This new EV is tiny, cheap, slow and has a rubbish range – but I absolutely love it

There’s been a bit of a glut of small, affordable EVs lately. The Renault Twingo, Cupra Raval, BYD Dolphin Surf, Fiat Grande Panda, Leapmotor T03 and Dacia Spring all address the fear that many people have about EVs – that they’ll just be priced out of having a new car altogether.

Honda wants to go a different way with the new Super-N, and appeal to the heart as well as the head with a car that’s genuinely fun to drive. Does it deliver?

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Well, first impressions are good, but I’ll freely admit I’m biased – I’ve always loved tiny, silly cars, and have a deep love for the Japanese ‘kei’ class. The Super-N is based on a kei car, the N-One, but thanks to its beefy bodykit it doesn’t quite qualify under those regulations in its home country anymore. No such issues in the UK, where it’s still very much on the dinky side of things at just 3.6m long and under 1.6m wide.

With its widened track, prominent wheelarches and expressive face, it’s like a tiny puppy wearing one of those spiked chain collars you see on a pitbull – or maybe an adorable sea otter with a prison tattoo. Either way, I reckon it looks fantastic, especially in the launch colour of ‘Boost Violet’.

The interior is a little less eye-catching, but reflects that the Super-N is a very cheap car. The seats are fantastic – supportive, comfortable, and the fabric inserts are actually made with recycled Honda factory uniforms which I think is a really cool touch.

The rest of it is a sea of plastic, but it retains the practical features of the kei car it’s based on. With no centre console, it’s a doddle to slide across so you can get out on either side, and there are cupholders and cubbyholes all over.

There’s a ton of room in the back and you even get Honda’s trademark ‘magic seats’, which fold down completely flat or tip up at the base to provide room for taller items.

So it looks great, but reading the specs sheet, you’ll probably be left quite unimpressed with what you see. The Super-N has just 64hp most of the time, and 95hp in ‘Boost’ mode, giving it one of the longest 0-62mph times on the market. The 29.6kWh battery is pretty puny, so the official range on a charge is just 128 miles.

Let all of those figures be a lesson in not judging a book by its cover, because the Super-N is an absolute riot to drive. Around town it’s nippy, with incredible visibility from the tall windows, light controls and a sense that it’s just scampering from corner to corner.

Head out onto a twisty road and put it in ‘Sport’ mode and things get even more fun. Honda’s added a virtual engine noise, complete with a simulated seven-speed gearbox and paddles to take control of ‘shifting gears’ yourself. We love this feature in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and though the Super-N has less than 15% of the Ioniq’s power, it’s at least 70% of the fun.

Despite its tiny wheels, high body and short wheelbase, it’s not even too bouncy or unstable. All of the Super-N’s weight is very low, so it doesn’t feel like you’re driving a tall car. It doesn’t lean too much in the bends and there’s loads of grip. Mostly, it’s just super fun to fling around.

Relax a bit and it’s quite a good companion too. It’s too small to iron out all the bumps, but you won’t be wincing every time you hit a pothole. It mostly just feels like a really well-sorted small car.

There are practical concerns, mostly around the range. The truth is that 128 miles simply won’t be enough for a lot of people, and even compared with other cheap EVs it’s a bit rubbish. The Dacia Spring can do 140 miles, the Leapmotor T03 165 miles, and the BYD Dolphin Surf 200 miles. The Super-N doesn’t charge particularly quickly either, taking around 30 minutes for an 80% top-up even though the battery is the size of an AA.

Though it’s definitely possible to get close to the official figure (we saw economy of 4.3 miles per kWh on test, which is pretty spot on what’s required to achieve the official range – even driving less than carefully) the fact is that you simply can’t do long journeys in this car without a lot of planning.

That limits its utility to those who remain city-bound most of the time, or people who have a second car with which they can do longer journeys. And any argument that a small EV like this makes a great first car for young drivers is quashed when you consider how many live in flats or house-shares with no means of charging up at home.

Still, if it fits your usage – you won’t have to pay too much. At £18,995, the Super-N is pricier than the Dacia Spring or Leapmotor T03, but feels way better-built and more substantial than either, and it’s far better to drive. The real challengers are cars like the Renault 5 E-Tech or Vauxhall Corsa Electric, which can both be had for around £20,000 after discounts.

Personally, I adore the Super-N. It’s evidence that driving fun doesn’t have to disappear just because a car is electric, and the tall body makes it shockingly practical – provided you never need to go more than about 50 miles from home. If I needed a second car, this would definitely be on my shortlist.

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