e:Ny1 in their right mind would consider this Honda

I FIND it strange that Honda named their latest fully-electric vehicle the “e:Ny1”, yet openly admit it’s a mid-sized SUV aimed specifically at younger buyers. Perhaps they should’ve named it the Honda e:GenZ?

I get what they’re aiming at though; Honda had, for a long time, been seen as the marque of the middle-class, middle-aged, Geography teacher – although with some notable exceptions over the years like the NSX, the S2000 and anything that has Type R after its name.

Come to think of it, it was mainly the older SUVs like the HR-V and CR-V that had a whiff of Werthers about them. The newer versions look a lot fresher on the outside, although the interiors are still catching up somewhat. Then there is the Honda ZR-V; Millennial-friendly in every way and my favourite full Hybrid vehicle, to date.

The Honda e:Ny1, however, is Honda’s only fully electric offering at this moment (after withdrawing the cute Honda E from sale earlier this year) and so distinguishes itself by looking a little different from its fossil-powered siblings by having an entirely closed off front grill and an updated “Honda” legend across the boot lid in a fresh typeface. And that’s about it really. Oh, apart from a new, white Honda badge on the front to denote that this is a full EV.

Like the HR-V model, with which it shares a body shell, the e:Ny1 has hidden rear door handles that give a cleaner, coupe-like look when viewed from the side, and the unique, multi-spoke wheels make it stand out (but are probably a nightmare to clean).

From any angle, the e:Ny1 is inoffensive and looks chunky enough to satisfy those increasing number of drivers who crave the SUV look, practicality and raised driving position. The huge amount of space between the top of each tyre and the bottom of the black-trimmed wheel arch looks a bit awkward though – but I suppose it’s a nod to the Honda’s off-road appeal. Not that any e:Ny1 will ever venture off-road of course, being front-wheel-drive only.

Available in just the 2 trim levels – “Elegance” and “Advance”, the e:Ny1’s 68.8 kWh battery is capable of up to 256 miles on a full charge. Rapid charging to 80% in just 45 minutes is available and each model has a bucketful of driver aids and entertainment tech all as standard.

The Advance model (£42,845) adds a Panoramic Glass Sunroof, Honda Parking Pilot, a powered tailgate, premium sound system and a heated steering wheel, along with the option of light grey synthetic leather for the interior – which, to my mind makes the extra £2,200 worth the cost, over the Advance model (£40,645). I suspect most buyers will feel the same way.

Other than that, both models are the same spec with 204 PS on tap and 310 Nm of torque, which gives a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds which should be more than enough for most.

Safety features are covered by Honda’s excellent SENSING system which includes the likes of Lane Keep Assist, Cross Traffic Monitor, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and more.

Climb inside the Honda e:Ny1 and the first thing you notice is the large, 15.1-inch, Portrait, Infotainment screen which dominates the dash. It’s responsive and clear with large icons for most functions that are easy to hit while on the move.

Yes, I would prefer physical buttons and dials for the climate controls but at least the Honda makes these functions permanently available in the bottom third of the screen, so changing temp or activating the heated seats isn’t a total faff. There are also a couple of physical buttons built into the bottom right of the screen for the heated front screen and wing mirrors.

Apple CarPlay comes wirelessly, while those with an Android phone will need a lead for Android Auto. There is wireless charging available and dual USB chargers in both the front and rear.

The 10.2-inch digital drivers display is, likewise, very clear and shows you all the information you need for the road ahead, fully customisable via the multi-functional steering wheel, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.

Overall, the cabin feels airy, uncomplicated and generally a very nice place to be sat, thanks to excellent visibility all around – even through the rear window.

The seats feel a little on the firm side – as we discovered on a 5-hour journey to visit family down South which resulted in numb backsides after 4 hours in the seats- but for day to day running about they will be absolutely fine.

It’s certainly all screwed together very well and most of the materials are of a quality you would expect when paying upwards of £40k for a vehicle. I did find the rotary dials for the air vents felt quite light and cheap though.

Rear space is impressive in the e:Ny1, with more leg room than you’d expect in a mid-sized SUV and headroom that won’t give any 6-footers a problem. The middle seat passenger doesn’t have to contend with a large hump beneath their feet, either, as the floor is completely flat.

The pay-off is that the boot isn’t as cavernous as some rivals, at 344 litres. Drop the seats and you get 784 litres, or a whopping 1,136 litres of space if you load to the ceiling.

On the road, the Honda e:Ny1 has no real surprises up its sleeve. It drives competently and without fuss, making the journey a relaxed affair with none of the foibles you may find in some rival EVs – like difficult to gauge regenerative braking, or over sensitive throttle input. No, the Honda feels very grown up and driver-focused which is testament to just how much thought Honda have put into the e:Ny1’s drivability.

There is power there when you need it – say, when overtaking on the motorway or A roads, while progress around town is smooth and jerk-free.

A bone of contention would be the adaptive cruise control which can get a bit jumpy when someone pulls in front of you on a multi-lane road. It also takes too long to decide that everything is actually okay and acceleration can continue. It can be quite frustrating on longer journeys with moderate traffic. My answer was to switch if off unless the road was quite clear.

The amount of brake regeneration can be selected easily from the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel, but you have to reset it each time you start the Honda – which is a tad annoying.

It’s also a pity that the regen braking can’t be hiked up enough to allow for one-pedal driving, which is something I now find essential in an EV; it’s a more relaxing way to drive and is mastered surprisingly quickly.

However, for the benefit of occupants and to minimise motion sickness, the e:Ny1 is engineered to deliver smooth and comfortable acceleration and deceleration, without diminishing the appeal of the responsive acceleration typical of EVs.

This relaxed ambience is maintained on the move thanks to a major focus on reducing cabin noise to levels achieved by vehicles in the class above. I must say the Honda e:Ny1 is quiet on the move but not markedly more so than other EVs I’ve driven.

Three pre-set driving modes, Sport, Normal and Econ Drive, enable drivers to adjust the car’s performance settings to balance driving characteristics and efficiency. Econ mode reduces throttle response, prioritising energy conservation by adjusting the air conditioning, heated seats, and heated steering wheel to maintain the driver’s “perceived temperature” for a more economical drive. It’s all clever stuff.

In contrast, Sport mode delivers – as you would expect – a sharper throttle response, while normal mode provides an optimal balance of performance and full cabin comfort.

Body control is very good in the Honda; it doesn’t lean too much in the corners for such a tall vehicle and is actually pleasant to guide through a series of bends on twistier roads. It felt more agile than I was expecting, with decent steering feel as well.

Overall, the Honda e:Ny1 is an EV that fulfils the “Family SUV” brief very well. It’s spacious, well-equipped and provides a relaxed driving experience. It is a little pricey compared to some rivals but the Honda badge will be enough to convince many that it’s a price worth paying.