Thanks: Aoyama
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What is it?

This is Honda’s second electric vehicle in its line-up after the Honda e, which has already been on the market for three years. As it turns out, buyers are less keen on near-£40k electric superminis with limited range than they are on £45k small electric SUVs with fairly decent range. Which is precisely what the e:Ny1 is, just don’t ask what’s taken so long.

What’s with the weird name?

That’s a good question – no one really knows. The e:N part stands for the new electric platform that will underpin Honda’s electric efforts in the coming years, although we also heard that the name stands for “energise yourself”. OK, then. And 1 because it’s the first car on the platform. Which is frankly bonkers.

Maybe once there’s a new range of e:N cars we’ll see it all in a new context and appreciate the interesting strategy behind. In the meantime, let’s get energised.

What other differences are there?

Oh, so many. The e:Ny1 is 57mm longer than the HR-V because of its long, sloping boot, but actually shaves 3mm off the wheelbase. It’s 2mm higher, though. The Honda badge up front has had an all-white reworking and the Honda script on the back of the car comes in a new sans serif text that screams new mobility and a bold future to come. Actually, it doesn’t, it just murmurs ‘Honda’ in a different font.

Does it work alright?

It works well as a nice little electric crossover. In that middle-of-the-road way that Honda has perfected. The styling might go crazy every now and then, but there’s a dependable quality to a Honda where you know what you’re going to get, even if you know that it won’t be particularly exciting. Like a chicken and stuffing sandwich in a supermarket meal deal.

The ride is a little firm, but then you get that with these heavy electric SUVs. Honda claims it’s made an effort to curb the sickening effect of e-acceleration by mapping the car’s acceleration to match that of a petrol car. It has worked well: the car is still perky, but there’s less front wheel scrabbling. Unless you’re in Sport mode, when you get the full mighty force of the e-motor's 201bhp and 229lb ft.
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