Honda debuts its first full EV for NZ – e:N1

The Honda e:N1 has dotted down in New Zealand and gone on sale. Honda promised as much at the launch of the new Civic and were good to their word.

It is not strictly brand new per se, having been available overseas since 2023. And in most other markets it is known as e:Ny1. Here, the nomenclature is simpler.

Whatever, this is Honda’s first EV to go on sale in New Zealand. And it is the first from its e:N family of EVs. They didn’t offer the cute wee Honda e city car, their first effort. And that was probably because it cost too much. A few have made their way to our shores as grey imports. It is no longer in production anyway. 

The Honda e:N1 is, we guess by the name, for anyone. That’s if they have a spare $52k to spend, plus $995 for ORCs. That’s only a $6k premium on HR-V, by the by. There’s just the single model coming here, and it is well appointed with sports leather seats, wireless Apple CarPay, 18-inch alloys and the fullHonda Sensing Suite safety arsenal. Android auto is also present, but isn’t wireless. 

While it kind of looks like an electric version of the HR-V – evidently it shares some body panels – this rides on a dedicated electric platform.

So down to tin tacks. It features a 69kWh battery pack which evidently gives e:N1 “up to 500km” of range. That’s probably more like 400-450km in the real world, and 412km WLTP. It can supposedly run from 0-100km/h in 7.6sec. Helping with that is kerb weight of around 1730kg.

Its single motor is good for 150kW and 310Nm of torque and it spins the front wheels. Mean energy use is around 17kWh/100km. Charging from 30 to 80 per cent takes around 40 minutes with DC fast charging. Expect almost seven hours (overnight then) for a full recharge using an 11kW wallbox.

Honda says its first EV here is “engaging, joyful, fun to drive”. Just like its other models then. But it’s designed to be practical too. The firm says it’s a car that just happens to be an EV. It features the usual three drive modes for an electric vehicle, Eco, Normal and Sport.

The interior is designed for driver and passenger convenience and comfort. There’s an eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, steering wheel-mounted controls, dual zone climate control featuring a dust/pollen filter, accessory power outlets and a 348L boot (expandable to 1176L).

The exterior features slimline LED headlights, black-cut alloy wheels, a sporty bumper, wide charging-port door, and full-width LED tail light strip.

The charging port is in the middle of the front bumper, which makes access to a public charger easier. A three-colour light system gives you real-time information on the status of the charge. In other vehicles, that’s generally only available inside, somewhere on the dash. 

On that, there is a 15.1 inch central touchscreen divided into three zones for infotainment and camera, vehicle settings and climate control. A proximity key, alarm and walk away locking help with peace of mind, as does a warranty of up to five years/unlimited km, while the EV battery is covered by an eight-year or 160,000km warranty.

The Managing Director of Honda New Zealand, Ms Carolyn McMahon, says “This momentous introduction represents the start of a significant journey for our brand and underscores Honda’s commitment to a sustainable future. This innovative product combines our dynamic philosophy with a state-of-the-art electric platform, delivering a unique driving experience for today’s electrified landscape. We look forward to our valued customers experiencing it firsthand.”