Brand’s second EV aims for mainstream appeal On sale January 2024 Price from £45,000 (est)
George Hill george.hill@haymarket.com
HONDA CR-V
Range-topping SUV takes a step upmarket, growing bigger than ever before and packing plug-in hybrid power for the first time.
HONDA ZR-V
All-new hybrid-only middle child in Honda’s growing SUV family will compete with the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. ands that explode onto the scene often struggle to follow up their initial success, but there are exceptions. Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ and Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’ were both second albums that won more sales than their predecessors. So, which path is the Honda e:Ny1 – the Japanese brand’s second mainstream electric car – destined to follow?
Well, the fact that the e:Ny1 is an electric SUV should help it to attract buyers; this is one of the fastest-growing market segments, with the BYD Atto 3, Nissan Ariya and Smart #1 just three recent additions to the class.
Thankfully, the e:Ny1 comprehensively thrashes its Honda E baby brother on range; its 62kWh (usable) battery officially takes it 256 miles on a charge – 119 miles farther than its sibling can go. The e:Ny1’s official range also beats the 63kWh Nissan Ariya’s and the Peugeot e-2008’s. However, the Kia Niro EV and #1 will take you farther.
At its maximum charging rate of 78kW, boosting the battery from 10-80% should take around 45 minutes with a public fast charger – on par with the Niro EV. It’s worth noting that some rivals, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota bZ4X, are available with a choice of batteries, including larger ones for increased range; the e:Ny1 offers only one size of battery.
The e:Ny1 is powered by a single electric motor that produces 201bhp and 229lb ft of torque, giving a 0-62mph time of 7.7sec. All versions are front-wheel drive. Like most electric cars, adjustable regenerative braking helps conserve range by returning energy to the battery that would otherwise be lost when you slow down. It’s adjusted via paddles on the steering wheel, with strong and weak settings. As a side effect, the former causes the car to slow more dramatically when you lift off the accelerator, but you’ll still need to use the brake pedal sometimes.
At first glance, you might be thinking that the e:Ny1 looks suspiciously like Honda’s HR-V family SUV, but the e:Ny1 is entirely different beneath the surface, with underpinnings designed specifically for electric power. It can be identified by its closed-off grille, white Honda badging (a new feature on Honda’s electric cars) and ‘Honda’ being spel
