Mat Watson reviews the Honda Super N: I love this dinky electric car, but it’s hard to recommend
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson has spent a week with the new Honda Super N – a tiny EV with loads of character, and one big problem.
This is the new Honda Super N, and it’s a small, light EV which is based on a Japanese Kei car – a special class of car which is below a certain size.
After spending a week with the car, I’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with it. Despite this, it’s not a car I can easily recommend to people. I’m going to explain why in this review, as well as test out the car’s technology, practicality, see how it drives and compare it to some alternatives.
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New Honda Super N: design and desirability
I want to start with the design because the Honda Super N looks awesome. It’s slightly longer and wider than the Kei car on which it’s based thanks to a sporty body kit, and I reckon it looks even better than the Renault 5.
The round headlights and narrow body make it look really cute, but the squared-off, flared wheel arches also lend it a rally car vibe. I love the tiny 15-inch alloy wheels as well, I reckon it’s beautifully proportioned down the side.
There are plenty of vents around the Super N as well, but they’re all functional – either for battery cooling or improved airflow. Overall, this car looks really purposeful. I love it.
New Honda Super N: interior and practicality
Stepping inside, the Super N isn’t quite as cool as the exterior would lead you to believe. Other than the flash of blue across the dashboard and the cool seats, it’s all a bit dark and plasticky.
The door panel feels especially flimsy. A Renault 5’s cabin is better in terms of quality and design. That said, the Honda still feels robust enough to handle daily life, and I like the fact you get proper knobs and switches for the climate control.
The central touchscreen is alright as well. The graphics are a bit dark and dingy, but you do get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
Storage up front is okay, if not the best. You get a couple of deep cupholders, including one in front of the right-hand air vent which can keep your drinks cold during this heatwave. There’s also an average-sized glovebox, and the door bins will fit a big bottle. That said, a Hyundai Inster has more cubby space.
What’s more impressive is the space in the back, because there is loads of it. Legroom is generous and headroom is decent, and you can even recline the rear seats if you want to really relax. Fitting a baby seat is also easy thanks to the wide-opening doors. It’s way roomier in the back than a Renault 5.
You do pay a price for all that passenger space though, and that’s the small boot. At just 162 litres, I only managed to squeeze two suitcases into the Super N. The Renault 5 will hold four.
New Honda Super N: prices and deals
The Honda Super N starts from just over £18,000, and the only optional extras are styling tweaks. You can get various decals and blacked-out badges, but no optional extra takes this car over £21,000.
You get adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a reversing camera, keyless entry and LED lights as standard. All for less than the price of a less well-equipped Citroen e-C3.
New Honda Super N: performance and driving
I absolutely love driving the Honda Super N. It weighs just over a tonne, so it feels really light and chuckable through the corners. The steering is precise, and it has a clever feature which ups the fun factor even more.
Like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Super N has simulated gear shifts. It makes a fake engine noise in the cabin and jolts the car when you “change up”, and it just adds another layer of involvement that so many EVs are missing.
When you’re not in the mood for hooning about, the Super N is really easy to drive in town. There’s a slight firm edge to the suspension, but it still handles bumps well enough for a car of this size. The narrow body also makes tight spaces a breeze, although the turning circle isn’t as tight as I was hoping.
New Honda Super N: the big catch
So far, you might be thinking that this sounds like the perfect city car. It’s cheap, well-equipped, stylish, practical and brilliant to drive. What’s the catch?
Well, that would be the range. Part of the reason this car is so light and fun is the fact it has a tiny 30kWh battery, and it’s good for up to 128 miles according to Honda. I actually drove this car from 100% charged to empty, and it did 120 miles.
That’s impressive in terms of efficiency, but it’s no use for long journeys. Especially when you remember that this car can only charge at up to 50kW, meaning a 15-80% top-up takes 30 minutes.
It’s a real shame, but where does that leave us?
Mat’s final verdict on the Honda Super N
Even though I love the new Honda Super N, and I think it’s more fun to drive than a Renault 5, the poor range means it’s a hard car to recommend for a lot of people.
It’s less of a car, and more of a toy. If you have £20,000 to spend on a toy, then I reckon you should go right ahead and buy it. But if you need a car, the Honda Super N will be too compromised for most buyers.
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