Honda e:Ny1 Review 2023

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 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.

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.

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 7.6 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.

On our test drive in Norway, our Honda e:Ny1 test car was returning 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. Admittedly, this might be because we've only driven the e:Ny1 on rough Norwegian tarmac, so we'll wait until sampled it in the UK before we totally lambast it for being too noisy. 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.

While the Honda e:Ny1 hasn't been around long enough for any issues to come to light, we'd be surprised if it 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 will come with a complimentary Five Year Care Package, which includes five years' servicing, a five-year guarantee and five years' roadside assistance.

Both the Honda e:Ny1 Advance and Elegance sit in insurance group 43. What that means in reality will depend on things your like home address, driving experience and even your job title. 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.

There are two models available from launch: the Honda e:Ny1 Elegance and the Honda e:Ny1 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.