case letters across the tailgate.
The interior is ultra-modern with a large 15-inch portrait infotainment screen being the main focal point. This the car’s nerve centre and access point to the wealth of on-board systems. The top section is all about the navigation functions, while the climate settings are located conveniently at the bottom. In-between, you will find all the other features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a six-speaker premium sound system, DAB radio, Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and plenty more besides.
There is a smaller driver information screen behind the steering wheel where vital data such as speed, driving range and battery charge levels are clearly visible.
The quality within the cabin is very high-end, and with powered seats and a fully adjustable steering wheel, finding the ideal driving position is a simple process. The seats are upholstered in synthetic leather and, together with the steering wheel, can be heated against the winter chill.
 

The Honda e:Ny1 features a high-performance 68.8kWh battery that drives a single motor and delivers 204PS along with 310Nm of torque. That results in fairly impressive performance figures with the vehicle sprinting to 60mph from a standing start in 7.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 99mph. It has a driving range of up to 256 miles between charges under WLTP testing.
Admittedly there are more engaging and faster EVs out there right now, but Honda is a company that builds on its reputation for comfort, refinement and quality. Saying that, it’s no slouch either with instant power on tap with the slightest throttle pressure.
It feels quite weighty, but not in a cumbersome way, giving the front-wheel drive vehicle capable handling through twisting lanes with excellent grip and no sign of body sway into or out of tighter corners.
It is both agile and easy to park in busier town centres thanks to the Honda Parking Pilot on our test car, which will almost park the vehicle for you. And special mention to the excellent suspension and insulation set-up that results in a refined driving experience with barely a sound filtering into the cabin, and all but the most severe bumps cushioned along the way.
Drive modes called Econ, Normal and Sport alter the characteristics of the e:Ny1. Sport delivers a more engaging driving experience while in the Econ mode, in order to save energy, the throttle response is reduced as is the air conditioning, heated seats and the heated steering wheel.
In addition, steering wheel paddles can be used to increase or decrease the levels of regenerative braking, but single-pedal driving is not an option, which is a shame. 
 

The Honda e:Ny1 is a deceptively spacious car with a surprising amount of passenger room in the back. It’s a neatly packaged five-door model stretching 4,387mm in length, 1,790mm across (excluding mirrors), 1,584mm tall and it has a wheelbase of 2,607mm.
Up front, a couple of six-foot-plus adults can sit comfortably and with designers cleverly making full use of the space available, there is enough room in the back for a couple more adults or a trio of youngsters. The only slight gripe you might hear from taller passengers in the back is the restricted headroom. This is due to the sloping roof design of the car which means the rear end tapers off slightly.
Throughout the cabin, there are numerous storage places, including door bins, deep front cup holders with additional ones in the rear armrest and back doors, a glovebox, charging pad, seat back pockets, a central cubby bin and a few trays.
Active families often end up with muddy boots or wet towels and the e:Ny1 is well equipped to cope with that. The boot, which is accessed via a powered tailgate, has a removeable thick rubber mat so the interior won’t get messed up.
As far as storage goes, the boot has a capacity of 344 litres, but this can be increased to a reasonable 1,136 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.
Charging the 68.8kWh lithium-ion battery is made simpler due to its fast charging capabilities, which means it can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent using a DC rapid charger and CCS connector in 45 minutes. If relying on a standard domestic wallbox, the same level of charge takes six hours.
 

The big news concerning the Honda e:Ny1 this year is a dramatic price drop that was introduced in April. Before then, the entry-level Elegance trim cost £44,995 while the Advance, as tested, would set you back £47,195.
However, the new pricing structure sees the e:Ny1 Elegance drop to £39,995 and the Advance to £42,195, saving would-be buyers an extra £5k.
And, as with all EVs, there are numerous financial incentives to make the package even more attractive. These include being exempt from road tax, Congestion Charge fees and charges for Ultra Low Emission Zones. And while owners of ICE vehicles costing in excess of £40k are subject to a premium car levy for five years, EVs buyers escape that too.
However, these financial rewards are being cut right back or withdrawn from next year, according to the government.
For any business drivers considering the e:Ny1 as a company car, it comes with an attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of two per cent. Both Honda e:Ny1 models sit in insurance group 43.
While Honda enjoys an excellent reputation for reliability, for added peace of mind, the vehicle comes with a five-year service plan, five-year warranty and five years of roadside assistance. 
 

Apart from the really annoying name, the e:Ny1 is typically Honda and that is meant as a compliment. It looks stylish without being flashy, is packed with modern technology without being over-complicated and it drives beautifully without pinning you to your seat back.
There are cheaper rivals arriving on the scene at what seems like a weekly basis right now, so pricing of these electrified models is finally beginning to drop. And with the ever-growing choice, manufacturers need to make their cars really stand out.
Only time and sales figures will tell if the dramatic price drop will be enough to see the Honda e:Ny1 take off.