The small city car market, traditionally referred to as segment A, faces major challenges due to rising production costs. Many automakers have completely abandoned these small platforms, leaving drivers with affordable options. Fortunately, falling battery prices are breathing new life into this almost forgotten category. The new Honda Super N arrives in the UK as a four-seater electric vehicle at the price of $22,274, hoping to prove that urban transport still has a future, and that it really does have a future. The new model is a reset button for the Japanese automaker's electric vehicle plans.
The company has struggled to find a foothold in electric vehicles, launching the expensive Honda E low-range and the non-irritating E: Ny1SUV. After completely canceling the larger 0 series electrical project, the brand is now starting to wane to rebuild its reputation. The new hatchback is a new approach to building practical electric vehicles for crowded urban environments, and looking at it, I honestly say it works. To build this small EV, the developers looked at the Japanese domestic market, where urban mini-cars dominate the streets.
The Honda Super n harks back to the 1967 Honda N360, the classic micro-car that inspired the moderna N-One series. Japanese buyers are still skeptical of electric vehicles, with electric vehicles gaining a market share of 1.3 percent by 2025. Still, the high box-like proportions of the Micro Car are actually more suitable for Moderna electrical components. Traditional mini cars have to follow strict legal size restrictions in Japan, but this export model pushes its limits to make it suitable for international roads.The British version of the Super-n has a wider wheel arch, a sporty bumper and significantly changes the pegada.Com a length of 3,600 mm and a width of 1,573 mm (excluding side mirrors), the track is 50 mm wider than the Japanese version.
To give Honda a sense of size, the super popular Dacia spring is 100 mm long and 10 mm wide. The closest competitor in size is the Leapmotor T03-it is still 20 mm long and 80 mm wide. And the new Mini Cooper E, at 3,858 mm long and 1,756 mm wide, is the absolute giant next to the Super N. Honda chose an interesting styling for the Super N to bring back memories of classic mini cars from the 80s and 90s.It features a bulging wheel arch, a low and wide front bumper and a real spoiler that is not out of place on Rally Cars. The available colors are chosen exclusively to make the little super n stand out from the crowd - there's no chance of missing this EV in a busy parking lot.
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The Super n wide track is the only feature on a surprisingly long list of improvements - upgrades are in check, with stiffer hubs, beefed-up, lightweight rear torsion beam axles for the McPherson front struts, and inner wheels happy to leave the ground in fast, tight corners. Finally, a faster steering rack and a drive shaft of equal rigidity that holds the rear of the vehicle helps minimize torque steering under acceleration. For braking, the front receives a larger disc, but the rear retains a simple drum brake-and for good reason. The regen of the electric motor is so strong that it rarely uses brakes, and the rear one is really only used for parking.
Despite the heavy components required for electric vehicles, the overall package weighs an astonishing 1,097 kg, making it extremely light for Moderna electric vehicles. The smart box ensures that the interior feels really spacious despite its narrow body - the elevated seating position and large windows make you feel like you're sitting in a much larger car. 2nd row passengers have enough legroom to rival a much larger Ev. Honda's famous "Magic Seat" is standard and allows the bottom cushion to flip up to carry expensive items such as bicycles on the back. The driver sits in a heavily reinforced sports seat, trimmed with imitation white leather, black micro suede and recycled blue fabric from the old Honda uniform.
Unfortunately, Honda missed the trick here, with hard plastic covering most of the dashboard and sides. The Redeemer here is the physical control that handles heating, media volume and climate - you never have to look for the most commonly used functions. The Digital technology is basic and refreshing, consisting of a simple 7-inch instrument display and a Central infotainment screen with wireless mirroring for smartphones. Interestingly, the built-in software has no built-in navigation, charging schedule, or charging rate limits. The dashboard also has an open center shelf and a dedicated cup holder next to the steering wheel, making it the perfect spot for a morning coffee.
In a surprising move during the development of the Super - n, Honda decided not to build electric motors and power electronics in-house, but to buy them from outside suppliers. By any standard, a small ready-to-use 25.4 kWh lithium-ion battery powers the entire system. The single electric motor provides a reasonable 63 horsepower during standard operation, which can feel weak when blowing on a fast road. But everything changes when you press the purple button on the steering wheel - the boost mode is unlocked, and the total output rises to 94 horsepower. In fact, it does not look like much, especially if even a small electric hatchback has 2 times more power these days.
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But the next theater is very interesting and surprisingly turns the car into a small hooligan. When you activate Boost mode, it triggers a sound that mimics a turbocharged gasoline engine along with 7 simulated gear changes. The interior is all lit up in purple, and every speck on the accelerator comes with a happy Babble pumped through the speakers. The "shift" mimics the automatic box very well and is not too fast, and the downshift comes with an extra popping sound. I'm not a big fan of the engine noise of electric cars, but with the Super-n it makes little sense - there's never a bit of Honda trying to hide the fact that the gearbox isn't real.
On the contrary-it is almost proud of him, and the extra noise exists only to celebrate it. Unfortunately, if you do not leave the engine sound on, there is no way to play with 94 horsepower. Here's a little interesting-the official specifications claim a time of 10 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, but real tests prove it faster. The Super-n I tested 97 seconds at 8.5 km/h and 100 seconds at 9.1 km / h - with 3 people on board. Standard Yokohama Advan Fleva tires provide a strong dry grip and allow you to feel the kart quickly when cornering, while non-switchable stability controls quickly stop potential slides. The Super N is fully equipped - a normal speed limiter along with power windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, air conditioning, adaptive cruise control and a lane keeping assist system.
The reversing camera is standard, as are the front and rear parking sensors. The battery range is always seen as the main and perhaps the only limitation of this vehicle. The official mileage of the WLTP is 206 km on full load. Charging the battery may also feel a little slower. The system has peaked at a dc fast charging speed of 46kw and holds at an average of 36kW.It it is a bit slower even with this small capacity battery compared to the larger Moderna electric vehicles. I haven't been able to test a full load, but after a short session I think something between 10% SoC and 30-40 minutes will be standard. Despite these limitations, the Super-n offers strong value compared to rival small electric vehicles.
Competitors such as the Renault Twingo, Byd Dolphin Surf and Citroen E-C3 offer a little more range, but feature very basic standard equipment. Honda adds a 6-speaker Bose audio system to the long list of equipment included immediately. Due to the short battery, the vehicle has small range to drove around. On the other hand handling and the large cabin provides real character.For those who prefer a second car this must be your choice as it is fun and agile.
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