Honda e:Ny1 review

“Been putting off making the switch
from ICE to all-electric? You’re not
alone. But now Honda has made it
even easier to flip over to zero
emissions driving with their aptly
named e:Ny1...”

AS THE NAME suggests, this is an all-electric vehicle that will suit 'anyone'. For a start its coupe-SUV styling is a great look. Clean cut and voguishly handsome without falling into the trap of trendy. The e:Ny1 will still look fresh ten years down the line by which time, like it or not, everyone — not just 'anyone' — will be driving a pure electric vehicle.

The pleasingly understated body shape is wrapped around a five-seater cabin and takes up less road space than you might guess. At 4,387mm long and 1,790mm wide it straddles the line between small- and mid-size SUV segments. And, thanks to its contours, appears visually lower than its actual 1,584mm (5 feet 3 inches) height. All of which is good news for our over-subscribed streets, made better by the amount of passenger space Honda have engineered into the inside.

So, where to begin? For most wannabe zero emissions drivers price will be the starting point. Frustratingly, EVs still cost significantly more than their ICE equivalents.The e:Ny1 three-model range kicks off from Ł40K, and tops out at Ł42K. What's to like is that all the e:Ny1 specs are very generous, so what you pay will get you what you want and need without having to cough up more for 'extras'.

“All e:Ny1s share a
common electric motor-
battery powertrain.
This employs a 68.8kWh
battery installed under
the floor to drive a single
electric motor on
the front axle.
The result is punchy
acceleration and a top
speed of 99mph.
Back in the day drivers
raved about hitting the
‘ton’ — nowadays, the
once prized 100mph is
not the goal; staying
under it is!”

To keep the 'Which model?' box-ticking simple, all e:Ny1s share a common electric motor-battery powertrain. This employs a 68.8kWh battery installed under the floor to drive a single electric motor on the front axle, generating a zero-emissions 201bhp and sending 229lb ft of torque to the front wheels.

The result is punchy 0-62mph acceleration in 7.6 seconds, topping out at a perfectly sensible 99mph. Back in the day drivers raved about hitting the 'ton' — nowadays, the once prized 100mph is not the goal; staying under it is!

While talking performance, now would be a good time to mention the full-charge range. Officially it's a respectable 256 miles. Like many of the e:Ny1's rivals, the maximum charging rate is 78kW which means you can add 10-80% charge in approximately 45 minutes and up to 60 miles range in just 11 minutes using a 100kW charger.

Worth mentioning is the on-board climate management facility. This gives you full control over the car's climate before you step inside, letting you set the e:Ny1 to warm up on a frosty morning while the vehicle is still plugged in by creating a schedule that suits your daily needs. This can be done via the My Honda+ App or manually through the key and infotainment system.

The e:Ny1 is also easy to recharge because the charging port lives behind the body-coloured Honda-badged panel of the blind grille. This makes connecting-up a doddle and gives you the option of parking either nose-in or side-on to the charger. Another plus is that the charge status can be easily seen: it's indicated on the pulsing lights panel above the e:Ny1's charging port; or you could just as easily view the app. Simples.

During our week with the car our go-to drive mode setting was Eco. It proved to be reliably efficient for a wide mix of roads and conditions, honouring a usable 250-mile range. The other two modes are Normal and Sport. But you'll likely stick with Eco because, despite Eco mode optimising powertrain and electrical efficiency, it guarantees a relaxing drive with no significant drop-off in performance.

If you're fresh to EV ownership just be aware, that as with all other EVs, you'll see a lower maximum range in seriously cold weather due, obviously, to the more intense use of the heating and climate control system and electrical kit such as the heated seats, heated steering wheel, lights and wipers.

If you must travel by car then it's always best to do it in style and the e:Ny1's plush cabin has got it covered. First reactions evoke thoughts of 'modern', 'smart' and 'sophisticated'. The high-tech cabin benefits from upscale materials and piano black trim and boasts a standout 15.1-inch central infotainment touchscreen that would make a Tesla jealous. The portrait-style screen is easy to use courtesy of its three logically arranged sections: the top area covers navigation and smartphone connectivity (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto); main menu 'tiles' occupy the middle; and the base section is reserved for the dual-zone climate control functions. The layout works well and there's less time-wasting when dipping into menus, all helped by decent graphics.

“Climb aboard and you’ll
instantly appreciate the
spacious interior along
with the comfortable
and supportive chairs
upholstered in
synthetic leather.
The steering wheel rim
is covered in the real
McCoy and feels good
in your hands.
In fact, just about
everything you need
to touch has
a tactile finish...”

As you'd expect, the driver also gets a digital instrument display; its screen is crisp and clear and shows everything you need from your speed, charge remaining, and driver assistance systems along with SatNav guidance. The well-specced cabin also features keyless entry and start, wireless smartphone charging, panoramic roof, a Premium Audio system that treats you to a first-class listening experience, USB-A and USB-C ports plus still relevant 12V sockets.

Climb aboard — actually, it's a graceful sideways slide into any of the seats — and you'll instantly appreciate the spacious interior along with the comfortable and supportive chairs upholstered in synthetic leather. The steering wheel rim is covered in the real McCoy and feels good in your hands. In fact, just about everything you need to touch has a tactile finish.

Drivers benefit from a power-adjustable seat and excellent views of the road ahead. Both front seat occupants enjoy plenty of room. A rearview camera along with parking sensors front, rear and side keep parking and tight manoeuvring hassle-free. Not to be overlooked is in-cabin storage: a large glovebox, a decent bin under the front central armrest, a brace of deep cup holders and, absolutely essential, a bed at the base of the touchscreen to wirelessly charge your smartphone.

Adults travelling in the back aren't disadvantaged one jot as they too get heated seats as well as excellent leg, knee and foot room; even six-footers can stretch out. A third can sit between the outer passengers quite socially. If there's nobody using the middle seat the centre armrest can be folded down for extra comfort and offers a pair of built-in cupholders. There are also two USB-C ports for charging phones, etc. Good to know too that fitting a child seat (and a child!) in the rear is easy-peasy thanks to the wide opening doors. There's a twist to the Advance model's panoramic glass roof in that instead of a sunblind it has two pop-out sunshade panels. Sun-loving rear passengers can easily remove the panel covering their side.

Which brings us to the boot. Admittedly not as big as some. The top trim Advance version swallows 344 litres of luggage with the rear seats in use. With the back seats folded down the loadbay is good for 1,136 litres. While there are bigger boots out there, the e:Ny1's boot and loadbay are more than up to the job. The boot is square shaped so not a problem making the most of every litre. More good news: the tailgate is powered, the load-lip minimal and a flap automatically covers the gap between the split seatbacks and the boot floor whenever they're folded, so no snagging when pushing cargo all the way in. Additionally, you'll find out-of-sight underfloor storage for oddments and the charging cables.

Equally as important as all the foregoing is How does the e:Ny1 drive? I'll tell you: Very well indeed. For a start it makes short and long journeys agreeably laid-back affairs thanks to it not trying to be pointlessly 'sporty'. Around the houses it rides quietly and comfortably, soaking up most urban lumps and bumps. In town its compact dimensions will also be much appreciated, especially when squeezing through the increasing number of double-parked streets. The e:Ny1 is equally well-mannered tackling back roads and country lanes. And when you get it on a motorway you'll find it's a pleasant and refined mile-muncher.

“The e:Ny1 makes short
and long journeys
agreeably laid-back
affairs thanks to it not
trying to be
pointlessly ‘sporty’.
Around the houses it
rides quietly and
comfortably, soaking up
most urban lumps
and bumps.
It’s equally well-
mannered tackling back
roads and country lanes.
And on motorways it’s
a pleasant and refined
mile-muncher...”

The brakes are totally trustworthy, and you wouldn't know they're also regenerative as the transitioning between their normal function and their regen mode is seamless. The steering is precise and on the light side and consequently well-matched to urban driving and perfectly suited to the e:Ny1's raison d'ętre: which is to contribute to stress-free driving.

We undertook several long hauls — some stretching to five hours behind the wheel — and every time the outcome was the same: at the end of each trip, we'd climb out of this Honda SUV feeling as fresh as the proverbial daisies. And you can't say that about many cars.

If getting the biggest range for your buck is what rings your bell, then stick the e:Ny1 in Eco for all your driving. It serves up the most cosseting driving experience of all three modes while delivering ample get up and go when you need it, such as when joining motorways when it will safely speed-match you with the traffic for a safe merge.

Finally, it's worth reminding you that whichever e:Ny1 model you decide upon, all come with the same comprehensive safety kit and driver assistance systems including: Forward Collision Warning with collision mitigation braking system (scans the road ahead, warns of potential obstacles, and auto brakes for you if you don't); Vehicle Stability Assist; Adaptive Cruise Control; Low Speed Following; Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist; Road Departure Mitigation; Traffic Jam Assist (lets the car automatically crawl pedal-free in traffic); Traffic Sign Recognition (in case you forget to keep an eye on the posted speed limit); and side, front and rear parking sensors plus a 360-degree reversing camera system.

Good looking, comfy, easy to live with and foolproof to drive, Honda's pure-electric SUV will pamper you both when fighting through urban landscapes and cruising motorways. Many carmakers still only give you a three-year guarantee — Honda's e:Ny1 comes with a peace of mind five-year, 90,000-mile warranty. Should you have one on your EV shortlist? Yes! ~ MotorBar

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