Honda e:Ny1 Review 2024

Written by Andrew Brady

8/10
heycar ratingWeird name but good car
  • 2024
  • Small SUV
  • EV

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Quick overview

Pros

  • Stylish cabin with plush finishes and flashy infotainment system
  • Very comfortable and easy to drive
  • Excellent visibility for the driver

Cons

  • More expensive than mainstream competitors
  • Not the fastest charging electric vehicle
  • Within the same price territory as bigger, more practical SUVs

Overall verdict on the Honda e:Ny1

"Weird doesn't sell cars. That's why the quirky little Honda E only sold in small numbers - and why the brand's second electric car, the Honda e:Ny1, looks a bit dull in comparison. But don't judge a book by its cover - we reckon the e:Ny1 is a really appealing electric SUV. Is it good enough to tempt buyers away from the new Hyundai Kona Electric and Toyota bZ4X? Read our full Honda e:Ny1 review to find out."

Honda e:Ny1 Review: front dynamic

Priced from a tad over £40,000, the Honda e:Ny1 sits in the middle ground between mainstream electric SUVs like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and posh alternatives like the BMW iX1. While it's definitely a small SUV in size, you might also be considering it alongside larger electric cars like the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV and Nissan Ariya.


You might be wondering how the Honda e:Ny1 got its name, or even how to pronounce it. Well, the latter's pretty simple: you just pronounce each letter individually (so, ee-en-why-one). And why's it called that? Well, it's to do with the new e:N electric car platform it's based on. We suspect it'll make more sense when more electric Hondas go on sale in the future but, for now, it seems that someone in the naming department didn't get the 'not weird' memo.


The Honda e:Ny1 is a pure-electric car, powered by a 69kWh battery and an electric motor that drives the front wheels. Officially it'll cover up to 256 miles between charges - which is good but not class-leading - while it can be charged from 10 to 80% in around 45 minutes.


It's not particularly fast by electric car standards, although the instant slug of torque means it feels more than urgent enough for day-to-day driving. Honda's focus is on comfort and that's evident in the way it rides - it's one of the softer electric cars on the market, although - in true recent Honda form - it's still surprisingly enjoyable to drive.


The Honda e:Ny1 impresses with its interior, too. It's spacious and exceptionally well finished, with lots of lovely, soft finishes and some impressive technology. A huge portrait infotainment display takes centre stage but don't fear, it's very easy to use.


There are two trim levels available: Elegance and Advance. The entry-level Honda e:Ny1 Elegance has everything most electric SUVs buyers will want: synthetic leather seats (heated in the front), privacy glass, the aforementioned 15.1-inch digital display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. For an extra £2000 or so, the Honda e:Ny1 Advance builds on this with an upgraded sound system, heated leather steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof.


The majority of buyers are expected to go for the most expensive Honda e:Ny1 and, when you consider the difference in the monthly payments on a new one, that's probably not a surprise. Alternatively, you might also consider a used electric car, which will save a bum on the new price or we'd recommend looking at alternatives such as the Kia Niro EV or Renault Megane E-Tech.


Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Honda Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Honda e:Ny1 cars for sale.

If you're looking for an unintimidating electric car with a plush cabin and impressive technology, we'd recommend the Honda e:Ny1. You can get bigger EVs for the money - so family buyers may want to look elsewhere - while there are cheaper options, too. But the Honda e:Ny1 strikes us as a solid all-rounder.

The range is pretty simple - there's only one powertrain, while buyers can choose between Elegance and Advance grades. A comprehensive amount of kit on the entry-level Honda e:Ny1 Elegance means no one needs the Advance, but it's still a desirable choice nevertheless.

There are plenty of very good electric SUVs on the market. We rate the Renault Megane E-Tech and Kia Niro EV highly, while the new Hyundai Kona Electric might also be worth waiting for (the old Kona Electric is pretty good, too).


Cars like the Jeep Avenger, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Peugeot e-2008 all offer decent value for money, while the MG ZS EV is a rare new car bargain.


The Honda e:Ny1's relatively high price tag also puts it in the territory of bigger electric SUVs - including the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 - as well as premium alternatives like the Polestar 2 and Audi Q4 e-tron.

Comfort and design: Honda e:Ny1 interior

"The Honda e:Ny1's cabin will feel familiar to anyone who's sat in the latest Civic, HR-V or ZR-V, but it's been given a few welcome upgrades. The most significant is a large Tesla-like touchscreen display, which sits alongside a frameless digital instrument cluster. These look very smart and don't come at the expense of useability - the e:Ny1 will be a very easy car to live with."

Honda e:Ny1 Review: interior

The padded seats are comfortable and supportive, although the positioning of the batteries under the floor means there isn't a huge amount of adjustment. We found it easy to find a comfortable seating position, however.


The Honda e:Ny1 Advance grade features a panoramic sunroof as standard. We're big fans of the large glass roof as it lets a lot of light into the cabin and adds to the feeling of spaciousness.


Honda hasn't gone overboard with the minimalist approach with the e:Ny1's cabin. There are buttons on the centre console for selecting drive, neutral or reverse, while there's also a drive mode button and an electronic parking brake switch. You'll also find the steering wheel awash with buttons for adjusting the audio as well as turning on the heated steering wheel and activing cruise control. There's even a seperate volume knob on the dashboard.

The interior quality of the Honda e:Ny1 goes some way towards justifying its premium price tag. It feels posh, with even the entry-level Elegance model featuring synthetic leather seats, a flashy infotainment system and lots of impressive materials. It feels significantly more upmarket than mainstream competitors like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric. 

A large 15.1-inch portrait infotainment display is standard across the Honda e:Ny1 range. While it might look overwhelmingly techy, it's actually pretty simple to use. It's split into three sections: navigation, driver-assistance and climate control. With crisp graphics, a logical layout and speedy responses, it's a joy to use, while it works well alongside the equally impressive digital instrument cluster.


Want to connect your phone? (Wireless) Apple CarPlay is standard, as well as (wired) Android Auto. The Honda e:Ny1 also comes with in-car WiFi.

Measuring 4387mm long, 1790mm wide (2028mm including door mirrors) and 1584mm tall, the Honda e:Ny1 is ever so slightly bigger than the new Hyundai Kona Electric and Renault Megane E-Tech, but smaller than a Volkswagen ID.4 or Toyota bZ4X.


It feels pretty spacious inside for a small SUV, while its 361-litre boot stacks up against competitors. There are more practical electric cars available for the money, though... the Honda e:Ny1 is pricier than an entry-level Skoda Enyaq iV, and that's a much more versatile (if not as posh) family car. Fold the rear seats and there's up to 1176-litres of space.

Handling and ride quality: What is the Honda e:Ny1 like to drive?

"The Honda e:Ny1 handles just like a Honda Civic. That means it strikes a near-perfect balance between ride comfort and handling composure, with steering that isn't overly light and suspension that isn't too floaty, nor too firm. You'll notice the increased ride height over the Civic, but we think the Honda e:Ny1 is well judged in terms of handling and ride quality."

Honda e:Ny1 Review: rear dynamic

Honda claims that the e:Ny1 is more than 100kg lighter than some competitors, which might explain why it's more comfortable on bumpy roads than a lot of electric cars. It's not as soft as a Citroen e-C4 but it's one of the more compliant EVs on the market.


Recent Honda models generally drive very well indeed and, while there are faster electric cars on sale, the e:Ny1 is enjoyable to drive both in and out of town. The steering is pleasantly weighted, while good visibility and an extensive list of driver-assistance tech mean it's an easy (and relaxing) car to drive.


There are three drive modes available: sport, normal and econ. Sport increases the throttle response for livelier performance, while econ mode does the opposite (while also toning down things like the climate control and heated seats). We'd recommend leaving it normal most of the time.

Power comes from a single electric motor driving the front wheels. It produces a total of 204PS and 310Nm of torque - both fairly healthy numbers, especially considering the e:Ny1's low (by EV standards) kerb weight.


An instant punch of torque is the trademark of many electric cars, but Honda says it's engineered out of the e:Ny1. The reason? It's actually quite unpleasant to accelerate forcefully, which is why the e:Ny1 builds speed gradually - lolloping to 62mph in a still-brisk-enough 7.7 seconds.

The Honda e:Ny1 has a range of 256 miles which, while not the longest range electric car, compares favourably with rivals - and will be more than enough for most commutes.


We've seen a Honda e:Ny1 return 3.9 miles per kWh, which equates to a real-world range of around 237 miles. That'd drop in winter, or with a more enthusiastic driving style, but you should find a range of more than 200 miles achievable in the real world.

The Honda e:Ny1 suffers from the same issue many electric cars face: because there isn't an engine to drown out any external noise, you will notice a little more wind and road noise. While it's no worse than competitors, without your music playing, there is a distinctive roar from the tyres. Oh, and there's a bit of a whine from the electric motor, too.

Standard driver aids on the Honda e:Ny1 include Collision Mitigation Braking, Blind Spot Information, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keep Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, plus front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. In plain English, that means the e:Ny1 has a range of sensors and cameras to monitor your surroundings, and it can apply the brakes to prevent a crash.


Opt for the Honda e:Ny1 Advance and you'll also get Honda's Parking Pilot system, which can identify a suitable parking space and control the steering, brakes, accelerator and gear shifting.


The Honda e:Ny1 is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP.

Charging times: How much does it cost to charge the Honda e:Ny1?

"The Honda e:Ny1's battery pack can't be rapid charge as fast as some rivals - but the brand says it's been designed with long-term reliability in mind."

Honda e:Ny1 Review: charging port

Take the Honda e:Ny1 apart and you'll find a 69kWh battery pack positioned underneath the floor. It can be charged at a maximum rate of 78kW, which sounds a bit weedy when 150kW rapid chargers are increasingly commonplace. Honda has an answer for this: apparently other manufacturers have prioritised headline rapid charge figures, but the e:Ny1 is able to maintain a high average rate for the full charging period. That means the Honda e:Ny1 can be charged from 10% to 80% in roughly 45 minutes using a powerful rapid charger.


When you're charging at home, a 7kW home charger will top up the Honda e:Ny1 (from 10% to 80%) in around six hours. The cost of this will depend on your home electricity tariff - but budget around £20 or so for a full charge.

We'd be surprised if the Honda e:Ny1 was anything less than dependable. Honda has an excellent reliability record, while its first electric car (the Honda E) is proving to be a very reliable choice. Electric cars in general are usually more reliable than petrol and diesel models as they have fewer mechanical parts to go wrong.


To put your mind at rest about buying a new EV, the Honda e:Ny1 comes with a complimentary Five Year Care Package, which includes five years' servicing, a five-year guarantee and five years' roadside assistance.

The Honda e:Ny1 Elegance sit in insurance group 39, while the Advance is one group higher in 40. What that means in reality will depend on things your like home address, driving experience and even your job title will have more of a bearing on the premium you pay. If you're deemed a high risk driver, the Honda e:Ny1 could be quite expensive to insure - more so than the Toyota bZ4x (which starts in insurance group 36) and Peugeot e-2008 (group 25).

Buy a Honda e:Ny1 now and you'll enjoy a year or so of tax-free motoring before new road tax rules come in, introducing VED for electric vehicles.

How much should you be paying for a used Honda e:Ny1?

"The new Honda e:Ny1 costs from £40,645 in Elegance trim, while the top-spec Advance model is £42,845. That puts it in the middle ground between mainstream competitors like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and premium electric SUVs like the BMW iX1."

Honda e:Ny1 Review: side profile

While not the priciest new EV, a saving is always welcome and you can find examples will less than 4000 miles on the clock from £27,500. That is a lot of money to prune by choosing nearly new and nobody will know your e:Ny1 isn't fresh from the factory.

There are two models available with the Honda e:Ny1: Elegance and Advance.


The Honda e:Ny1 Elegance is the entry-level model but comes well equipped, with spec highlights including a a 15.1-inch central touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat finished in synthetic leather, heating functionality for both front passengers, auto dimming mirrors, dual zone air conditioning, a wireless charging pad and multiple USB ports, smart entry and push button start as well as power heated mirrors, sequential indicators, and privacy glass.


The range-topping Honda e:Ny1 Advance grade builds on this with a choice of either black or light grey premium synthetic leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, heated leather steering wheel, and premium audio system. A handsfree power tailgate is also standard, as well as Honda's Parking Pilot system, which is supported by a multi-view camera system as well as additional side sensors.

Ask the heycar experts: common questions

The all-electric Honda e:Ny1 has a WLTP range of up to 256 miles.
The new Honda e:Ny1 starts from £40,645 for the Elegance trim and the Advance model adds £2200 to that figure.
The Honda e:Ny1 is a small electric SUV that rivals the Jeep Avenger, Toyota Bz4x and Kia Niro EV.

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