Honda e:N1

First of its kind, Honda’s highly anticipated latest offering, the Honda e:N1, officially launched in Malaysia.

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the B-segment SUV (subcompact/crossover) underpins Honda’s new e:N Architecture F (Front-Wheel Drive – FWD) platform.

Fully imported (CBU – China), available via Honda Malaysia is one variant (e:N1 – MYR 149,900 – limited units – restricted to eight selected dealerships).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) covers vehicle (three years/100,000 KM) and EV component/battery (eight years/160,000 KM) warranties and a free service package (four times – three years/60,000 KM).

Three exterior colours (single-tone – Urban grey Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Aqua Topaz Metallic). Two interior colours (single-tone: Black – dual-tone: Black-Grey – Aqua Topaz Metallic).

The all-new e:N1 has a symmetrically tiered dashboard (buttonless – infotainment control), linked to a low-rising centre console (gear buttons: illuminated surrounds, wireless charger).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees two colour schemes (single-tone: Black – dual-tone: Black-Grey) with contrast trims (Gloss Black).

Filling the spaces are floating driver/central displays (landscape-mounted instrument cluster – portrait-mounted infotainment: three-section interface) and ambient lights (single-colour – Blue).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic and non-cluttered, with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Equipped is a floating (landscape-mounted) 10.25-Inch TFT digital driver display (instrument cluster).

Comfortably plush, the interior sees leather upholstery in two colour schemes (single-tone: Black – dual-tone: Black-Grey).

The front gets electric-powered (driver: eight-way-adjust) and manual-operated (passenger: multi-way) bolstered seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), a headliner (Grey) and door line illumination.

The five-seater e-crossover offers generous cabin space, providing comfortable seatings with ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke-round steering wheel, wrapped in leatherette (Black) with contrast trims (Gloss Black).

Features are multi-function buttons (media, Bluetooth, ACC – Adaptive Cruise Control), deceleration selector paddles and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system (turning radius – 5.7 M).

Practical spaces available. E.g., centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, glove box and seat back/side door pockets.

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Installed are one 12 V power socket (front), four USB ports (two – front, rear) and one wireless charger (front – centre console).

Accessing its manual-operated tailgate (button - tailgate, remote/key fob) opens to 344-Litres (rear seats up) of load capacity.

Weighing in at 1,662 KG, the all-new e:N1 stands at 4,380 MM in length, 1,790 MM in width, 1,592 MM in height and with a wheelbase spanning 2,610 MM.

Parading a seamlessly sleek and sporty exterior, it boasts angularly refined elements and contours all around.

The front-end sees mildly formed bonnet/quarter panels and a sculpted bumper (closed grille: charging port, ‘Heartbeat’ charging indicator light, lower central air intake, new ‘Honda’ emblem).

Accentuations, body cladding (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black: vent inserts, window surrounds, side mirrors) and ‘Honda’ emblem (Black-White).

Slightly protruding, it continues the seamlessly sporty profile, emphasised by angularly rounded and horizontally aligned curves.

The rear-end sees a fastback-esque roofline (roof-edge spoiler, shark fin antenna), an upright tailgate (new ‘Honda’ script, ‘e:N1’ emblem, lightbar), formed quarter panels and a covered bumper (diffuser).

Accentuations, body cladding (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black: diffuser, window surrounds) and ‘Honda’/’e:N1 script/emblem (Chrome/Black-White).

Fiercely angular, the headlamps are framed sharp and inward-tilted with a connecting light strip. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, sequential turn signals (LED), Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), Automatic High Beam (AHB) and welcome lights.

Sleek and elongated, the tail lamps are framed full width (lightbar) with angularly rounded wraparound edges. Installed are combination (bulb-LED) units.

Features are automatic On/Off, sequential turn signals (LED) and welcome lights. Included is a high-mounted brake light (spoiler integrated – LED).

The side mirrors (single-tone – Black – Hydrophilic-coated) are electric-powered (auto-fold/adjust/tilt), with sequential turn-signals (LED), blind spot-indicators (Blind Spot Information – BSI) and heating.

Mounted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Aiding the drive is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Fitted is a set of 18-Inch multi-spoke (dual-tone – Black-Silver) alloy rims, wrapped in 225/50 R18 Continental UltraContact UC6 tyres.

The all-new e:N1 features the ‘Honda Sensing’ suit of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Blind Spot Information (BSI), Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDNS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Agile Handle Assist (AHA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Deflation Warning System and Surround View Monitor (SVM – 360-degree camera).

Passive safety consists of six airbags (driver-passenger, front-sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (pretensioners, anchors, reminders), ISOFIX (two – outer rear seats), automatic door locks (electronic child lock, central locking, speed-sensing, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (front: rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off), parking cameras (multi-angle reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (four-front, four-rear), rear view mirrors (exterior: BSI, tilt, Hydrophilic – interior: automatic-dimming), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and anti-theft (security alarm, immobiliser).

Provided are three drive modes (ECON, NORMAL, SPORT).

Equipped is a floating (portrait-mounted) 15.1-Inch touchscreen centre display (infotainment – Advanced Touch Display Audio), incorporating a three-section interface (media, vehicle settings, air-conditioning controls).

Features are Bluetooth, media, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), navigation, and Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

Entertainment is channelled via a standard setup (six speakers).

The all-new e:N1 features an e-powertrain setup (BEV).

Nestled is a three-in-one (e-motor, power drive unit, gearbox) front-mounted setup (electric motor: AC Synchronous Motor – ACSM), generating 150 KW (201 HP) and 310 NM.

Churning the setup is a single-speed automatic transmission.

Power is rooted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system (e:N Architecture F: Front-Wheel Drive – FWD).

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration is done in 7.7 seconds. Top speed is 160 KM/H.

Powering the e-motor is a Lithium-Ion (Nickel Manganese Cobalt – NMC) battery (96 cells, 68.8 KWH), enabling a total driving range (NEDC/WLTP) of 500 KM/412 KM.

DC charging (CCS2 – 78 KW), takes 45 minutes for a 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC). AC charging (Type 2 – 10 KW), takes 6.0 hours for a 0% to 100% SoC.

The all-new e:N1 features these conveniences.

E.g., keyless entry/start system (entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic door locks (electronic child lock, central locking, speed-sensing, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (front: rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), parking cameras (multi-angle reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (four-front, four-rear), rear view mirrors (exterior: BSI, tilt, Hydrophilic – interior: automatic-dimming), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, Bluetooth, ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control, deceleration selector paddles, EPS), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system (rear-vents, infotainment controls), electric-powered (driver: eight-way-adjust) bolstered seat (front), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), interior lighting (LED – ambient, reading, boot), wireless charger (front) and automatic windows (one-touch up/down, anti-pinch).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system (rear-vents, infotainment controls).

Underpinned is Honda’s new e:N Architecture F (Front-Wheel Drive – FWD) platform.

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and torsion beam (rear).

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The e-subcompact SUV delivers a comfortable and light steering feel with smooth overall electric performance.

Good sound insulation with most of the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The ride is quiet, refined and the road noise is mostly muted.

The all-new Honda e:N1 exudes a sleek and energy filled outlook. A sporty design language that features sharp and seamless body contours.

Interior-wise, its innovative layout paired with many elements of advanced sophistication, give a sense of airiness and easy connectivity to the occupants.

Performance-wise, it offers a great all-electric drive, underpinning Honda’s new e:N Architecture F (Front-Wheel Drive – FWD) platform.

Ultimately, inside and out the build quality is satisfactory, and with its distinctive outlook and competitive pricing, the all-new e:N1 is truly a contender in its segment.