Is this cute EV the car Honda needs in Australia?
While the company has released images of the N-One e ahead of its launch in the northern Autumn (September to November), it has released little in the way of specifications.
Honda has confirmed it offers 270km of range on the WLTC cycle – one of the cycles used in WLTP testing – and vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging functionality, as well as a one-pedal drive mode.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
It hasn't released any performance figures, charging rates or dimensions, but the N-One e is almost certain to be under 3.4m long and produce less than 47kW from a single electric motor, per Japanese kei car regulations.
As is often the case with Japanese kei cars, the N-One e has a boxy shape and 'friendly' styling.
'She's so adorable you'll want to call her your partner,' reads Honda's website.
'The electric N-One has a face that makes you feel attached to it. You'll want to talk to it every day, asking, 'How are you doing?'' Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Honda has used recycled materials in parts of the N-One e. The grille, for example, is made from discarded bumpers, while the carpeting and insulation is made from materials like PET bottles and old employees' work clothes.
The interior is simple and versatile. The 50:50-split rear seats fold flat, while it appears you can shuffle between the front seats without snagging yourself on a console.
A recessed shelf also runs along the dashboard, with USB outlets located just above it to make it a handy spot to put your phone.
There's a free-standing infotainment touchscreen, as well as plenty of physical switchgear including for the climate control. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The basic layout is similar to the N-Van e, a kei-class electric van launched late last year. However, it appears more plush inside.
The N-Van e offers 245km of WLTP range. Its single electric motor produces 47kW and 162Nm, while its battery can be charged at up to 50kW on DC power and up to 6kW on AC power.
Pricing hasn't been announced for the N-One e yet, but the N-Van e starts at ¥2,699,400 (~A$27,800) while offering front, front-side and curtain airbags, a heated driver's seat and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.
It measures just 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1960mm tall. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
ABOVE: Honda N-Van e
The N-One e joins Honda's N series of kei cars, which also includes the petrol-powered N-One, N-Box, N-Wgn and N-Van.
Honda says the N-One e 'inherits the endearing exterior design, spacious interior space, and easy handling' of the N360, one of the brand's first vehicles which was launched in 1967.
While the N-One e goes up against a growing contingent of electric kei cars – which includes the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X twins, as well as potentially at some point a rival from BYD – it's unlikely to come here. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
ABOVE, from left: Honda e:Ny1, Prologue, Ye P7, Afeela 1
Mitsubishi said it looked at importing the eK X, only to find it would be 'uneconomic' to sell it here without modifying it to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The company argued these federal regulations were a hindrance, as the eK X met Japanese type approval and safety requirements there.
The closest thing to these vehicles is the Hyundai Inster city EV, launched here this year with a base price of $39,000 before on-road costs. It's larger, measuring 3825mm long, and has up to 84kW of power and 360km of range depending on the variant.
Honda doesn't offer any EVs in Australia, despite selling a growing EV lineup in China, a couple in Japan, one in Europe, and the Prologue in North America that uses a General Motors (GM) platform. It has also established a joint venture with Sony to produce EVs under the Afeela brand.
The company's Australian arm said in 2024 that its first EV would be released here before 2028.
MORE: Everything Honda
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Suzuki Australia won't start price war with Chinese rivals
Suzuki is an automaker known for producing small cars positioned towards the pointy end of the price spectrum, but the Japanese brand isn't about to be drawn into discounting to match the influx of new rivals from China and India. As it stands, Suzuki's cheapest model is currently the Swift Hybrid hatch at $24,490 before on-road costs, but it also offers the Ignis from $24,490 drive-away and the Vitara from $28,335 drive-away, even if only dealer stock is available for the latter two models after new safety regulations led to their axing. Several new models from rival manufacturers have undercut Suzuki in recent times, including the second-generation MG 3 light hatch (from $21,990 drive-away), the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (from $23,990 drive-away), and the Mahindra XUV 3XO small SUV (from $23,990 drive-away), but Suzuki says competing on price isn't a concern. 'We offer products that are good value for money that can be applicable to most buyer types around the world. And that's part of Suzuki's philosophy: to produce a car for everybody,' Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota told CarExpert. 'With that said, there's no compromise ever on quality, so you get what you pay for. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Chery Tiggo 4 (left) and Mahindra XUV 3XO 'With respect to that, I don't think it's a race to the lowest price if a competitor is down there. It's based on producing a vehicle that's right for the consumer, and it's a quality product without any compromise.' Indeed, Suzuki is in the process of updating its current lineup and rolling out new models. The newest car in its lineup is the Fronx Hybrid light SUV, available in a single specification for $28,990 before on-roads, and it's been confirmed that the currently defunct Vitara will be reborn with hybrid and electric power in early 2026. It will be difficult for the new Vitara Hybrid to compete with equivalent models from China, as the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid is currently Australia's cheapest hybrid vehicle at $29,990 drive-away. The GWM Haval Jolion hybrid also starts at $32,990 drive-away, and both models pack a comprehensive suite of standard equipment. Still, Mr Pachota says Suzuki's 'undeniable truth' is that 'reliability and quality are paramount', and it's this focus that he believes will set the brand apart from its existing and upcoming rivals. 'It's the most important thing to us. We're going to price cars effectively to that quality, that a Suzuki customer expects,' he told CarExpert. 'We own our lane. We're good in it. We're the small-car specialists, and we deliver – and I keep saying it – undeniably reliable, quality product. 'It's efficient for the consumer, we always have low running costs, and it's easy to own, maintain, and operate a Suzuki for an Australian consumer. It's the Australian consumer's decision based on the competitor pool.' The Fronx Hybrid is Suzuki's first attempt at competing with the budget-minded SUVs listed above, but they won't be easy to out-sell given year-to-date sales figures of 7996 for the Tiggo 4 and 9029 for the Haval Jolion. For context, Suzuki's best-selling model is the iconic Jimny off-roader with 4365 deliveries in the same period – more than double that of the second-placed Swift hatch. 'It doesn't matter what the origin is of that competitor, and it's up to [consumers] to define what the value is. We seem to come out on top in the last decade in terms of value for consumers, and our sales reflect that. So, we're okay,' Mr Pachota told CarExpert.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Suzuki Australia won't start price war with Chinese rivals
Suzuki is an automaker known for producing small cars positioned towards the pointy end of the price spectrum, but the Japanese brand isn't about to be drawn into discounting to match the influx of new rivals from China and India. As it stands, Suzuki's cheapest model is currently the Swift Hybrid hatch at $24,490 before on-road costs, but it also offers the Ignis from $24,490 drive-away and the Vitara from $28,335 drive-away, even if only dealer stock is available for the latter two models after new safety regulations led to their axing. Several new models from rival manufacturers have undercut Suzuki in recent times, including the second-generation MG 3 light hatch (from $21,990 drive-away), the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (from $23,990 drive-away), and the Mahindra XUV 3XO small SUV (from $23,990 drive-away), but Suzuki says competing on price isn't a concern. 'We offer products that are good value for money that can be applicable to most buyer types around the world. And that's part of Suzuki's philosophy: to produce a car for everybody,' Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota told CarExpert. 'With that said, there's no compromise ever on quality, so you get what you pay for. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert ABOVE: Chery Tiggo 4 (left) and Mahindra XUV 3XO 'With respect to that, I don't think it's a race to the lowest price if a competitor is down there. It's based on producing a vehicle that's right for the consumer, and it's a quality product without any compromise.' Indeed, Suzuki is in the process of updating its current lineup and rolling out new models. The newest car in its lineup is the Fronx Hybrid light SUV, available in a single specification for $28,990 before on-roads, and it's been confirmed that the currently defunct Vitara will be reborn with hybrid and electric power in early 2026. It will be difficult for the new Vitara Hybrid to compete with equivalent models from China, as the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid is currently Australia's cheapest hybrid vehicle at $29,990 drive-away. The GWM Haval Jolion hybrid also starts at $32,990 drive-away, and both models pack a comprehensive suite of standard equipment. Still, Mr Pachota says Suzuki's 'undeniable truth' is that 'reliability and quality are paramount', and it's this focus that he believes will set the brand apart from its existing and upcoming rivals. 'It's the most important thing to us. We're going to price cars effectively to that quality, that a Suzuki customer expects,' he told CarExpert. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'We own our lane. We're good in it. We're the small-car specialists, and we deliver – and I keep saying it – undeniably reliable, quality product. 'It's efficient for the consumer, we always have low running costs, and it's easy to own, maintain, and operate a Suzuki for an Australian consumer. It's the Australian consumer's decision based on the competitor pool.' The Fronx Hybrid is Suzuki's first attempt at competing with the budget-minded SUVs listed above, but they won't be easy to out-sell given year-to-date sales figures of 7996 for the Tiggo 4 and 9029 for the Haval Jolion. For context, Suzuki's best-selling model is the iconic Jimny off-roader with 4365 deliveries in the same period – more than double that of the second-placed Swift hatch. 'It doesn't matter what the origin is of that competitor, and it's up to [consumers] to define what the value is. We seem to come out on top in the last decade in terms of value for consumers, and our sales reflect that. So, we're okay,' Mr Pachota told CarExpert. MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: 2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid will be Australia's cheapest HEV MORE: Everything Suzuki
7NEWS
4 hours ago
- 7NEWS
2025 Audi Q5 and S5: Higher prices, more equipment for new mid-size luxury SUV
Audi Australia has released pricing and specifications for its third-generation Q5 mid-size SUV range, including the new SQ5 performance flagship, ahead of its arrival in local showrooms 'in the coming weeks'. Now available to order, the 2025 Audi Q5 lineup starts at $81,000 before on-road costs – an increase of $7600 over the outgoing entry-level Q5 – and the six-cylinder SQ5 is priced from $106,400 plus on-roads in 'edition one' form, which is down from $119,084 before on-roads for the previous SQ5. However, the regular SQ5 will cost $122,400 plus on-roads, marking a rise of just over $3000. The existing Q5 is Audi Australia's best-selling model so far this year, with sales up 19.7 per cent on the first half of 2024. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Diesel and all-wheel drive 'quattro' versions make up the five model grades of the third-generation Q5 and SQ5 landing in showrooms next month. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version is expected to arrive in Australia in 2026, although this has not officially been confirmed since two PHEV variants were shown overseas. The lineup starts with the Q5 TFSI powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150kW of power and 340Nm of torque, matched as standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It comes with a 0-100km/h claim of 8.6 seconds and combined fuel economy of 5.7L/100km. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED Matrix headlights, artificial leather upholstery, aluminium inlays as well as climate control and an eight-speaker 160W stereo. The cabin also includes a 14.5-inch OLED centre touchscreen with built-in sat-nav, voice commands and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, plus an electronic tailgate. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, speed sign recognition, while automatic parking and a 360-degree camera are also standard on every Q5/SQ5. The turbo-diesel models are next, with the Q5 TDI quattro and the Q5 TDI quattro Sport priced at $87,600 and $94,100 before on-road costs respectively. Both use the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offering 150kW/400Nm, teamed with a seven-speed automatic and quattro all-wheel drive. They also share the same 7.4-second 0-100km/h claim and 5.4L/100km combined fuel consumption figure. Equipment levels match the entry-level Q5 TFSI, but the Q5 TDI quattro Sport adds larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and sports seats with 'S' logos embossed, plus an interior treatment featuring brushed aluminium inlays. The SQ5 is offered in an 'edition one' grade for $106,400 and in regular guise for $122,400, both before on-road costs. Both are powered by a 3.0-litre mild-hybrid V6 petrol engine producing 270kW/550Nm, and combine a seven-speed automatic with quattro all-wheel drive. The SQ5 has an official 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds and combined fuel consumption of 7.6L/100km. On top of the Q5's standard equipment, the SQ5 edition one adds black 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, black mirror caps, with brushed aluminium inlays inside the cabin. The standard SQ5 runs 21-inch alloy wheels – with three designs to choose from at no additional cost – and all exterior paint colours are no-cost options apart from Sakhir gold metallic, which is priced at a lower $1300. For every other Q5 and S5, Arkona White is standard at no additional cost, with all other colours costing $2000 on top, apart from Sakhir gold which is priced at $3300. The SQ5 also has a 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen stereo with a 16-channel subwoofer, amplifier and total output of 685W, as well as faster-charging USB ports, with a pair of 60W outlets up front and two 100W ports in the rear.
