Honda e Review

Price: £36,920

Electrifying.com score

6/10

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The Honda e is cute, tech-packed and perfect for city driving, but it’s pricey, has a limited range and is a bit small for a family.

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  • Battery size: 35.5kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 3.52
  • E-Rating™: C

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.

  • Max charge rate: 65 kW
  • Range: 137 miles (WLTP)
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  • Battery size: 35.5kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 3.52
  • E-Rating™: C

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.

  • Max charge rate: 65 kW
  • Range: 137 miles (WLTP)
  • Honda e driving front and left side
  • Honda e front and charging point
  • Honda e parked rear
  • Electrifying.com E-Rating C

Ginny Says

“How can you resist the Honda e? Honda’s first all-electric car is very cute and looks like it should be star in the next Disney movie. Small EVs with a modest range make a lot of sense as a second car. But it does cost a lot more than the Mini Electric, which is a better all-rounder.”

Tom Says

“Honda has put together a smart package, it looks retro, is packed with tech and I think it’ll go on to become an iconic car. Of course, you pay for that package and it’s price may prove a stumbling block, but think of this as the latest must-have fashion accessory.”


Honda hasn’t entered the arms race to have the biggest battery, so the e has a surprisingly small range of 137 miles.

  • Range:137 miles (WLTP)
  • Battery:35.5kWh
  • Home/Public charger (7kW):4.5 hours
  • Fast charging 0-80% (50kW):35 minutes
  • Ultra Fast Charging (Supercharging) 0-80% (150kW):30 minutes
Honda e interior screens

Range

While some rivals have been introducing larger batteries to give 250+ mile ranges, Honda has taken a different approach. To keep the cost and weight of the e low, it has kept the power pack small and found what it thinks is a perfectly adequate range of 137 miles – or a 125 if you choose the bigger, bling wheels. That seems like a bit of a disappointment when cars like the Renault Zoe can go almost twice as far between charges, but, in reality, it will be perfectly adequate for drivers who drive the national average of 20 miles a day. The Honda also has built-in heating and cooling, so the range should be less affected by extreme weather.

Battery

It’s difficult not to be disappointed by the on-paper figures of the Honda e’s battery. At just 35.5kWh it’s pretty small by the standards of rivals such as the 52kWh Renault Zoe and even the entry-level Nissan Leaf’s 40kWh. A Kia Soul EV has a whopping 64kWh. On the plus side, it means the e is lighter than rivals, and the battery is pretty sophisticated to ensure it makes the most of its size, including automatic heating and cooling to make sure it’s always operating at the most efficient temperature. Like most EVs, the pack is mounted under the floor to keep it safe and the centre of gravity low.

Charging

The Honda might not have the biggest battery, but it is reasonably quick to charge. That said, its maximum charge rate of 65kW is looking a little underwhelming by the standard of more recent arrivals, most of which offer 100kW charging speeds. Because the battery is small, expect a 20- 80% top-up in around 20 minutes. That’s barely time for your coffee to get cold.

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