Here is the Production Version of the Honda E
The pint-sized retro goodness that is the Honda E won't be landing on our shores for now, but at least we know what the production version will look like.
Production Ready
From the moment we first laid eyes on the Honda E Concept oh so long ago, we were in love. This pint-sized piece of retro goodness was too good to be true, however. Yes, only European customers will be able to buy the all-electric E (for now), but at least we now know what the production version will look like.
Photos: Honda
Almost Identical
The good news is, the production E looks almost identical to the concept E. It's small and undeniably soulful, and cool details like the mirror-less doors are intact. However, the very cool illuminated badge on the grille and "Honda Design" script is gone. Guess we can't have everything we want.
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Screens Everywhere
Inside, things are undoubtedly futuristic, with a total of five screens that form a large wraparound display. They consist of a digital instrument cluster, two 12.3-inch LCD touchscreens for the infotainment system, and two six-inch displays displaying images from the camera mirrors.
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Modern and Traditional
The E obviously isn't some cheap-feeling econocar inside. Premium materials lace the cabin, including lots of attractive matte wood trim. Thankfully, Honda did leave some traditional buttons inside, including those for the climate control.
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Small Package, Big Space
The E might be small, but it packs loads of usable space thanks to its boxy shape and short overhangs. In fact, the rear seat looks very usable by not just kids, but also full-sized adults. And that's important in a car designed to navigate urban areas.
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Rear Wheel Propulsion
Power for the E comes from a singular electric motor located at the rear axle. Which, yes, means that it's rear-wheel-drive(!) Buyers can choose between two power levels - 134 bhp and 152 bhp. Both options pack the same torque output, however, of 232 lb-ft.
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Good and Bad
Honda estimates that 0-62 miles per hour will take around 8.0-seconds flat, which isn't terrible. There's just one problem, however. The Honda E's range is a mere 136 miles, which is great for Europe but pretty terrible by U.S. standards. And it would likely be lower if measured by EPA standards.
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Euro Ready
Which explains why Honda is selling the E in Europe and not here. Europeans that live in urban areas don't typically drive very far in a given day, whereas most Americans are keen to rack up the miles. On the bright side, charging up to 80% capacity takes a mere 30 minutes if you do get low.
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Pricey But Nice
The other stickler is price. The Honda E will start out at around 26k pounds in the U.K., or about $32k U.S. That puts the E far behind the competition in terms of range/output per dollar, but it's also far nicer and arguably cooler than most EVs on the market today, too.
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Plea for Change
But for folks who want a nice, premium, electric urban driving experience in a tasty retro package, it's hard to beat the Honda E. With any luck, Honda will figure out a way to improve the car's range and bring it here to the U.S. After all, why should Europeans get to have all the fun?