I've owned an E for the best part of a year, and I love it for all the reasons mentioned, apart from the camera mirrors! I think it's less a case of definition, and more a case of depth perception. It's viewing the world from a single view point, as if you're using the mirrors with 1 eye closed - this makes it really tricky to quickly decipher how far something is from the back of the car. Annoying when parking, and extremely frustrating on busy motorways. Also glare + rain droplets and even spiders can be an issue that wipe out an entire mirror! Range is frustrating, but we are averaging 4 miles per KW in the summer, dropping to around 2.8 in the winter. It's at 3.3 after 9,000 miles. Definitely couldn't be my only car, but as a run around for 99% of our journeys in a fairly metropolitan area, I couldn't be happier. Great video as always!
That's sort of my concern as well, I wonder if they would offer it w real mirrors. I have no peripheral vision in my left eye thanks to leukemia, so a camera sounds annoying to me. But otherwise I'm interested in where Honda is going w this.
With traditional mirrors you can move your head to change your view, this does not work with video screens. This is the deal breaker for me, although - as a SciFi fan - I'd really like the idea.
Even in Norway there are very few of these, and we buy pretty much anything with a battery in it nowadays. My view is that it is an awesome idea that is let down by two things - the range and the price. It really needs to be a lot cheaper, and to offer about 20% more range in order to compete in the city car segment.
@@cyborgbadger1015 I think that's a little harsh, but not totally off-target. My sense is that they wanted to do something unique and charmingly quirky which would appeal to the end of the market that is willing to pay more for quality and charm. But the question is how much more they will pay, and that's where it fails really. For the same price you can get an e-208, and for not much more you can get a 60kWh Leaf. Both much more practical with notably longer ranges. It's a shame really, cos one thing the car market does really need is more cars with some character.
@@15bit62 perhaps I was a bit harsh I don't know, it's just I think this is the way the industry is going as a whole, whether by accident, design, or the WEF/green lobby forcing them I don't really know. What I do see though is a smal and rather lovely small car priced for the rich.
i feel i should add that I am speaking from the perspective of a person in the Uk where things are tough for people on low incomes. In Norway the divide between rich/poor is a great deal smaller.
The concept version of this vehicle was hands down the coolest EV I’d ever seen! Looked like an old Civic and an old Golf all at once. Hope they come back around to that design.
I owned a mk1 Civic back in the 80s. My first car. For that reason i got REALLY excited by the concept, and SO disappointed by the actual design. A huge letdown.
Fun fact, this four door design actually came first and had been in development for over a year before the 2 door concept car which grabbed everyone's attention, and then still continued with the four door design anyway... So unlikely to go back to it!
Had mine since the summer of 2020, first batch to arrive. Still makes me smile to drive it and still turns heads. Only seen another couple around here in all that time.
I’ve had one for 2.5 years and love it to bits! I use it every day, but for longer trips I also own an ice car. As a city car with a home charger it’s just about perfect !
This is exactly where the argument for EVs falls down. Instead of going green with an EV you have now added an extra car to the UK vehicle parc with the energy consumption, CO2 release cost involved. Fine if you can afford a car for all occasions but most folk have the one car for every occasion.
Never noticed any problems with camera mirrors. IMO they are far better in wet weather. I always use all round cameras for parking, which are excellent. And of course the car can easily squeese into any tight space. Not having “wing mirrors” protruding is also a bonus on narrow lanes etc. Range rarely an issue, but I can charge at home, and most destinations like Tesco PodPoints. Used prices @ £19-20k are a steal, so buy one while they still exist. And smile
I’d be intrigued to see what they could do in terms of price and range if they were to take out all the extra tech and just put in the basics. Could they have a cute simple affordable commuter? I’d be interested.
Agree absolutely. Taking out all the gimmicky and not legally required features might improve the range and lower the cost. Could have had a world beater but missed the target. Ev's are all about range.
I don't think car manufactiurers are interested in producing cheap cars any more. The profit margins are just too slim. Modern technology enables them to produce cars profitably in lower quantities than befoe too, so the days of pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap are long gone I think.
Just look over at the VW e-UP then - roughly same size, very basic interior, no fancy screens, no fancy tech, just the battery, ev motor, basic analogue gauges - beats the E on the range by a lot(I easily get 180 miles in the summer, 140-150 in winter), and brand new it was £20k - literally £17k cheaper than this Honda! Is the extra styling and the extra screens worth it? I doubt it!
We have had the E for almost three years now ,a truly excellent car . We see 130 miles range in summer and 90 in winter with all the heating on . We can get the weekly shop in the boot and two large golden retrievers on the back seat . The second car is a Audi RS4 but the E feels much faster up to road legal speeds due to it's instant response. The turning circle is very useful ,it is a pleasure to drive . If you can charge from home you can expect to see around 2 pence per mile in electricity cost against around 40 pence for the RS.
Harry, I was so worried when I saw you had reviewed the E. I have an M4 and my wife has the E. I drive the E whenever I can. I just love it. If you go into settings you turn off the “Nanny state” and have a spirted drive. Thanks for all the reviews 👍🏻
I tried one of these not long after they were released. I saw 100+ miles on the range regularly but never got anywhere near it - the best I managed was late 80's. I think the problem is it guesses the range based on the power you have been using for the last xx miles. That means when you put it on charge it was usually being used already warmed up. By the time its charged and cooled back off the next morning it loses around 3 miles of range per mile driven for quite a while as it heats everything back up. At least that seems to be how it behaves and a lot of short range ev's are similar. My old 40kWh Zoe used to claim 150+ miles sometimes but never went more than around 115 and on the motorway never topped 100. I grew tired of all that nonsense a long time back. For all its nice toys (I like them even though its mostly gimmicks) this would be a far better car with a much larger battery or a range extender. Then it wouldn't need a way to make a cuppa on one of the many forced stops while it takes an age to add another short burst of range. In reality this is a very compromised car which is only really of any use on a very short daily run. For £37k...
I'm curious to know the sort of driving that got you 80 something miles. Not 'cause I think you're somehow wrong, but because I tried one and got just shy of 115 but that was exclusively low speed, stop-start, inner city stuff. I don't think I went above 30mph for more than 10 minutes and never got over 45mph or so. I imagine motorway driving for any length of time would absolutely hammer the range
@@helplmchoking Mostly city with the odd 40-50mph d/c's. I can't remember the exact number but it was low 80's with the low battery warning on - which I worked out at the time to be late 80's. I tried a motorway run to Shrewsbury (around 30 miles) and got there with around 20% battery left. That sounds bad but then you have to factor in that I was using minimal heating (mostly the heated seat and only the heater to demist now and then) and sticking to around 65mph indicated - just enough so I wasn't being overtaken by lorries. Up to around 40mph it wasn't too bad but over that and it started to use a fair bit of battery. Anything over about 50 and it was drinking like a fish. Nowhere near as efficient as my Zoe and a lot worse as speeds go up. Strangely this was where my model S made the most sense of all the ev's I've had. Even at 70-ish it was still doing around 2.5mi/kWh - similar to the Zoe and better than the Honda.
@@siraff4461 Thanks for the info! Probably the most genuine and informative reply to a RUclips comment I've ever seen lol I do wonder if the Tesla handles motorway speeds better by aerodynamics alone or if their more powerful motors and battery outputs mean they don't have to work as hard while cruising - though weight isn't a big factor once you reach a constant speed so probably not much penalty anyway. I still find the Honda a very attractive option, the personality and design plus the practicality really speaks to me (someone who definitely doesn't buy the cars that make sense on paper, sadly) but I don't think I could justify that sort of price for a medium hatchback, even if the range doesn't bother me much
@@helplmchoking I quite liked it but there are a few downsides when you start to live with one. The boot is tiny (to be expected), the rear seats are very small, awkward to get into when there are larger people in the front and the back seat area is very low rent. I found the cameras awkward in certain lights and even the slightest big of dirt made them awful - though they are easy to wipe clean again. I also found the ride a bit jiggly at low speed and again with people in the back quite easy to bottom out. Its an interesting car but for me it falls short in too many ways for the price. I found the i3 better in almost every way. Downsides to the i3 were having to open the front door to open the rear(!), the lack of lateral support in the seats with nowhere to brace yourself thanks to the open centre and the slightly awkward ingress set up - the sill sticks out quite a way and the seats are quite inboard/high up so you always end up dragging your leg on it and getting road filth all over your calf. One big plus with the i3 was having the range extender. Mine was an early car so it only had the small battery but it would do around 80 miles to flat then just carry on with the generator running. That meant the whole range was usable anywhere. It also meant no route planning or other silly business so you just charge when it suits - usually at around 150 miles with the petrol tank just over half empty. It would then do another 60-70 miles on its 80% or so and still have around 50 miles left in the petrol if needed. Or if I was in a rush I would just top up the petrol every 100 miles or so.
We've owned our E Advance for about 18 months now - 16" wheels, blue, no extras specced. I've counted one other blue car, and a solitary white then grey car in north-east Scotland........I've seen more McLaren/Lamborghinr/Ferrari in the area but it's possible Honda E owners just don't cross my path. A dealer visiting Killin (Perthshire) was impressed we were so far from home, a vehicle recovery firm (nothing related our car) knew what it was but had never seen one and gave it a look over. A Fiat 500e looks like a Fiat 500, any BMW (except the i3) looks like a regular BMW, A KIA Nero EV looks like a Kia Nero,Teslas are Teslas, a Mini E looks like a Mini.....a Honda E is pretty distinctive So, it's pricey and short ranged but PCPd as a treat for a number of reasons. Compared to our previous R55 Mini Clubman Cooper and before that a 2L VW Bora, it's cheaper to run around town - 7kWh home charger on a good, low fixed tariff for now and we really don't do long distances these days - and on longer runs, we just plan out charging around the need to stop for tea or a pee. Range threatens under 100 miles in chilly Scottish winter but I've seen almost 150 miles forecast on a 26-degree summer day - best achieved was about 115 miles (the 26-degree day) with 10% left but no charging points to chance going further. Interestingly, on the last 15-18 miles home, the regen braking means we get down to about 9% charge but then 11% by the time we park up at home. One test suggest's we'd still manage maybe 20 miles after 0% charge but I don't want to test out my insurance provision that they'll charge me up enough to get to a charge point or tow me there. The camera wing mirrors are super easy to adapt to (we had it nailed after about ½ -mile on test drive) and we've had no problems with rain/mist/spray reducing visibility. Limited space? Yes....but we got this for ourselves and not to hedge on having to take 6 people the length of the country without stopping, in a family emergency if it ever happened. So we can go away for a week with careful luggage planning but you'll struggle with a couple of 23kg airline suitcases. Turning circle is a hoot - I've had several passengers say "Never seen that done" when turning in street. Overtaking is sufficiently spritely and in the last 24hours I've gone from 55mph to about 85mph quite easily, in silence, to overtake, and had to remember to ease off. The only niggle? On certain surfaces, at a certain speed, there's an annoying rattle/buzz. Apparently it's the overhead console and it's a known Honda E forum problem - very un Honda like.
Agree with you totally. Our Mini E3 has been a delight for local runs into Cheltenham, Oxford etc and home every night to recharge. This is where Electric cars fit so well as a second car!!
It can only ever be a second car....if you can afford £30,000 for a second car, or go to the auctions you cant give them away....after 8 years when batteries are knackered..they are scrap..!!
@@peppemberton9948 in a decade I am hoping battery technology have improved so I can swap a similar size battery in my Mini Cooper electric with greater range!
I was watching Fifth Gear (UK show) and was hooked on the aesthetic of this car. All the other EVs were the same as their boring petrol/diesel versions; Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 308...boring!!! This was so different and like nothing else. I loved the sunken/concave face, the way the back looks like the front, the pop-out handles which the expensive cars have, the cameras for mirrors, the full width interior screens, the homage to 70s cars with its dated air vents and radio placement (which is the heating system in disguise)...get the point?! I considered this car for ages and knew its range is smaller than others so I had to weigh that up. I love this car!!! The "mirrors" have no blind spot and 5 bags of shopping can fit into the boot no problem. It's so quirky and if that's what you like, you'll love this car. P.S. add side body trims (from Honda) - it'll improve the looks even more!
Water cooled battery, glass roof and full suspension probably explains extra weight. More room inside than Mini. I average 4m/kWh efficiency. Range up to 125 miles in Summer. Heated sests and wheel are great in winter. No need to heat or pre-heat cabin for short trips (unless you drive to work in a T shirt!).
Another example of why I love Harry’s videos. He’s superb at reviewing a car for its built purpose etc., and seems to enjoy a fun, less expensive car almost as much as a posh one…that is if it does its job properly.
As I’m sure a lot of you are, I’m a ‘petrol head’, but this is so wonderfully interesting and fun. Similar feeling I have about a petrol Panda (happy to be in it, happy to see it), but it’s very much Honda enjoying the changing world. Range is a bit small, but I wish I had the cash for this as a second car
We have one as the 2nd car since launch and are very pleased. After being sceptical about the mirrors at first I have come to appreciate them alot. One forget how much of a blind spot normal mirrors make. Visibility ain't the best, but never limited by dirty and foggy glass so in reality often better than mirrors. And they make the car awesome for passenger and multiple drivers. It can break traction at the rear in sport mode. It will allow some oversteer, but save the day. Stability can be turned off, but not fully. It will make half a donut, and then lid the whole dash with warnings 🫣
Absolutely love our E, which we charge from solar at home and use locally (I.e. up to 50 miles distance from home). Great review Harry, and you've fully understood the E which is refreshing. The range is absolutely zero issue and suits 95% of our journeys. Incidental long distance work means a tank full of V Power in the XC40.
@@johnnunn8688 If you put your cynicism aside you can appreciate that perhaps that EV does the majority of the travel and that way emissions are still saved. Also taking into account the ICE vehicle was already purchased so getting rid of it entirely saves nothing. From an ICE lover, I'll never like EVs but I won't mock their use cases.
It has 28.8 useable Kwh So it must have quite a big buffer, it also goes dead quickly after zero. I guess it's simply to protect the battery from too much wear. Also using rapid charging, it never truly reaches 50 KW, it's more like 35-23Kw from 20-80% and even lower at 90% so the battery isn't stressed too much, it's also liquid cooled, and have battery heating for winters. The battery is a Panasonic, which Toyota uses as well. It seems to be build with a lot of buffers in mind.
This car is the textbook case of a solution looking for a problem. I live in a comparatively wealthy place (multiple 911s in the neighborhood) so when the Honda dealer got new charging stations and 3 of these I expected to be overrun by Es in a few days. That turned into weeks... months... eventually they had to register one of the cars on a dealership plate. They still have it. It's not a loaner, nor a parts runner. I never saw one by the charging stations. I still don't know who needs one of these.
Spotted one driveing around my town a year ago. And it just looks so cute. The front blinkers are adorable. Then you look innside, and The innside is awesome! the important bits are still buttons , so you dont have to go past 2-5 screens on a touchpad just to adjust the light or seat warmer. Year later i bought one after my CRV died. Im the 2nd owner, bought it for 16243,92GBP (19293 Euro) Love it, short range in winter times here in Norway but im just in town, sooo, eh thats fine. its my 1st electric and iv had no problems. For longer drives i do have to charge before returning to town BUT! The car has HDMI ports, with a 12Volt plug, AND YES you can play console games on the dashboard screens! Can also get netflix etc. "long drive" being about 55km. In winter (-20C) with heater it uses about 80%( 60ish if you dont use the heater, and instead use the seatwarmer and a warm jacket^^). In summer it uses maybe 30% so i get both ways without a charge. It handles well, sits well in tight turns, its like a little gocart xD. Pretty much have the sportsmode on at all times, it super quick for going innto roundabouts and taking openings^^ Love the camera mirrors ( im light sensative ,and its so nice to not get blinded by highbeams or the sun). Also you dont have to look to far to the side as you do with mirrors. think the quality is great, and the fps is good. Overall i love it. Only notes i have is. no armrest in the middle ( but i have 3D printed one that slots into the mid divider slots) The chargeing port on the front, although a cool look, bit bothersom when its snowing heavily :p i recommend!. Is it THE MOST optimal ? No. But its very charming, and i could not stop thinking about it once i had seen it ^^
40.000 km in 17 months, puts a smile on my face everyday I drive it, thanks for confirming. Longest day trip 420 km, all B roads in the Ardennen (Belgium) and the Eifel, from (rare) charger to charger, cannot wait for spring to come and do it again....
The reason they like to cover up the disc brakes is that like most other EVs you end up with an embarrassing covering of surface rust ... driving with regenerative braking means the brakes are are so little used it's hard to keep them shiny!
The design and range philosophy remind me of the BWM i3. Turning circle on the i3 was great too. Wish they didn't stop making them. i3 is surprisingly high cost on the used market in the U.S. since they have very low range compared to current EVs. The i3 weighed under 3000lbs though and felt good to drive.
My father just got an i3 and actually really likes it, maybe it doesn't live up to his old Taycan but he doesn't need a huge fast car like that just a city car. Excited to drive it when I next see him
The i3 was designed around a full carbon fiber tub, which was so advanced compared to anything on the market. Hence the high price. The interior was also pretty advanced, recycled door card, natural cloth for the seats, limited petroleum plastic. This honda e is interesting, but they miss the point of a small "city car" in a luxury market. I don't see many people able to justify a 40k car to do small commutes. Harry had an interesting point about an hybrid version, making more an all rounder car, than just small commutes. Also, i'm pretty disappointed of the final version look of the car, the concept was really different from this, much more sporty. The final version just looks like a micra with black bars in the front and back.
@@JD2ndcity Is it the biggest battery pack version? I'm waiting to see how prices evolve, could be cool as small commute car. I'm afraid assurance might be costly since the structure of the car is expensive, might see.
The chief engineer of this car stated that it’s designed to be a 2nd car and city run about, hence the battery size. To me if you can have two cars (ie an ICE for occasional long trips), this is a very attractive 2nd car, and as a whole is a lot more attractive than having one heavy PHEV SUV that does very poor real-life MPG on long trips compared to your ICE, but also needs to be charged a lot more often at a much slower rate, a lot less efficient (also a lot worse to drive) compared to the Honda E.
This car is so clean, I love it! Unfortunately it's a bit pricey and the range is too short compared to contemporary EV's. I really hope they stick with this model and that the next version improves on those shortcomings. Also, just wanted to add that I really enjoy your style of reviewing cars. No fancy editing or music, just your calm clear voice and lots of info :)
My neighbour has one and it just makes me happy to see it. It's one of the only electric cars that makes me excited. I just wish it were a bit cheaper and more importantly had a better range...
Classic Honda product - during development nobody in sales dared tell the engineers who run the company that 100 mile range was too low. So out pops a car which is easy to knock on paper... but when you talk to anyone who owns one, they love it. Great handling, great liveability, great build, and all those special little details the engineers put in.
Love these things, remember seeing the Demo one in Goodwood maybe 3-4 years back - and weirdly enough I was cross shopping one with a GR Yaris, waited on both to have spec's and pricing listed and the GR won - another 50-100 hp and another 100 miles of range and perhaps could have been the E.
Real buttons makes this car already much better than almost every other EV today. The interior and exterior in general is great. I wish it had just a bit more range or if they offered a bigger can in that design and interior with more range
The algorithm is reading my mind again. I actually saw one of these today for the first time I wasn’t aware of them before I even saw it. I put RUclips on and the first video is good old Harry showing me this car. Gotta love the algorithm.
Drove this Honda and the Mazda MX 30, the Mazda is in the same EV league , liked the Honda but not so spacey, we have the MX 30 for 2 1/2 years now, good car with premium feeling. You see the MX 30 a lot in the Netherlands , the Honda is a rare breed here!
I took one out for a test drive and it really is very appealing in lots of ways. The interior quality and design is lush, I really love the futuristic retro style. The tech is very impressive and works well, the camera mirrors are much more useable than I expected and you almost don’t notice after a short while. It drives well but lacks the punch I got from the MG4 and Cupra Born. Fundamentally, it’s completely impractical for a family car as the boot is too small, the rear seats don’t split and it’s very expensive. I love it but it’s only really practical as a city car if you can afford luxury over practicality.
Nothing wrong with that luxury over practicality, not every EV should be as boring as an appliance or there truly won't be a future to look forward to!
@@TheChannel1978 I agree, I loved it and especially the quality, design and features but if you can afford that luxury over practically. Unfortunately, I can’t justify the extra £10k for fancy fabrics so my decision is partly made on what’s realistic for my family.
I like the way it looks and the fact that it isn’t a giant towering SUV posing as an eco car, but I have to admit I had forgotten this thing existed at all. It did quite a splash it when it first appeared but soon faded into obscurity.
Totally agree! I’ve had 2 Hondas, a Stream an my current CR-V. The Stream was 200k+ km and I never had anything done to it except from regular service and a polish of the headlights😂 The CR-V has done 155k km in 5 years and has had no issues at all. Regular service and it still looks and drives like the day we picked it up.
As my main car I owned a 2020 Honda e from December 2020 until December 2022, same spec and colour as the one in the video. Great fun to drive, it received many admiring glances and comments, and the tech was great also. The increased price of public charging when on road trips made me think about what I wanted in a car so, surprisingly to me, I’ve gone back to petrol and now have a 2017 Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo Prestige CVT.
If they’d done as BMW did with the i3 and kept updating the battery, the Honda E would be in my garage. Sadly its ‘first-gen’ battery doesn’t cut it in 2023. By no means does it need a continent's worth of range, but 150 miles in winter would be perfect. Harry's take on a ~£20k used BMW i3 would be interesting.
We got our i3 for £13k - it’s at 85,000 miles now and still perfect, love it! Want to love this Honda but can’t see a single place where the i3 isn’t ahead
Hopefully Honda has something similar in the works that they'll market here in the States- a small electric grocery-getter built by Honda would be the no-brainer replacement for my Fit. I'd like a lower price though, so I'm not vexed by the thought that a Mustang GT could be had for less.
If Renault isn't planning to go the Honda way and screw us over on the design, i'm right there with you. The concept is a very cool way to bring a loved design up to date/into the future.
I’ll have that car anytime as a daily driver . It looks funny but well built. Japanese have a touch for design and good taste beyond all manufacturers .
We are on our 2nd Renault Zoe which is a 135GT. It is an exceptionally roomy car with a much larger boot than the Honda & about 300 miles of range, love it!
I love the look of this car, it's an absolute design icon. If only it had just a bit more range. If it was up in the 170+ range in the real world, I'd have bought it. As it is: I just couldn't live with it as my journeys often are more than 110 miles! Nice review Harry 👍
@@manfredschmalbach9023 I really like EV powertrain for daily use and imo it makes ICE engines feel a little like ancient tech. Not that I’m against a great ICE engine - love the sound. But I think EV is just so quiet and instant that for daily use it is brilliant. Plus, I charge from solar power so it makes sense in those terms for most of the year. Range extenders are fine, but take up room and I’d not use them for most of my journeys (2/4 miles), so you’re lugging around weight you don’t use. Smaller, lighter and more efficient/energy dense batteries plus hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen engines for appropriate use cases will be the answer, once we can make hydrogen efficient to harvest. And a LOT more solar/renewables.
Three year old Honda E's are looking really sensible now if you're not bothered about range. In the UK many examples for £16 - 17k with reasonable mileage. Great value for a quirky city EV.
I would love to own one of these things, the interior is a lovely place to be and the exterior is so cool (I think it looks like a mk1 golf from the future) Unfortunately though that ridiculously low range is a deal breaker, if it had around 150-180 miles of range I'd have one. Hopefully Honda can sort that out at some point in the near future.
I bought mine as a second car. It was a demo car with 1600km odo and I got 20% discount. For that price I’m super satisfied. For city driving and nearby weekend trips, the rang is non issue. In the winter it easily drops in less than 100km range thou.
Great video again Harry - thanks for posting. BTW I think you should add the Fiat 500e to your group of EV second cars. Range is 160 miles from the "large" battery version and matches the Honda with its Italian quirkiness!
Great video as always Harry! I think a lot of people (including myself) are excited about the new R5 from Renault! If it looks like the concept and has the range of the Zoe it might be a very good contender for the best electric hatchback!
It is such an absolute shame this isn't sold in the United States. I know it probably wouldn't sell well considering we're all so obsessed with crossovers over here, but I'd buy one given the chance.
@@suaptoest you're silly. Ever hear of OnStar? Invented by GM and has all the things you fear, but has nothing to do with electric cars. Oh, and the device you're using right now is surveilling you every moment.
@@jamesengland7461 What can be monitored in an electric car? -The electric car can be moved without a driver away from the owner. - Its speed can be remotely adjusted or its operating range and/or operating time can be limited. - Its use can be prevented remotely and it can be remotely controlled in many different ways. All of this without the owner's permission. - Oh, and many, many more.
I love the way this thing looks, but for most people this is just not a realistic alternative, I've had 2 civics in the past ,they were great cars, I think you summed it up perfectly at the end there - "as a second car"
Great review, we all accept the limited range, its aimed at an urban environment but you then come to the argument, "obviously why pay for a bigger battery than you need" but in this case effectively you are paying the equivalent of a bigger battery and not getting the range. From my own EV experience of 127,000 uk miles since 2015 in my Tesla S P85 I know 250 miles range covers all bases however 50% of my use needs at least 150 miles and 120 miles just would not hack it. Agreed i3 the more sensible option and if Honda can keep selling them on the cure factor its all good.
I wonder if hiding the brake discs is because with regen braking, the disc brakes don't get used much and get rusty and ugly. As for the rearview cameras, I've been wondering for years why they aren't already a thing, what with the amount of drag you'd lose by getting rid of a mirror that grows from huge to enormous with each successive model. That said, the glare from LCD screens does bother my night vision already, and having more of them isn't going to help that.
You are correct about the disc brakes ... like other EVs they don't get used enough to stay shiny ... my Tesla is the same on our salty Scottish rural roads.
90% of car journeys are less than 100 miles, so in theory it’s perfect as a city runabout /second car! Sadly, given the price, that’s strictly for the ‘well heeled’ which is a shame, as it’s a stunning piece of design and the build quality is exceptional. I’m in no doubt the Gen 2 will have better range… but inevitably a higher price. A lovely niche piece of engineering
My favorite Spanish journalist also loved how car drove and not having more range to enjoy it on longer journeys is a pitty, but that said, come on buyers, this car is VERY cool and the range is not even a problem in the real world because every family that owns one, also ones another car. Barely anyone needs a range rover and 5 series, or a GLC and a Qasqai. I'm almost certain that this would perfectly fit my 2 car situation and I'd fight for my wife over this car because it would be the best option for 95% of the cases plus it looks so good! We complain about this car's price yet we pay more for T-rocs than for golfs when they come less equipped, worse finished and smaller cabin! I think the streets would be happier with more of these
Had mine for 2.5 years Live in central London it is fantastic. Best damping/ spring rates of anything and best over speed humps Would change virtually nothing perhaps swap radar cruise for remote tailgate!! It is a niche car and it fits that niche perfectly
I’m really excited to see how this model evolves and hope they keep the line and find a way to bring the price down. We don’t have them across the pond, but I’ve been fascinated by them since their release. The design has an almost home-y but fun feel, and I’d love to try and give it whirl one day.
Gives the impression of a very well executed 1st generation EV released just as the next generation is hitting show rooms. Hopefully the Honda-Sony tie-up doesn't dilute effort on Honda's next solo effort as a revised E, with 200 mile cold-weather range, would be a rather lovely proposition.
Exceptional styling from Honda - a design icon. I hope other manufacturers take their lead from Honda and stop producing oddball "electric car" designs.
Cute. But sad that the standout point on a car is now a fish tank screen saver, like I had on my PC twenty years ago. Makes me want to go buy an early 70's Alfa Guilia : no gadgets, just timeless charm and driving engagement. :)
Seems like the chief engineer had a plan to make a sport car with this platform. Suspension set up, RWD layout and all dynamics looks quite ready to do that.
I'm glad you tested this, and from the looks of it you really enjoyed the car. I wish I could get one in my home country (if I could afford it) as I think it's the perfect city car. Great video Harry, thanks!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I've owned an E for the best part of a year, and I love it for all the reasons mentioned, apart from the camera mirrors!
I think it's less a case of definition, and more a case of depth perception. It's viewing the world from a single view point, as if you're using the mirrors with 1 eye closed - this makes it really tricky to quickly decipher how far something is from the back of the car. Annoying when parking, and extremely frustrating on busy motorways. Also glare + rain droplets and even spiders can be an issue that wipe out an entire mirror!
Range is frustrating, but we are averaging 4 miles per KW in the summer, dropping to around 2.8 in the winter. It's at 3.3 after 9,000 miles.
Definitely couldn't be my only car, but as a run around for 99% of our journeys in a fairly metropolitan area, I couldn't be happier.
Great video as always!
It’s interesting about these mirrors missing depth of field. Maybe they cannot replace traditional mirrors in current form.
That's sort of my concern as well, I wonder if they would offer it w real mirrors. I have no peripheral vision in my left eye thanks to leukemia, so a camera sounds annoying to me. But otherwise I'm interested in where Honda is going w this.
wow, my son watches you!! ..... good comment nevertheless, how can we get Harry to 1m subs? he probably doesnt care but would be good to see.
With traditional mirrors you can move your head to change your view, this does not work with video screens. This is the deal breaker for me, although - as a SciFi fan - I'd really like the idea.
For the same price as a model 3, this car makes no sense
Lovely car brings back memories.
The car is heavy because of the massive aquarium. Must hold about 70 gallons of water or thereabouts.
😂😂😂
I’ve had one for a year, standard edition in platinum white with 16” wheels. Love it. It’s a perfect city car.
Even in Norway there are very few of these, and we buy pretty much anything with a battery in it nowadays. My view is that it is an awesome idea that is let down by two things - the range and the price. It really needs to be a lot cheaper, and to offer about 20% more range in order to compete in the city car segment.
It's a toy for the wealthy to virtue signal with at that price. I bet Greta Thunberg drives one.
@@cyborgbadger1015 I think that's a little harsh, but not totally off-target. My sense is that they wanted to do something unique and charmingly quirky which would appeal to the end of the market that is willing to pay more for quality and charm. But the question is how much more they will pay, and that's where it fails really. For the same price you can get an e-208, and for not much more you can get a 60kWh Leaf. Both much more practical with notably longer ranges. It's a shame really, cos one thing the car market does really need is more cars with some character.
@@15bit62 perhaps I was a bit harsh I don't know, it's just I think this is the way the industry is going as a whole, whether by accident, design, or the WEF/green lobby forcing them I don't really know. What I do see though is a smal and rather lovely small car priced for the rich.
i feel i should add that I am speaking from the perspective of a person in the Uk where things are tough for people on low incomes. In Norway the divide between rich/poor is a great deal smaller.
Thank you for saying ‘segment’ instead of ‘space’. Everyone’s a wannabe rocket surgeon these days.
I saw one driving through Dublin last week. Just put the biggest smile on my face. You can see the original Civic roots. Nice work Honda 😁
Driving one since over two years. So much fun.
wish they were a bit cheaper, 40k for a little hatchback is a bit much
A little bit cheaper and a little bit nippier I reckon!
Polo GTI is around £35k, fiesta ST around £30k so it’s not that much more expensive
Should be 17k Canadian
No, it's a LOT much! Others have suggested they would buy one if it was 10k which is unrealistic, but 20k should be, and needs to be, its price point.
@@Thecrazyvaclav so it is more than a third more expensive than the ST. Not nothing
Had one of these for 17 months and loved it.
The concept version of this vehicle was hands down the coolest EV I’d ever seen! Looked like an old Civic and an old Golf all at once. Hope they come back around to that design.
I owned a mk1 Civic back in the 80s. My first car. For that reason i got REALLY excited by the concept, and SO disappointed by the actual design. A huge letdown.
Fun fact, this four door design actually came first and had been in development for over a year before the 2 door concept car which grabbed everyone's attention, and then still continued with the four door design anyway... So unlikely to go back to it!
@@JDStoneCreations Never say never!
I hope they'll make a Type R version that looks like the concept version!
@@a_void That’s the dream!
Had mine since the summer of 2020, first batch to arrive. Still makes me smile to drive it and still turns heads. Only seen another couple around here in all that time.
Harry excitedly feeding electronic fish is one of the things the internet was invented for
I’ve had one for 2.5 years and love it to bits! I use it every day, but for longer trips I also own an ice car. As a city car with a home charger it’s just about perfect !
So it should be for nearly 40k, it is a lovely thing though.
Twit
@@cyborgbadger1015 When I bought it the price was a lot less. I could sell it now for what I paid 2.5 years ago!!
You have a garage in the city?
This is exactly where the argument for EVs falls down. Instead of going green with an EV you have now added an extra car to the UK vehicle parc with the energy consumption, CO2 release cost involved. Fine if you can afford a car for all occasions but most folk have the one car for every occasion.
My thoughts about this car now are the same as they were when it came out; I love everything about it apart from the range and the price
Even though I have seen many reviews of this car, I love how Harry can still make the review unique!! A pleasure as always to watch your videos!!👍🙂
Never noticed any problems with camera mirrors. IMO they are far better in wet weather. I always use all round cameras for parking, which are excellent. And of course the car can easily squeese into any tight space. Not having “wing mirrors” protruding is also a bonus on narrow lanes etc. Range rarely an issue, but I can charge at home, and most destinations like Tesco PodPoints. Used prices @ £19-20k are a steal, so buy one while they still exist. And smile
I’d be intrigued to see what they could do in terms of price and range if they were to take out all the extra tech and just put in the basics. Could they have a cute simple affordable commuter? I’d be interested.
Agree absolutely. Taking out all the gimmicky and not legally required features might improve the range and lower the cost. Could have had a world beater but missed the target. Ev's are all about range.
I don't think car manufactiurers are interested in producing cheap cars any more. The profit margins are just too slim. Modern technology enables them to produce cars profitably in lower quantities than befoe too, so the days of pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap are long gone I think.
Just look over at the VW e-UP then - roughly same size, very basic interior, no fancy screens, no fancy tech, just the battery, ev motor, basic analogue gauges - beats the E on the range by a lot(I easily get 180 miles in the summer, 140-150 in winter), and brand new it was £20k - literally £17k cheaper than this Honda! Is the extra styling and the extra screens worth it? I doubt it!
Not really, adding tech is cheaper than batteries, so they can use it to justify the price.
Exactly. Do we really need doors and boots that open and close themselves? What is the weight penalty on that?
We have had the E for almost three years now ,a truly excellent car . We see 130 miles range in summer and 90 in winter with all the heating on . We can get the weekly shop in the boot and two large golden retrievers on the back seat . The second car is a Audi RS4 but the E feels much faster up to road legal speeds due to it's instant response. The turning circle is very useful ,it is a pleasure to drive . If you can charge from home you can expect to see around 2 pence per mile in electricity cost against around 40 pence for the RS.
So glad to see you spotlighting vehicles most of your viewers can own - whether new or used.
i cant afford this
Is that meant to be ironic?!
@@murphychris9811 there's a lot of cars I'd look at for under £37,000 before I got to the Honda E. Very interesting though it is.
@@Br1anuk no lad im chating about cars for 500 quid thats my price range not 37 grand LOL
I can't afford this either. My ford streetka daily driver cost me £700 and it's more fun than I've had in a car since i was 17 more than 40 years ago.
Harry, I was so worried when I saw you had reviewed the E. I have an M4 and my wife has the E. I drive the E whenever I can. I just love it. If you go into settings you turn off the “Nanny state” and have a spirted drive. Thanks for all the reviews 👍🏻
I tried one of these not long after they were released. I saw 100+ miles on the range regularly but never got anywhere near it - the best I managed was late 80's.
I think the problem is it guesses the range based on the power you have been using for the last xx miles. That means when you put it on charge it was usually being used already warmed up. By the time its charged and cooled back off the next morning it loses around 3 miles of range per mile driven for quite a while as it heats everything back up.
At least that seems to be how it behaves and a lot of short range ev's are similar.
My old 40kWh Zoe used to claim 150+ miles sometimes but never went more than around 115 and on the motorway never topped 100.
I grew tired of all that nonsense a long time back.
For all its nice toys (I like them even though its mostly gimmicks) this would be a far better car with a much larger battery or a range extender. Then it wouldn't need a way to make a cuppa on one of the many forced stops while it takes an age to add another short burst of range.
In reality this is a very compromised car which is only really of any use on a very short daily run. For £37k...
I'm curious to know the sort of driving that got you 80 something miles. Not 'cause I think you're somehow wrong, but because I tried one and got just shy of 115 but that was exclusively low speed, stop-start, inner city stuff. I don't think I went above 30mph for more than 10 minutes and never got over 45mph or so. I imagine motorway driving for any length of time would absolutely hammer the range
@@helplmchoking Mostly city with the odd 40-50mph d/c's.
I can't remember the exact number but it was low 80's with the low battery warning on - which I worked out at the time to be late 80's.
I tried a motorway run to Shrewsbury (around 30 miles) and got there with around 20% battery left.
That sounds bad but then you have to factor in that I was using minimal heating (mostly the heated seat and only the heater to demist now and then) and sticking to around 65mph indicated - just enough so I wasn't being overtaken by lorries.
Up to around 40mph it wasn't too bad but over that and it started to use a fair bit of battery. Anything over about 50 and it was drinking like a fish.
Nowhere near as efficient as my Zoe and a lot worse as speeds go up.
Strangely this was where my model S made the most sense of all the ev's I've had. Even at 70-ish it was still doing around 2.5mi/kWh - similar to the Zoe and better than the Honda.
@@siraff4461 Thanks for the info! Probably the most genuine and informative reply to a RUclips comment I've ever seen lol
I do wonder if the Tesla handles motorway speeds better by aerodynamics alone or if their more powerful motors and battery outputs mean they don't have to work as hard while cruising - though weight isn't a big factor once you reach a constant speed so probably not much penalty anyway.
I still find the Honda a very attractive option, the personality and design plus the practicality really speaks to me (someone who definitely doesn't buy the cars that make sense on paper, sadly) but I don't think I could justify that sort of price for a medium hatchback, even if the range doesn't bother me much
@@helplmchoking I quite liked it but there are a few downsides when you start to live with one. The boot is tiny (to be expected), the rear seats are very small, awkward to get into when there are larger people in the front and the back seat area is very low rent.
I found the cameras awkward in certain lights and even the slightest big of dirt made them awful - though they are easy to wipe clean again. I also found the ride a bit jiggly at low speed and again with people in the back quite easy to bottom out.
Its an interesting car but for me it falls short in too many ways for the price. I found the i3 better in almost every way. Downsides to the i3 were having to open the front door to open the rear(!), the lack of lateral support in the seats with nowhere to brace yourself thanks to the open centre and the slightly awkward ingress set up - the sill sticks out quite a way and the seats are quite inboard/high up so you always end up dragging your leg on it and getting road filth all over your calf.
One big plus with the i3 was having the range extender. Mine was an early car so it only had the small battery but it would do around 80 miles to flat then just carry on with the generator running. That meant the whole range was usable anywhere. It also meant no route planning or other silly business so you just charge when it suits - usually at around 150 miles with the petrol tank just over half empty. It would then do another 60-70 miles on its 80% or so and still have around 50 miles left in the petrol if needed.
Or if I was in a rush I would just top up the petrol every 100 miles or so.
We've owned our E Advance for about 18 months now - 16" wheels, blue, no extras specced. I've counted one other blue car, and a solitary white then grey car in north-east Scotland........I've seen more McLaren/Lamborghinr/Ferrari in the area but it's possible Honda E owners just don't cross my path. A dealer visiting Killin (Perthshire) was impressed we were so far from home, a vehicle recovery firm (nothing related our car) knew what it was but had never seen one and gave it a look over. A Fiat 500e looks like a Fiat 500, any BMW (except the i3) looks like a regular BMW, A KIA Nero EV looks like a Kia Nero,Teslas are Teslas, a Mini E looks like a Mini.....a Honda E is pretty distinctive So, it's pricey and short ranged but PCPd as a treat for a number of reasons. Compared to our previous R55 Mini Clubman Cooper and before that a 2L VW Bora, it's cheaper to run around town - 7kWh home charger on a good, low fixed tariff for now and we really don't do long distances these days - and on longer runs, we just plan out charging around the need to stop for tea or a pee. Range threatens under 100 miles in chilly Scottish winter but I've seen almost 150 miles forecast on a 26-degree summer day - best achieved was about 115 miles (the 26-degree day) with 10% left but no charging points to chance going further. Interestingly, on the last 15-18 miles home, the regen braking means we get down to about 9% charge but then 11% by the time we park up at home. One test suggest's we'd still manage maybe 20 miles after 0% charge but I don't want to test out my insurance provision that they'll charge me up enough to get to a charge point or tow me there. The camera wing mirrors are super easy to adapt to (we had it nailed after about ½ -mile on test drive) and we've had no problems with rain/mist/spray reducing visibility. Limited space? Yes....but we got this for ourselves and not to hedge on having to take 6 people the length of the country without stopping, in a family emergency if it ever happened. So we can go away for a week with careful luggage planning but you'll struggle with a couple of 23kg airline suitcases. Turning circle is a hoot - I've had several passengers say "Never seen that done" when turning in street. Overtaking is sufficiently spritely and in the last 24hours I've gone from 55mph to about 85mph quite easily, in silence, to overtake, and had to remember to ease off. The only niggle? On certain surfaces, at a certain speed, there's an annoying rattle/buzz. Apparently it's the overhead console and it's a known Honda E forum problem - very un Honda like.
Agree with you totally. Our Mini E3 has been a delight for local runs into Cheltenham, Oxford etc and home every night to recharge. This is where Electric cars fit so well as a second car!!
It can only ever be a second car....if you can afford £30,000 for a second car, or go to the auctions you cant give them away....after 8 years when batteries are knackered..they are scrap..!!
@@peppemberton9948 Check out the depreciation on 3 year old cars - zero almost!
@@peppemberton9948 in a decade I am hoping battery technology have improved so I can swap a similar size battery in my Mini Cooper electric with greater range!
I was watching Fifth Gear (UK show) and was hooked on the aesthetic of this car. All the other EVs were the same as their boring petrol/diesel versions; Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 308...boring!!! This was so different and like nothing else.
I loved the sunken/concave face, the way the back looks like the front, the pop-out handles which the expensive cars have, the cameras for mirrors, the full width interior screens, the homage to 70s cars with its dated air vents and radio placement (which is the heating system in disguise)...get the point?!
I considered this car for ages and knew its range is smaller than others so I had to weigh that up. I love this car!!! The "mirrors" have no blind spot and 5 bags of shopping can fit into the boot no problem. It's so quirky and if that's what you like, you'll love this car.
P.S. add side body trims (from Honda) - it'll improve the looks even more!
Harry won't be left behind, his enthusiasm for new tech and change is contagious. We're lucky to have him.
Water cooled battery, glass roof and full suspension probably explains extra weight. More room inside than Mini. I average 4m/kWh efficiency. Range up to 125 miles in Summer. Heated sests and wheel are great in winter. No need to heat or pre-heat cabin for short trips (unless you drive to work in a T shirt!).
Another example of why I love Harry’s videos. He’s superb at reviewing a car for its built purpose etc., and seems to enjoy a fun, less expensive car almost as much as a posh one…that is if it does its job properly.
As I’m sure a lot of you are, I’m a ‘petrol head’, but this is so wonderfully interesting and fun. Similar feeling I have about a petrol Panda (happy to be in it, happy to see it), but it’s very much Honda enjoying the changing world. Range is a bit small, but I wish I had the cash for this as a second car
We have one as the 2nd car since launch and are very pleased. After being sceptical about the mirrors at first I have come to appreciate them alot. One forget how much of a blind spot normal mirrors make. Visibility ain't the best, but never limited by dirty and foggy glass so in reality often better than mirrors.
And they make the car awesome for passenger and multiple drivers.
It can break traction at the rear in sport mode. It will allow some oversteer, but save the day. Stability can be turned off, but not fully. It will make half a donut, and then lid the whole dash with warnings 🫣
Absolutely love our E, which we charge from solar at home and use locally (I.e. up to 50 miles distance from home). Great review Harry, and you've fully understood the E which is refreshing. The range is absolutely zero issue and suits 95% of our journeys. Incidental long distance work means a tank full of V Power in the XC40.
So you have an EV to save the planet (🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂) and an ICE car to destroy the planet. Nice plan.
@@johnnunn8688 If you put your cynicism aside you can appreciate that perhaps that EV does the majority of the travel and that way emissions are still saved. Also taking into account the ICE vehicle was already purchased so getting rid of it entirely saves nothing. From an ICE lover, I'll never like EVs but I won't mock their use cases.
An EV is a good alternative for being the second car, mainly for city driving, but it's to expensive.
@@shaking6360 Agreed, you can bicycle in the city
@Eff yourself, exactly. We are also supposed to believe that men can have a cervix and it’s Ok for drag queens to read to primary school children.
It has 28.8 useable Kwh
So it must have quite a big buffer, it also goes dead quickly after zero.
I guess it's simply to protect the battery from too much wear.
Also using rapid charging, it never truly reaches 50 KW, it's more like 35-23Kw from 20-80% and even lower at 90% so the battery isn't stressed too much, it's also liquid cooled, and have battery heating for winters.
The battery is a Panasonic, which Toyota uses as well.
It seems to be build with a lot of buffers in mind.
This car is the textbook case of a solution looking for a problem. I live in a comparatively wealthy place (multiple 911s in the neighborhood) so when the Honda dealer got new charging stations and 3 of these I expected to be overrun by Es in a few days. That turned into weeks... months... eventually they had to register one of the cars on a dealership plate. They still have it. It's not a loaner, nor a parts runner. I never saw one by the charging stations. I still don't know who needs one of these.
Spotted one driveing around my town a year ago. And it just looks so cute. The front blinkers are adorable. Then you look innside, and The innside is awesome!
the important bits are still buttons , so you dont have to go past 2-5 screens on a touchpad just to adjust the light or seat warmer.
Year later i bought one after my CRV died. Im the 2nd owner, bought it for 16243,92GBP (19293 Euro)
Love it, short range in winter times here in Norway but im just in town, sooo, eh thats fine. its my 1st electric and iv had no problems.
For longer drives i do have to charge before returning to town BUT! The car has HDMI ports, with a 12Volt plug, AND YES you can play console games on the dashboard screens! Can also get netflix etc.
"long drive" being about 55km. In winter (-20C) with heater it uses about 80%( 60ish if you dont use the heater, and instead use the seatwarmer and a warm jacket^^). In summer it uses maybe 30% so i get both ways without a charge.
It handles well, sits well in tight turns, its like a little gocart xD.
Pretty much have the sportsmode on at all times, it super quick for going innto roundabouts and taking openings^^
Love the camera mirrors ( im light sensative ,and its so nice to not get blinded by highbeams or the sun). Also you dont have to look to far to the side as you do with mirrors.
think the quality is great, and the fps is good.
Overall i love it.
Only notes i have is.
no armrest in the middle ( but i have 3D printed one that slots into the mid divider slots)
The chargeing port on the front, although a cool look, bit bothersom when its snowing heavily :p
i recommend!.
Is it THE MOST optimal ? No.
But its very charming, and i could not stop thinking about it once i had seen it ^^
40.000 km in 17 months, puts a smile on my face everyday I drive it, thanks for confirming. Longest day trip 420 km, all B roads in the Ardennen (Belgium) and the Eifel, from (rare) charger to charger, cannot wait for spring to come and do it again....
One of very few in Belgium then
I've yet to see the first privately owned one on the road !
Mind you, I drive around for a living ...
@@Wannes_ I agree, I think I spotted 1 in the wild in Belgium and 2 in Germany over the last 17 months, people don't know what they are missing 😁
The reason they like to cover up the disc brakes is that like most other EVs you end up with an embarrassing covering of surface rust ... driving with regenerative braking means the brakes are are so little used it's hard to keep them shiny!
The design and range philosophy remind me of the BWM i3. Turning circle on the i3 was great too. Wish they didn't stop making them. i3 is surprisingly high cost on the used market in the U.S. since they have very low range compared to current EVs. The i3 weighed under 3000lbs though and felt good to drive.
My father just got an i3 and actually really likes it, maybe it doesn't live up to his old Taycan but he doesn't need a huge fast car like that just a city car.
Excited to drive it when I next see him
The i3 was designed around a full carbon fiber tub, which was so advanced compared to anything on the market. Hence the high price. The interior was also pretty advanced, recycled door card, natural cloth for the seats, limited petroleum plastic.
This honda e is interesting, but they miss the point of a small "city car" in a luxury market. I don't see many people able to justify a 40k car to do small commutes. Harry had an interesting point about an hybrid version, making more an all rounder car, than just small commutes.
Also, i'm pretty disappointed of the final version look of the car, the concept was really different from this, much more sporty. The final version just looks like a micra with black bars in the front and back.
Just bought a 120ah version, it's brilliant!
@@JD2ndcity Is it the biggest battery pack version? I'm waiting to see how prices evolve, could be cool as small commute car. I'm afraid assurance might be costly since the structure of the car is expensive, might see.
@TerrificFlow yes it is. The insurance was no more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia which it replaced.
The chief engineer of this car stated that it’s designed to be a 2nd car and city run about, hence the battery size. To me if you can have two cars (ie an ICE for occasional long trips), this is a very attractive 2nd car, and as a whole is a lot more attractive than having one heavy PHEV SUV that does very poor real-life MPG on long trips compared to your ICE, but also needs to be charged a lot more often at a much slower rate, a lot less efficient (also a lot worse to drive) compared to the Honda E.
This car is so clean, I love it! Unfortunately it's a bit pricey and the range is too short compared to contemporary EV's. I really hope they stick with this model and that the next version improves on those shortcomings.
Also, just wanted to add that I really enjoy your style of reviewing cars. No fancy editing or music, just your calm clear voice and lots of info :)
My neighbour has one and it just makes me happy to see it. It's one of the only electric cars that makes me excited.
I just wish it were a bit cheaper and more importantly had a better range...
Classic Honda product - during development nobody in sales dared tell the engineers who run the company that 100 mile range was too low. So out pops a car which is easy to knock on paper... but when you talk to anyone who owns one, they love it. Great handling, great liveability, great build, and all those special little details the engineers put in.
Love these things, remember seeing the Demo one in Goodwood maybe 3-4 years back - and weirdly enough I was cross shopping one with a GR Yaris, waited on both to have spec's and pricing listed and the GR won - another 50-100 hp and another 100 miles of range and perhaps could have been the E.
Real buttons makes this car already much better than almost every other EV today. The interior and exterior in general is great. I wish it had just a bit more range or if they offered a bigger can in that design and interior with more range
The algorithm is reading my mind again. I actually saw one of these today for the first time I wasn’t aware of them before I even saw it. I put RUclips on and the first video is good old Harry showing me this car. Gotta love the algorithm.
Nice video of an oft overlooked car. Not sure why Harry is so surprised it drives so well, more often than not Honda's drive brilliantly.
Drove this Honda and the Mazda MX 30, the Mazda is in the same EV league , liked the Honda but not so spacey, we have the MX 30 for 2 1/2 years now, good car with premium feeling. You see the MX 30 a lot in the Netherlands , the Honda is a rare breed here!
I took one out for a test drive and it really is very appealing in lots of ways. The interior quality and design is lush, I really love the futuristic retro style. The tech is very impressive and works well, the camera mirrors are much more useable than I expected and you almost don’t notice after a short while. It drives well but lacks the punch I got from the MG4 and Cupra Born. Fundamentally, it’s completely impractical for a family car as the boot is too small, the rear seats don’t split and it’s very expensive. I love it but it’s only really practical as a city car if you can afford luxury over practicality.
Nothing wrong with that luxury over practicality, not every EV should be as boring as an appliance or there truly won't be a future to look forward to!
@@TheChannel1978 I agree, I loved it and especially the quality, design and features but if you can afford that luxury over practically. Unfortunately, I can’t justify the extra £10k for fancy fabrics so my decision is partly made on what’s realistic for my family.
I like the way it looks and the fact that it isn’t a giant towering SUV posing as an eco car, but I have to admit I had forgotten this thing existed at all. It did quite a splash it when it first appeared but soon faded into obscurity.
I’ve had 4 Honda civics in the last 20 yrs and not had one problem with any of them, incredibly reliable cars and I love them 👍
Totally agree! I’ve had 2 Hondas, a Stream an my current CR-V. The Stream was 200k+ km and I never had anything done to it except from regular service and a polish of the headlights😂
The CR-V has done 155k km in 5 years and has had no issues at all. Regular service and it still looks and drives like the day we picked it up.
As my main car I owned a 2020 Honda e from December 2020 until December 2022, same spec and colour as the one in the video. Great fun to drive, it received many admiring glances and comments, and the tech was great also. The increased price of public charging when on road trips made me think about what I wanted in a car so, surprisingly to me, I’ve gone back to petrol and now have a 2017 Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo Prestige CVT.
If they’d done as BMW did with the i3 and kept updating the battery, the Honda E would be in my garage. Sadly its ‘first-gen’ battery doesn’t cut it in 2023. By no means does it need a continent's worth of range, but 150 miles in winter would be perfect.
Harry's take on a ~£20k used BMW i3 would be interesting.
We got our i3 for £13k - it’s at 85,000 miles now and still perfect, love it! Want to love this Honda but can’t see a single place where the i3 isn’t ahead
The prototype was stunning.
Hopefully Honda has something similar in the works that they'll market here in the States- a small electric grocery-getter built by Honda would be the no-brainer replacement for my Fit. I'd like a lower price though, so I'm not vexed by the thought that a Mustang GT could be had for less.
Great and informative as always. Wish Harry would test an i3
I'm looking forward to the Renault 5 EV, which is seemingly coming next year. The concept pictures look fantastic.
If Renault isn't planning to go the Honda way and screw us over on the design, i'm right there with you. The concept is a very cool way to bring a loved design up to date/into the future.
The concept looked tremendous, agreed. Miles better than the Zoe it will replace
As others have mentioned, there is more than a whiff of i3 in here that I like very much!
I’ll have that car anytime as a daily driver . It looks funny but well built. Japanese have a touch for design and good taste beyond all manufacturers .
they suck at design, Italy is where design lives
We are on our 2nd Renault Zoe which is a 135GT. It is an exceptionally roomy car with a much larger boot than the Honda & about 300 miles of range, love it!
I love the look of this car, it's an absolute design icon. If only it had just a bit more range. If it was up in the 170+ range in the real world, I'd have bought it. As it is: I just couldn't live with it as my journeys often are more than 110 miles! Nice review Harry 👍
It's a classic case for a proper genset in the back
@@manfredschmalbach9023 I really like EV powertrain for daily use and imo it makes ICE engines feel a little like ancient tech. Not that I’m against a great ICE engine - love the sound. But I think EV is just so quiet and instant that for daily use it is brilliant. Plus, I charge from solar power so it makes sense in those terms for most of the year. Range extenders are fine, but take up room and I’d not use them for most of my journeys (2/4 miles), so you’re lugging around weight you don’t use.
Smaller, lighter and more efficient/energy dense batteries plus hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen engines for appropriate use cases will be the answer, once we can make hydrogen efficient to harvest. And a LOT more solar/renewables.
The prototype was so nice and while this isn't terrible it's not the prototype.
I would also consider it with more range…
@@Oldsmobile69 personally I think they’ve done a great job bringing it to production. But each to their own.
Three year old Honda E's are looking really sensible now if you're not bothered about range. In the UK many examples for £16 - 17k with reasonable mileage. Great value for a quirky city EV.
I would love to own one of these things, the interior is a lovely place to be and the exterior is so cool (I think it looks like a mk1 golf from the future) Unfortunately though that ridiculously low range is a deal breaker, if it had around 150-180 miles of range I'd have one. Hopefully Honda can sort that out at some point in the near future.
Best E-car vid ever! - and I'm older than you Harry( maybe)
Wow! Doing circles in a garage with Ferraris parked nearby, this is why I watch this channel!!! Go Harry!!
Harry hasn't had a Triumph Herald in there, then? 🙂
The F40 & F50 aren’t his, but a friends car. He owns the testarossa.
the E may be good, but Harry is surely the best motor journalist and presenter, with great photography.
It's great that is has a 240v outlet in the dash; this means it can charge it's self overnight.
lol
I bought mine as a second car. It was a demo car with 1600km odo and I got 20% discount. For that price I’m super satisfied. For city driving and nearby weekend trips, the rang is non issue. In the winter it easily drops in less than 100km range thou.
Great video again Harry - thanks for posting. BTW I think you should add the Fiat 500e to your group of EV second cars. Range is 160 miles from the "large" battery version and matches the Honda with its Italian quirkiness!
Great review! More small cars please!
This car deserves an updated drivetrain, come on Honda! Surely they could improve the efficiency, it would be great with more efficient motors.
Yes offer a petrol version.
The drivetrain is updated.
The best review of the Honda e around! Honest and very useful. Unfortunatly this cool car is compromises by the small battery and the high price.
Great video as always Harry! I think a lot of people (including myself) are excited about the new R5 from Renault! If it looks like the concept and has the range of the Zoe it might be a very good contender for the best electric hatchback!
I absolutely love the design of this
Hope they get a chance to have another go at it, don't think it's quite compelling enough yet
I really wished we got these in America. These things are awesome and would be a delight to see in the cities.
Wait I love this little car, was not expecting to as much as I do. It's simultaneously so cute, and also super cool
It is such an absolute shame this isn't sold in the United States. I know it probably wouldn't sell well considering we're all so obsessed with crossovers over here, but I'd buy one given the chance.
I love it! But its range to price ratio is absurd.
An electric car is perfect for use in a police state because it enables what the imagination can only suggest in terms of surveillance.
@@suaptoest you're silly. Ever hear of OnStar? Invented by GM and has all the things you fear, but has nothing to do with electric cars. Oh, and the device you're using right now is surveilling you every moment.
@@jamesengland7461 What can be monitored in an electric car?
-The electric car can be moved without a driver away from the owner.
- Its speed can be remotely adjusted or its operating range and/or operating time can be limited.
- Its use can be prevented remotely and it can be remotely controlled in many different ways. All of this without the owner's permission.
- Oh, and many, many more.
@@suaptoest and the same goes for gas cars. It's all the same tech.
That giggle by the camera person at 14:39 was definitely appropriate.
Looked comical going through that S bend.
Lovely wee car.
I love the way this thing looks, but for most people this is just not a realistic alternative, I've had 2 civics in the past ,they were great cars, I think you summed it up perfectly at the end there - "as a second car"
Great review, we all accept the limited range, its aimed at an urban environment but you then come to the argument, "obviously why pay for a bigger battery than you need" but in this case effectively you are paying the equivalent of a bigger battery and not getting the range.
From my own EV experience of 127,000 uk miles since 2015 in my Tesla S P85 I know 250 miles range covers all bases however 50% of my use needs at least 150 miles and 120 miles just would not hack it. Agreed i3 the more sensible option and if Honda can keep selling them on the cure factor its all good.
It's expensive, not very practical, but it's so desirable! Really cool second car for those with some spare cash
Thankyou for the drive long awaited 25 years 🎉
I wonder if hiding the brake discs is because with regen braking, the disc brakes don't get used much and get rusty and ugly. As for the rearview cameras, I've been wondering for years why they aren't already a thing, what with the amount of drag you'd lose by getting rid of a mirror that grows from huge to enormous with each successive model. That said, the glare from LCD screens does bother my night vision already, and having more of them isn't going to help that.
You are correct about the disc brakes ... like other EVs they don't get used enough to stay shiny ... my Tesla is the same on our salty Scottish rural roads.
You've done it again Harry, thankyou for an exceptionally informative review.
You mention the Mini and the I3, but the 500e is another more refreshing alternative. You could do the 500e for Honda e comparison. Great video btw👍🏼
90% of car journeys are less than 100 miles, so in theory it’s perfect as a city runabout /second car! Sadly, given the price, that’s strictly for the ‘well heeled’ which is a shame, as it’s a stunning piece of design and the build quality is exceptional. I’m in no doubt the Gen 2 will have better range… but inevitably a higher price. A lovely niche piece of engineering
Very nice design. Japanese auto makers often seem to miss our tastes in cars. Not so here.
My favorite Spanish journalist also loved how car drove and not having more range to enjoy it on longer journeys is a pitty, but that said, come on buyers, this car is VERY cool and the range is not even a problem in the real world because every family that owns one, also ones another car. Barely anyone needs a range rover and 5 series, or a GLC and a Qasqai. I'm almost certain that this would perfectly fit my 2 car situation and I'd fight for my wife over this car because it would be the best option for 95% of the cases plus it looks so good! We complain about this car's price yet we pay more for T-rocs than for golfs when they come less equipped, worse finished and smaller cabin! I think the streets would be happier with more of these
This is the EV I've had the most people in my personal life say they want to own.
Had mine for 2.5 years
Live in central London it is fantastic. Best damping/ spring rates of anything and best over speed humps
Would change virtually nothing perhaps swap radar cruise for remote tailgate!!
It is a niche car and it fits that niche perfectly
I’m really excited to see how this model evolves and hope they keep the line and find a way to bring the price down.
We don’t have them across the pond, but I’ve been fascinated by them since their release. The design has an almost home-y but fun feel, and I’d love to try and give it whirl one day.
Solo driver here. It’s an appealing city car, but I don’t need 5 doors. I’m leaning Mini instead, but the range still needs to be higher.
Thanks Harry, it's an interesting car but does it really need all the screens? Are the side mirrors adequate or do they need a rethink?
But surely a fish tank is a must these days?
@@davidcole8268 i never missed it 😊
IMHO it would look better if they took out all those screens and just had traditional dials and a smaller display built into the dash.
Incredible looking car but the range is ridiculously low especially for the price. Great review harry as always.
Gives the impression of a very well executed 1st generation EV released just as the next generation is hitting show rooms.
Hopefully the Honda-Sony tie-up doesn't dilute effort on Honda's next solo effort as a revised E, with 200 mile cold-weather range, would be a rather lovely proposition.
Exceptional styling from Honda - a design icon. I hope other manufacturers take their lead from Honda and stop producing oddball "electric car" designs.
The new Prius is sexy. Wish we had the Honda E in the US.
Cute. But sad that the standout point on a car is now a fish tank screen saver, like I had on my PC twenty years ago.
Makes me want to go buy an early 70's Alfa Guilia : no gadgets, just timeless charm and driving engagement. :)
Seems like the chief engineer had a plan to make a sport car with this platform. Suspension set up, RWD layout and all dynamics looks quite ready to do that.
Thanks Harry! Nice little commuter car for the city but I have access to nice crvy country roads....Cayman heaven!
Looks great, but they’ve got a lot of competition at that ( high) price bracket.
I'm glad you tested this, and from the looks of it you really enjoyed the car. I wish I could get one in my home country (if I could afford it) as I think it's the perfect city car. Great video Harry, thanks!
Lovely car. Abysmal range. I think a 3 pot turbo engine would be more suitable.
I'd consider that for a daily. Sensible, but slightly mental to add a bit of fun to daily driving.