Still, not every car is made with US shoppers in mind. In major cities overseas, where streets are narrower, parking is tighter, and efficiency is key, small cars make far more sense. That's where Honda is playing with its latest model.
Nowhere is that more true than in Japan, where there's an entire category for the smallest road-legal cars, known as kei cars. And one of the most charming entries in the class has been the Honda N-One, a retro-styled city car that's won fans for its looks and practicality. This week, Honda expanded the car's appeal by launching the electric N-One e.
The gas-powered N-One already on sale in Japan, as well as the new electric version, features a retro design clearly inspired by the N600 hatchback of the 1970s, Honda's first car sold in the US. Incredibly, the N-One e, at circa 133 inches long, is around 10 inches longer than the N600.
Honda is light on additional specifications for the N-One e, but has confirmed seating for four adults and foldable rear seats to accommodate larger cargo. While the battery size hasn’t been disclosed, the company estimates about 167 miles of range on the WLTC test cycle used overseas (a figure that would likely shrink under the stricter US EPA test).
Despite its entry-level positioning, the N-One e includes thoughtful features such as bidirectional charging and electronic driver-assist systems. Honda engineers also aimed to reduce the car's environmental impact by using recycled materials – like repurposed bumpers for the front grille and PET bottles and worn employee uniforms for carpets and sound insulation.
Kei cars are often admired for being cute and practical, but perhaps their best trait is affordability – even when electric. Just look at the N-Van e, unveiled by Honda last year: a tiny electric commercial van starting at just over $15,000 in Japan. The N-Van e delivers around 150 miles on the WLTC cycle and features a 29.6-kilowatt-hour battery capable of DC fast-charging at rates up to 50 kW.
Honda is holding back pricing and full details for the N-One e until closer to its market launch this fall, though it's possible the final price will undercut even the N-Van. For now, the N-One e is confirmed only for Japan, but a launch in select European markets hasn’t been ruled out.
The car made its debut this month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, where Honda showcased a camouflaged concept version dubbed the Super EV. That model featured a wide-body kit and TE37 wheels, hinting that a performance-oriented variant may be in development. Honda representatives on hand were quizzing showgoers on their thoughts and what they'd be willing to pay for a car like that, with one confirming to CarBuzz that this would serve as a European successor to the uber-cute Honda e, but one that would be more affordable due to simpler tech.
