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Like many other manufacturers, Honda has lofty ambitions for becoming a fully electrified brand by 2030. The Japanese giant is revamping its entire model range to include a variety of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric SUV models. The e:Ny1 is Honda’s second fully electric model and it bares a striking resemblance to the hybrid HR-V.
The e:Ny1 is technically built using a new platform architecture, meaning there is a different layout under the skin, primarily to accommodate the high-voltage battery. That is a 68.8kWh unit with enough energy to furnish the e:Ny1 with a 412-kilometre driving range. It powers a 150kW (204hp) and 310Nm electric motor that drives the front wheels.
Visually the e:Ny1 differs very little from the HR-V crossover, with only marginal dimension differences. The e:Ny1 is 2mm taller and 57mm longer overall, but that increase in length is primarily down to larger overhangs at either end. It rides on 18-inch wheels as standard and features a high gloss black finish around the car’s base.
Placing the rear door handles in the window frame creates the illusion of it being a sportier three-door body style, which ties in with the sloping roofline. However, making that coupe-like silhouette impinges on the total cargo volume in the boot. Usually, the capacity is 361 litres, but that can increase to 1,176 litres when the rear seats are folded and it is filled up to the roofline.
At the front is where the e:Ny1 differs the most from the HR-V, as the battery charge port is located where the grille would usually be and is accessible by pressing a button on the black panel that links the headlights. The body-coloured panel swivels upwards to reveal a CCS Combo charge port providing charge rates of 11kW on AC and 78KW on DC. The latter is enough to recharge the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 45 minutes and can add 100 kilometres of range in as little as 11 minutes. A 10 to 80 per cent charge using an AC charger will take approximately six hours. While the car is charging, two LED indicators above the port blink to signify charge is ongoing and can show when the vehicle has filled its battery.
Somewhat befitting for a fully electric car, the interior of the e:Ny1 is almost an entirely digital experience, with a 15.1-inch portrait-style touchscreen display dominating the cabin. This screen is far larger than anything Honda currently offers in its range. It is divided into three sections; the top third runs the media or smartphone mirroring (wireless via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), the middle section with the native infotainment system that includes trip computer and other apps, while the lower portion permanently displays the cabin temperature and ventilation controls.
In front of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital display with all the typical driving information. Due to the position of this screen, up high and close to the windscreen, there is no head-up display option. The rest of the cabin features a simple, almost minimalist layout. Instead of a conventional drive selector, there are push buttons on the centre console. This approach creates a bit more space between the front seats and makes the wireless charging pad more accessible. However, the look and feel of the materials in the cabin, particularly some of the plastics on the dashboard, aren’t to the same standard we are used to seeing from Honda, which is disappointing.
Rear passenger space is a mixed bag, as there is plenty of legroom for those in the outer two seats, and headroom is on average for the segment. Higher-spec models include a dual roof made from low-energy glass that reflects heat and insulates the cabin to maintain a more consistent temperature. The panels don’t feature a roller blind, which would typically take away some more headroom, which is good because there’s not a great deal to spare, especially if you draw the short straw and have to sit in the middle. That perch is much firmer than the outer seats, resulting in even less headroom. Accommodating three passengers in the rear of any car in this segment isn’t easy, but the Honda falls below the average in this regard.
As we press Drive and ease away, it’s apparent that this isn’t a lightning-fast electric vehicle, and that’s a deliberate move by Honda. Its engineers have attempted to create a driving setup that puts comfort ahead of outright performance, and as we drive around the city streets, it seems to live up to that billing. At lower speeds the steering is light to the touch, making it feel agile and easy to manoeuvre, but as we get out of town and the speed builds, so does the steering weight. Not a great deal, mind, just enough to provide a reassuring sense of stability.
A multitude of conveniences and driving assistance features are available, ranging from heated seats and steering wheel to a 360-degree camera system and automated parking that can cope with numerous scenarios. Honda’s Sensing Suite includes assistance tech such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and a traffic jam function that handles slow-moving stop-start traffic.
There is little in the way of road and wind noise from the Honda, and even the powertrain is relatively muted. Three different driving modes are selectable, with Econ dulling accelerator pedal inputs to add a few extra kilometres to the driving range. The Sport setting has the opposite effect though it stops short of delivering some kind of electrified Type R experience. A sharper pedal response does add to the Honda’s acceleration, but this isn’t a car that makes you want to drive in such a manner. Instead, this car prioritises comfort and efficiency over outright pace, and when you take that approach to driving it, the e:Ny1 can return respectable energy consumption figures.
The Honda e:Ny1 isn’t due to arrive in Irish showrooms until early 2024 and it will be closer to that time when the official pricing and exact specifications will be confirmed. It is a welcome and much-needed addition to the Honda range and should have a much broader appeal than the smaller Honda e supermini that has been on sale for the last few years.