Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Honda e:Ny1 Advance
Price: From £40,645, Advance from £42,845
Motor: 150kW electric motor
Battery: 68.8kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 204hp
Torque: 310Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 256 miles
Economy: 3.41 mi/kWh
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Top speed: 99mph
Boot space: 344-1,136 litres (plus 90-litre front storage area)
Styling
Though the name may be a bit odd, the e:Ny1's design is somewhat more conventional. The smooth nose hides a neatly integrated charging flap, and it provides an aerodynamically clean nose to make the most of the battery that you can see under the sills. Otherwise, the image is broadly similar to that of the HR-V SUV that's currently the smallest crossover in Honda's range. Maybe that's a deliberate ploy to avoid alienating Honda's classically older customer base, but whether that's the case or not, the result is a car that's neither especially handsome nor especially ugly.
Interior
Honda interiors were once something of a weak spot, but the brand has turned things around significantly of late. As a result, this range-topping Advance version of the e:Ny1 has quite the plush cabin, with soft leather wrapping the surfaces and some robust switchgear on show. In fairness, the base model comes with a similarly upmarket cabin, it just doesn’t quite get the same level of standard equipment.
Either way, it feels well made and surprisingly smart, with lovely seats and lots of nice materials, but it’s the tech that gives away the mainstream roots. The digital instrument display is a standard feature and a useful one at that – it has a few configuration options and it shows you everything you need to see – but the design manages to be both basic and cluttered, with some details located in slightly odd locations.
But it’s miles better than the touchscreen, which is a massive 15.1-inch, portrait-orientated affair in the middle of the dash. The climate control screen at the bottom is actually the best bit, despite our general hatred of touchscreen heater controls, while the main menu occupies the middle and the navigation system sits at the top (albeit replaced by Android Auto or Apple CarPlay if you plug your phone in).
The navigation display feels quite old-school and a bit clunky, as does the main menu and media displays, even though they’re a huge step forward compared with the systems Honda was employing five years ago. Naturally, you can mitigate some of the issues by using CarPlay or Android Auto, and the screen proves responsive enough to deal with those systems, but even they never quite hide the aging tech under the skin. Partly because the screen is so big that other aspects of it are always on show. And the inability to access the on/off switches for the driver assistance systems when you’re on the move becomes wearing very quickly.
Practicality
Space inside the e:Ny1 is more impressive than you might expect, with ample rear legroom and sufficient headroom for four six-foot adults to sit comfortably. However, that’s tempered by a slightly high driving position that makes the roof feel slightly closer to the driver’s head than it might in other cars of this size. The HR-V, for example.
Boot capacity, however, is a bit compromised – presumably because of the rear passenger space – with just 344 litres of cargo space to play with. That’s fractionally smaller than the space available in an MG4, so it’s hardly disastrous and you shouldn’t have too much trouble from day to day, but it isn’t particularly impressive. Especially in an SUV.
Performance
Up front, the e:Ny1 has a 150kW electric motor that sends an ample 204hp to the front wheels. By petrol standards, that’s a reasonable amount of power, and though the e:Ny1 is heavier than a petrol-powered equivalent, it’s still more than enough. A 0-62mph time of around seven-and-a-half seconds is very respectable, and the e:Ny1 feels every bit as punchy on the road as that figure suggests.
Performance is not an issue, then, and nor is range. Even on a motorway – perhaps the least efficient environment for electric motors – the e:Ny1 still returns more than 3.5 miles per kilowatt hour, and with a 68.8kWh battery under the floor, that means a range of well over 200 motorway miles is perfectly achievable. Admittedly, our test was carried out on balmy summer days and that range may shrink noticeably in cold weather, but we still had the air conditioning running, so that return is pretty strong going.
And when the battery does run flat, the Honda can charge at speeds of up to 100kW on a public charging point, so getting from 10 to 80 per cent takes around 45 minutes. That isn’t as fast as some can manage, but it’s still usable, and the 11kW AC charging system means those with a commercial three-phase electricity supply can charge the car from 10 to 80 per cent in about six hours.
Ride & Handling
The e:Ny1 is, perhaps understandably, designed for comfort, and though the big battery means it occasionally rides a little heavily, it’s more refined than some. Even harsh potholes and speed bumps don’t feel too jagged or jolting, and it tends to be quite composed. There is a tendency to jiggle about a bit on some road surfaces, though, and that spoils the effect a little bit. Nevertheless, it’s far from uncomfortable either around town or at motorway speeds.
The catch is that it doesn’t feel especially lively in corners. It isn’t terrible by any stretch, but the steering is quite dull and inert, and there’s a bit of lean in the bends that erodes confidence slightly. Don’t worry – grip is ample – but it never encourages you to drive as though your hair is on fire, despite the punchy performance of that electric motor.
The other slight issue is one of refinement. We’ve come to expect electric cars to be especially quiet, and the Honda is around town, but there’s a noticeable roar from the tyres when you get up to motorway speeds, and that’s a bit of a contrast with a cabin that feels relatively upmarket. Perhaps a little more sound-deadening wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Value
Hondas have never been especially cheap, and the e:Ny1 was never going to be a budget option, but the price is a bit of a disappointment. Even the basic Elegance starts at more than £40,000, which is a lot of money for a family car, and the Advance tested here comes in at almost £43,000.
Admittedly, you get plenty of kit, with heated front seats, keyless entry and the massive portrait infotainment system all included as standard on the Elegance. Wireless phone charging, a rear-view camera and parking sensors at the front and rear are also standard features on the base model, while the Advance adds a panoramic glass roof, a power-operated tailgate and a heated steering wheel. But even so, the e:Ny1 never quite feels like it offers exceptional value for money.
Verdict
If you came to the e:Ny1 looking for a Honda e with space, you're doomed to disappointment. But aside from some tech issues and a so-so driving experience, the e:Ny1 isn't a bad electric crossover. Reasonable range, a well-made cabin and agreeable design all play into its hands, and though it isn't cheap, it feels like a solid product that will last the course. It just doesn't feel especially exciting.
