New Honda e:Ny1: range, specs and video

Honda e:Ny1 may not be the catchiest name, but its maker hopes it can disrupt the competitive compact electric SUV segment when it goes on sale later this year priced from around £45,000.

The production version of Honda’s first electric family car stays true to the design of last year’s e:Ny1 Prototype, which in turn was an evolution of the e:prototype unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2021. The new car is based on the same fundamental platform as the brand’s Honda HR-V hybrid (HEV) crossover, and gets a familiar look, too.

In fact, from the outside, the two cars are almost indistinguishable. The EV gets a blanked off nose – reminiscent of competitors like the MG ZS EV and Kia Niro EV – in contrast to the HEV’s slatted grille. The solid panel hides the e:Ny1’s charge port, above which sits a row of lights that flash to indicate when the car is charging.

In profile the e:Ny1 and HR-V look nearly identical. In fact, the two cars share their 2,610mm wheelbase; at 4,390mm long, the Honda is a little bit bigger than a Peugeot e-2008. The e:Ny1’s boot measures 346 litres – bigger than the hybrid’s but almost 130 litres down on the more practical Kia.

Range and charging

Under the metal you’ll find a 201bhp, front-mounted electric motor that Honda says is good for 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 99mph. There’s just one battery available at launch – a 68kWh (61.9kWh usable) pack good for a target range of 249 miles. Rapid charging is supported, but the e:Ny1’s 78kW peak means a 10-80% top up takes around 45 minutes. That’s similar to the Niro, but shy of the latest Jeep Avenger’s 100kW maximum.

Honda says there will be three levels of regenerative braking, as well as a selection of Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes accessed via a switch on the centre console. According to its maker, a “smooth yet agile driving feel” was a “fundamental development goal” for the e:Ny1.

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Interior design and tech

But while the e:Ny1 and HR-V might look similar on the outside, the electric car’s cabin has been completely overhauled, bringing the SUV bang up-to-date with the latest technology and features. There’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, flanked by a huge 15.1-inch portrait touchscreen – bigger than the one found in Volvo’s £100k EX90 flagship.

The e:Ny1’s media setup runs Honda’s native software, but can display Apple CarPlay or Android Auto concurrently; most systems only allow you visibility of one or the other, rather than both at the same time. The lower section of the screen is dedicated to the car’s climate controls; the e:Ny1 misses out on the HR-V’s tactile rotary switches.

Positioning and price

Honda said at the time of the prototype car’s reveal that the production version would sit “at the centre of [its] future product line-up” and offer “the unique blend of dynamics, technology and design that Honda is known for”. Bosses added that the e:Ny1 would provide “a great option for families looking for their first EV”.

True to its word, Honda’s second fully electric car is pitched above the existing Honda e with usefully more range and practicality. It’ll go on sale later this year, probably priced slightly above its key competitors from around £45,000. We expect the kit list to be generous, however, including equipment like 18-inch alloy wheels and that big infotainment screen. There will be five colours to choose from, including the Aqua Topaz blue shown in these images.

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Elsewhere, the next-generation CR-V has also been revealed with a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. Completing a trio of new cars, the Honda ZR-V has broken cover, too – a mid-size crossover designed to plug the gap between the HR-V and CR-V in the maker’s hybrid range.

Tom Gardner, senior vice-president at Honda Motor Europe told us previously: “The new models we will introduce in 2023 set the course for the next generation of electrified Honda cars, all retaining the engaging driving dynamics, comfort and exceptional usability to which our customers have become accustomed.”

Honda also recently announced a collaboration with Sony to develop electric cars, based on designs the electronics manufacturer has already previewed with concept models at the 2020 and 2022 editions of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The two companies aim to launch their first production model in 2025.