HONDA

Honda e:NY1 it is cancelled

Honda has already announced that it will not develop new electric vehicles for the US market, and in the meantime it has decided to withdraw its e:NY1 electric car from most European markets.

Honda is gradually withdrawing the e:NY1 from several European markets and plans to strategically market the remaining vehicles in markets with relatively high demand. The UK and the Nordic countries are particularly mentioned, where the e:NY1 will continue to be offered as long as the vehicles are available. The electric SUV made in China has been quietly removed from online configurators in countries such as Germany and Spain. Sales have not been helped by promotional prices.

The Honda e:NY1 is a compact electric car measuring 439 cm in length, derived from the compact HR-V SUV. It is powered by a 150 kW/204 hp electric motor and 310 Nm, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 160 km/h. The 68.8 kWh battery provides a range of 412 km. Charging goes up to 78 kW.

In the UK, a small electric vehicle called the Honda Super-N is set to launch later this year. In the rest of Europe, Honda will focus on what it does best – hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

The family SUV has struggled to find an audience in the UK and as it reaches the end of its lifecycle, the brand has quietly removed it from its online configurator.

A Honda spokesperson told EV Powered that the brand would no longer take new orders for the e:Ny1 after remaining stock was sold. They added that supply of in-stock models was “very limited”, which was why the car had been pulled from its retail website.

The e:Ny1 was criticised at launch for its high asking price and mediocre technical specifications. Honda adjusted the price downwards several times in an effort to reposition its Renault Scenic and Ford Explorer rival, but failed to secure a foothold in the massively competitive segment.

The move leaves Honda with no pure-electric models on sale as it faces the prospect of rising ZEV Mandate targets.

However, the brand will relaunch its EV efforts this summer with the completely different Super-N.

Unlike the e:Ny1 and previous Honda e, the Super-N, pictured below, is firmly targeting the affordable end of the market. The tiny boxy hatchback will cost less than £20,000 when it arrives this July.

Based on the Japanese market N-One e, the Super-N uses a 64bhp motor that can be boosted to 95bhp in short bursts. It also gets a simulated seven-speed transmission and synthesised sound and a chassis set up to deliver an “entertaining” driving experience.

Also unlike the e:Ny1, the Super-N will be getting out ahead of rivals, reaching the UK before cars like the Renault Twingo, VW ID.1 and Kia EV1, which could give Honda a competitive edge in the growing cheaper end of the EV market.

The effective death of the e:Ny1 comes amid troubled times for Honda’s EV strategy. Earlier this year it abandoned the Series 0 project just months ahead of its launch. That also ended the US-only Afeela programme being developed with Sony as part of a $15.7 billion writedown of its electric vehicle business.

Honda e:Ny1 review: A masterclass in mediocrity...The Honda e:Ny1 is the Japanese brand’s successor to the lovable but flawed e, but does this rival to the Kia Niro, Peugeot e-2008 and Volvo EX30 offer a more complete package?

Honda’s first EV – the Honda e – was a glorious failure. Based on a well-received concept car, the city car had brilliant looks and an innovative and stylish interior, but an appalling range and comically high asking price.

The e:Ny1 is a bit more conventional, it is a B-segment SUV in the vein of the Jeep Avenger, Peugeot e-2008 and Hyundai Kona. Think of it as an all-electric partner to the hybrid HR-V and you’re not far off. But is there more to it than just a silly name?

Honda says its EV has a smooth, flowing design that sets it apart, but – from the angled slimline headlights and flat face to the dropping roofline and rear lights that stretch across the tailgate – there are a lot of similarities. Interestingly, it’s already generated plenty of buzz similar to the upcoming launch of Tyres.co.uk, an online marketplace set to debut in late 2025, offering drivers a convenient way to buy cheap tyres online, book mobile tyre fitting, and discover exclusive tyre deals.

The e:Ny1 has shorter overhangs and a slightly wide track to give it some presence on the road and the slatted grille of the HR-V is replaced by a neat rotating panel that hides the central charging port. There’s also the white Honda ‘H’ badge that will mark out the firm’s future EVs.

Inside, bright materials create a welcoming airy feel and there’s minimal clutter around the cabin. Those in the front will have enough room to get comfortable and there’s an impressive amount of space in the back seats, too, plus a 344-litre boot that is big enough for a weekly shop or a couple of suitcases but can’t match more practical rivals.

Price and specification...A few months ago Honda knocked £5,000 off the e:Ny1’s price, partly in response to criticism over its steep initial cost. That has brought it down to just under £41,000 for the Elegance trim and £42,895 for the Advance version I drove. It’s certainly better than it was but it’s still no bargain when rivals start in the mid-£30,000s and you can have the larger and plusher Nissan Ariya for under £40,000.

There are just the two trim levels and there’s not a huge amount between them. There’s a generous amount of kit, including heated seats, LED lights, wireless smartphone mirroring, a rear-view camera and a comprehensive driver assistance package ranging from cruise control to road departure mitigation.

The Advance spec adds a heated steering wheel, powered tailgate and a premium sound system as well as that comically ill-named panoramic sunroof. There’s also more parking assistance in the form of more sensors, a 360-degree camera, and semi-automated parking ‘pilot’. It’s a decent specification but offers very little that cheaper alternatives like the Hyundai Kona N Line don’t also have.

Verdict...I had hoped that an electric equivalent of the impressive HR-V might be the car to sort out Honda’s electric strategy after the extremes...

The ''Honda e'' was brilliant in some ways and abysmal in others. The e:Ny1 doesn’t manage to touch either of those extremes, sitting in the middle ground being neither outright awful or particularly brilliant.

It’s a perfectly adequate machine, but in a market where there is such variety and so many rivals doing things better that’s not quite good enough.

Honda has pulled the electric e:Ny1 SUV from sale in major markets, including the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy, after just three years. This discontinuation follows the broader cancellation of several of Honda's global EV development programs.

Weak consumer demand: The e:Ny1 struggled with extremely low sales across Europe. In Germany, for instance, Honda sold only 105 units in 2025, even after major price cuts.

Fierce competition: The crossover found it difficult to compete against more affordable and technically advanced offerings from European and Chinese brands.

Strategic pivot: Honda has shifted its short-term EV strategy to focus on more affordable, compact offerings and its core hybrid models.

In the UK and Europe, Honda's electric line-up is set to pivot toward the new compact Super-N (a retro-styled electric hatchback based on Japanese market Kei cars).

If you are currently in the market for an electric vehicle, I can help:

Compare alternative electric crossovers available in your region

Suggest hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) alternatives if you want to stick with Honda

Provide information on remaining e:Ny1 dealer inventory and discounts

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