A lot of praise has been heaped upon the new electric Honda e hatchback recently and not unjustifiably so. Its interior is sublime, its footprint is compact and its styling is appealing – and it’s yet another much-appreciated electric option.
It’s pleasingly also an electric car by design, as opposed to a poorly packaged rehash of an existing engine-propelled platform, but I must admit I’m less convinced by its pillar-to-pillar display screens; they seem poised to do nothing but distract the less driving-attentive among us to the nth degree.
That aside, as I’ve yet to drive it myself, it’s further gratifying to read reports that suggest it performs in a polished fashion. However, despite all the positivity, I'm still struggling with disappointment resulting from its quoted price and range.
These are admittedly common yet often entirely unjustified gripes. Batteries command a hefty price, for one thing, and the range of numerous electric cars is far greater than what many drivers will often need.
Opt for an entry-level Honda e, for example, and it’ll have a claimed range of 138 miles. Its electric motor also produces 134bhp and 232lb ft, which allows for a 0-62mph time of nine seconds, and the car will do 90mph.
Unremarkable but serviceable figures, you might rightly think, particularly if it’s affordable. That’s what manufacturers should be striving for, especially in this day and age – more accessible and environmentally friendly motoring. But, inclusive of the government grant, the Honda costs £26,660. Tick some option boxes, or go for the flagship model, and you’ll be knocking on the door of £30,000.
For comparison, a new Nissan Leaf with a 168-milerange costs £26,845. It doesn’t have the charm of the Honda, but it is more practical, quicker and capable. The Nissan’s not outrageously heavy, either, with the lightest iteration weighing 1580kg compared to the entry-level Honda’s 1513kg.
More problematic is the Renault Zoe. It starts at a lesser £26,495, costs less to lease, has a range of 245 miles, a similar footprint, a boot that’s almost twice the size and a five-year warranty instead of the Honda’s three – although its battery warranty is the same eight-year, 100,000-mile offering. In basic form the Renault’s not as quick, but few would complain considering the nigh on 80 per cent range advantage.
Owners planning to do nothing but trundle around town might not be fazed by the Honda’s range – especially if they have off-street parking in which to charge it. Those without, on the flip side, might suddenly find charging and range becomes a problem; access cards, registration processes, charger availability and distance to chargers are among the potential pitfalls.
Sling in some cold weather and inefficient driving and the Honda’s potential range will no doubt tumble into double digits and spring a usability and charging-related trap. These are not Honda-exclusive issues, of course, but its battery limitations exacerbate them.
What irks me most is the Honda's lack of significant and useful innovation and improvement. A small car should not be so limiting, even if it is electric, and there’s no excuse when it costs some £30,000 and others have been doing better for years. I could effortlessly make the 130-mile round trip to see my parents in a Zoe without worry, as a case in point, but in the Honda it would be a different and potentially protracted story.
If the Honda cost less, I’d have no reason to complain. Otherwise, as it sits, it strikes me as a distinct departure from the brand’s long-running trend of delivering affordable, practical and innovative motoring.
Look at it this way: over two decades ago, Honda offered a low-volume electric car called the EV Plus that could cover 80 to 100 miles on a single charge. The new Honda e, while far more compelling and capable in every other facet, consequently doesn’t strike me as the revelation that it should be.
Even MG came out the electrified gates blazing; its first production electric car, the practical ZS EV, costs £25,495 and has a 163-mile range and a better on-board charger – and then there are the competitively priced and longer-range alternatives such as the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Peugeot e-208 and Fiat 500e.
What I’d like to see, and I hope it does eventually materialise, is a lightly tweaked version of the Honda e that is more affordable or has a greater range. How about a version with the interior fripperies removed, a 200-mile range and a fractionally trimmed price? That, unquestionably, would result in an astounding little car that could move the game on. Left as is, it just feels like a costly and niche piece of designer motoring that’ll form part of someone’s expensive two-or-more-car garage.
More choice, that said, is always a good thing. But from a company that claims it has a forward-thinking nature and a focus on advancing technology, such a limited and comparatively expensive electric vehicle is a disappointment. If Honda is really set on an electric future, and widespread adoption of battery-powered vehicles is to happen, it must do better. Bold looks and interior features, after all, will only get it so far.
Keyword: Opinion: I had hoped for more, Honda