Honda e:Ny1: First Seat Test in Honda's First Family Electric Car

Grand reception at Honda's European Development Center in Offenbach: In addition to the e:Ny1, the new ZR-V (unfortunately only as a hybrid) and the new CR-V (as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid) were also presented. The entire European leadership team made an appearance to accompany Honda's model offensive for the second half of 2023. With this, the Japanese have completely revamped their portfolio – but are advancing rather cautiously in e-mobility. Because:The e:Ny1 is based on the brand new "e:N Architecture F" – a special front-engine platform with a highly rigid body structure, a low center of gravity, and sophisticated underbody aerodynamics. However, this is not immediately apparent as the upper part of the body is taken from the well-known HR-V.

In terms of data, Honda aligns with the competition: 150 kW, 68.8-kWh battery

The electric motor generates a maximum output of 150 kW and torque of 310 Nm and is designed for refined acceleration and deceleration behavior. Insiders say a lot of time has been spent on detailed tuning. Rough starts or shaky regenerative braking should be completely foreign to the e:Ny1. Under the vehicle floor is a 68.8 kWh gross lithium-ion battery, of which 62 kWh are usable. Here too, Honda is rather cautious. The range is up to 412 km according to WLTP. The DC charging, with a maximum of up to 78 kW, is rather modest. At least recharging from 10 to 80% in 45 minutes should work - but for long, fast trips, this is still rather lengthy. The 800-volt technicians from the Hyundai Group manage to do this in just under 30 minutes with a 77 kWh battery.

The new chassis provides even greater stiffness

The new chassis, specially developed for battery-electric vehicles, provides improved torsional rigidity – achieved through the use of high-strength steel, which makes up 47% of the body (by weight). Along with the new platform and powertrain, the chassis is responsible for the dynamic performance, exceptional comfort, and premium driving experience of the new Honda electric vehicle.

Human centricity

According to Honda, the new e:Ny1 also puts people at the center: Unlike the HR-V, with which it shares much of its body, it features Honda's new "electric design identity" for the first time - white H badges and a new Honda script on the rear. Premium in our opinion is also the full cladding of the rear doors, where many manufacturers, including Audi, now rely on large hard plastic surfaces. More importantly, four 1.9-meter passengers all have ample space in the EV, which appears more compact from the outside than it is, yet excels in space utilization for its size."Human centricity" for Honda also means clever packaging of the electric drive components. The rear still offers 364 liters of trunk space, which is 10 percent more than the HR-V. This is because the battery is underfloor, and the entire drive unit is located at the front.

The newly designed center console is also dominated by a 15.1-inch central touchscreen, which has a clever layout with easily accessible buttons. For this reason, Honda has arranged the three main levels on top of each other so that you always start at level one: Navigation at the top, infotainment in the middle, and climate control at the bottom. There are also numerous storage options and a wireless charging pad.

When asked why the E-models aren't taking bigger steps, Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe Ltd. in Offenbach, replied laconically:

"The e:Ny1 is the logical next step in our path to electrification in Europe."

They don't want to overwhelm the customers and offer exactly what they demanded - especially since everything has to remain affordable and still be valuable. Gardner remained silent about the prices as well as the further expansion of the program, although it was possible to elicit from the Honda leadership that they are planning two sports cars again: One electric and one electrified - and one of them is likely to become the future NS-X at the top of the program. We expect prices around 45,000 euros plus/minus x for the e:Ny1, which is set to complement the program by the end of 2023.

What does this mean?

The e:Ny1 is essential for Honda: It targets the market of compact SUVs with the highest unit sales. If the price and distribution are right, it could reclaim market shares for the brand. The only thing we miss a bit: The high technical standards that the Japanese have with internal combustion engines and transmissions – 800-volt technology, benchmarks in terms of efficiency or weight or aerodynamics – unfortunately, all missing. So the sale has to drum up interest with a "me-too" electric vehicle. However, one can assume that Honda will continue to be one of the strong brands in terms of quality and dealer network.