An immaculate conception

Honda’s concept car for the road is full of cutting-edge tech and an all-electric powertrain. Darren Cassey gives it a go.

This is the highly anticipated Honda e - an all-electric city car that looks more like a concept than something you’d normally see on the roads. That’s because it sort of is - Honda built a concept car in 2017 called the Urban EV that hinted at what the firm’s all-electric future technology could look like. People loved it so much, they decided to build it as a halo model for its electrified future. It’s one of those cars you really want to love. However, some of the numbers could make it a tough sell - with prices starting at £26k and a range of just 137 miles, similarly priced competitors appear to offer more bang for your buck - or charge for your change.

WHAT’S NEW?

Pretty much everything. Being the firm’s first full EV, all of the important internals such as the motor and battery are new, as are all the body panels. It also gets cameras in place of wing mirrors as standard. The more interesting newness is in the cabin, though. There’s the dashboard-wide screens, the all-new user interface, an artificial intelligence system, and an ambience that feels more like a Scandinavian’s lounge than a Japanese city car.

UNDER THE BONNET?

Power comes from a single electric motor that feeds only the rear wheels, fed by

Price: £28,660 Engine: Single electric motor plus 35.5kwh battery

Power: 152bhp Torque: 315Nm Max speed: 90mph 0-60mph: 8.3 seconds MPG: N/A Range: 137 miles Emissions: 0g/km CO2 a 35.5kwh battery. Power figures are measured at 152bhp and 315Nm of torque for the motor, resulting in an entirely respectable 0-60mph time of 8.3 seconds. Battery range is up to 137 miles, with recharging to 80% from zero taking 30 minutes at a fast charger. While performance is punchy and the motor is serenely smooth when you need it to be.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Anyone who saw the Urban EV concept and fell in love will be delighted to see that it has made it to production with fewer changes than most probably expected. Its diminutive proportions work fantastically with the genuinely unique styling, looking hilarious mingling with more mundane machinery in traffic. For some, the fact it stands out so much might be a turn off, but there’s no denying it turns heads, with locals stopping to get a closer look at every opportunity.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There are two trim levels, with the base model starting at £26,160 and an Advance model starting at £28,660, both after the government’s plug-in car grant. Monthly finance deals should be about £299 and £349 per month respectively, with about 30% (about £8,000) deposit, though these deals are still being finalised. All models get the wood trim, sweeping screens and cameras for wing mirrors as standard. The base model also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a panoramic glass roof and adaptive cruise control. It’s also a little less powerful. However, Honda is pushing the Advance model at launch, with the vast majority of early orders expected to have this trim. Extra kit includes the addition of a central camera mirror, automatic parking, heated steering wheel, heated front windscreen and a premium audio system. An important note, though, is that there are optional 17-inch alloys on Advance models, which drop the range from 136 miles to 127.

THE VERDICT

The Honda e is an utterly fantastic car. It looks brilliant, has a light and airy cabin with fantastic technology, and it’s great to drive. Buyers who love the way it looks will no doubt also be delighted with how it drives. However, the range is a sticking point.