Honda e 2021 Review

First previewed by the three-door Honda Urban EV Concept in 2017, the production version of the Honda e was officially released overseas in 2020.

A five-door micro-hatch, the Honda e’s exterior design is certainly a head-turner. All four side door handles are hidden, while blacked-out front and rear styling elements and a ‘floating’ black roof on the high-spec Advance model tested here add a little aggression to its cutesy appearance.

There’s also a bonnet scoop, which isn’t really a bonnet scoop – it’s the cover for the charge port!

With three examples of the 2021 Honda e confirmed for Australia at the time of writing, the opportunity to drive the very first model to arrive Down Under has come to us courtesy of Sydney-based vehicle importer, OZM Auto Group.

Operating out of Artarmon on Sydney’s North Shore, OZM specialises in importing Japanese cars that aren’t offered here by mainstream manufacturers – think Honda NSX (no longer available through Honda in Australia), the V12-powered Toyota Century and even a really cool two-door Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, just to name a few.

Given that Honda Australia has not committed to the Honda e through its official factory operation, OZM has taken advantage of the situation via the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) and will sell the retro-themed EV here in limited numbers.

Available in two trim levels overseas, the top-spec Advance is the only variant due to be sold in Australia, bringing with it prices upwards of $80,000.

Yes, it’s a lot of money for a little electric car – and a lot more than in Europe and Japan where prices start from around $53K. But you can blame things like shipping, import and certification costs for its higher price tag.

Because OZM isn’t supported by Honda Australia (or Honda Japan), it’s offering a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the baby EV, and while service intervals and pricing is yet to be confirmed, OZM will be available to spanner it for you as well. 

The neutral and earthy tones of the minimalist cabin in the 2021 Honda e are a stark contrast to the multiple touch-screens and digital displays atop the dash.

There isn’t a head-up display, but the driver gets info such as range, speed, battery percentage and more from an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster behind the wheel.

A pair of 12.3-inch touch-screens fill up the rest of the dash, bringing wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth, but not digital radio.

There’s also a quirky ‘Easter egg’ – an aquarium built into the pair of central screens. When you’re parked, you can watch the fish swim around and even ‘feed’ them by holding your finger on the screen.

The high-tech visual feast doesn’t end there, either. Like the Audi e-tron, the Honda e gets side-mounted cameras instead of conventional wing mirrors, with the images displayed on yet another two inward-facing screens. 

There’s plenty of power options on board, including USB-A ports, a HDMI port and even a Japanese household plug! Apparently plugging in your gaming console while you’re waiting for your car to charge is pretty common practice over in Japan.

Honda hasn’t skimped on safety or driver assistance aids either, with every Honda e equipped with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – with pedestrian and cyclist detection – as well as a 360-degree camera, lane assist, adaptive cruise control and LED headlights with automatic high beams.

LED fog lights and tail-lights are also fitted, along with single-zone climate control, park assist, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Overseas, the Honda e comes with a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating conducted under the stringent latest protocols introduced in 2020.

The independent authority described four stars as “respectable”, but noted that it does lack “some of the more advanced safety features present in the Honda Jazz” (including a driver’s knee airbag).

The Jazz is however, among several models that are leaving Australia, and the new-generation hybrid light hatch has been ruled out.

Tipping the scales at 1527kg, the 2021 Honda e is relatively heavy for a four-seater micro that sits on a 2530mm wheelbase and measures just 3895mm from end to end.

To take one reference point, the MG ZS EV weighs about the same (1532kg), but it’s a five-seater small SUV that’s much roomier.

With a larger battery, longer driving range of around 320km and priced at $43,990 drive-away, you could just about get two MGs for the price of the Honda e.

But it’s a moot point in this company. The MG ZS is selling its socks off – it’s the number-one seller in its class (with combustion models included) and one of the top-selling EVs in Australia – whereas you’d be hard pressed finding a car below $100K that’s as exclusive, cutting-edge and downright cute as the Honda e.

The Honda e platform is set up with a rear-mounted electric motor that drives the rear wheels, with the flagship Advance grade offered in Australia fitted with a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a claimed driving range of 222km.

With a useful output of 113kW/315Nm and managing a 0-100km/h sprint in 8.3 seconds, the Honda e isn’t super-quick – but a city car like this doesn’t really need to be. Top speed is 145km/h.

Pinning the throttle won’t throw you back into the driver’s seat the same way it does in Tesla Model 3, for example, but there’s instant power at the ready. And what the Honda e lacks in outright performance, it makes up for in dynamics.

Its rear-drive layout ensures there’s no torque-steer under hard acceleration from a standing start, and spirited driving (while chewing up valuable electricity) is lots of fun.

Steering can feel artificial at times, but there’s no body roll to speak of when you throw it around a corner; it’s flat and nimble and really encourages you to explore its full potential.

Our limited-range test drive meant we weren’t able to explore those boundaries as extensively as we would’ve liked, sticking to city and suburban roads for the most part.

In slower urban settings, the Honda e is just as good. With its small dimensions and a tiny 4.3m turning circle, you can put it almost anywhere.

You’d think having all those cameras would make it easier to reverse park, but truth be told, I couldn’t get it done neatly in one go. Maybe less is more? Or maybe I need to go back to driving school…

As for range, the circa-220km official claim reflects its status as an inner-city runabout, and is highly dependent, of course, on a range of factors including driving style and climate.

When we set off, the range was showing at 190km with the battery at 100 per cent, and after 70km of varied conditions the level of charge was down to 58 per cent, with a theoretical 101km left. That puts the real-world range at about 170km.

The battery was discharging at a rate of about 25kWh per 100km with two people on-board – far more than the WLTP-verified 17.2kWh/100km – so anything more than short trips would need to be carefully monitored and managed.

We didn’t recharge on the run, but Honda says that using a 7.4kW AC public charging outlet will take just over four hours, while you’ll need almost 19 hours with a standard domestic socket.

A fast-charger (50kW or 100kW) makes all the difference, requiring only 30 minutes to 80 per cent capacity.

On smooth city roads, the 2021 Honda e feels at home, just as long as you slow down for any bumps, potholes, kerbs, car park or drive-way entry and exits.

The suspension is firm, so hitting any kind of undulation at more than a walking pace sends a little shunt through the otherwise quiet and refined cabin.

Elsewhere, a sport mode sharpens throttle response, while three-stage regenerative braking can be adjusted by the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. In the highest setting, you can drive with just one pedal.

Heavy use of Japanese text on the digital display is distracting, but most of the basic controls and functions are written in English and it’s easy to navigate the array of buttons throughout the cabin, including those for gear selection, electric hand brake, drive mode, camera settings and more. 

A manual sun blind above the front seats slides back to reveal a fixed glass roof, which can’t be opened like a conventional sunroof, while each of the four seats are finished in a soft grey material.

Weirdly, given how tech-savvy the Honda e is, the front seats come with manual adjustment, and despite having no lumbar adjust option, they’re cushiony and supportive all the same.

The cabin feels more lounge room than mere private transport, and there are decent amenities for each passenger.

Storage up front is limited to small door pockets, cup holders between the front seats and a small fabric pocket under the dash.

In the rear, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom for two adults, but not a lot of toe space under the low-slung front seats. Rear seat passengers get a cup holder mounted high in each door, as well as two USB-A ports.

You can also install a pair of child seats thanks to ISOFIX anchorage points, but there are no air vents.

It’s clear the 2021 Honda e is suited to a special kind of buyer.

It is certainly tailored to city dwellers who need a tiny car for ease of parking and who don’t stray too far from their urban bubble.

It will also serve well as a second vehicle that’s used on the odd occasion for a weekend scoot – just so long as it’s not too far, given the current lack of public recharging facilities.

Most of all, it’s a statement piece. At more than $80,000 that’s a given, yet for those who might seriously consider the Honda e, it’ll be a much-loved addition.

For everyone else, it’ll be super-cool eye candy – if you’re lucky enough to spot one out in the wild. 

How much does the 2021 Honda e Advance cost?
Price: $83,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor        
Output: 113kW/315Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 35.5kWh lithium-ion
Range: 222km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 17.2kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Four-star (Euro NCAP 2020)