It isn’t a very far-fetched notion to think that the future of the electric automobile is already upon us -- well, almost. Pretty much every major automaker has been investing hundreds of millions of dollars into research & development for coming up with just the right electric vehicle (EV). Among several of the best marques, Honda is certainly feeling quite ecstatic right about now -- the unveiling of the 2021 Honda e is proof of that. Based on the Urban EV Concept that was showcased in Germany in late 2017, the 2021 Honda e is presumably a mainstream electric vehicle that combines the aesthetic charm of the original Civic hatch with the appeal of a modern-day small EV.
The Honda e has been specifically developed to reduce visual clutter and increase its overall simplicity. Aimed at buyers who are looking for a clean, compact and well-equipped electric hatchback, the cute-looking e seems to be a good bet. For their latest B-segment EV, the Japanese auto major developed what’s called as the Honda e platform -- an architecture that will surely be used on future Honda EV products as well. The 2021 Honda e will likely compete against cars such as the Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet’s Bolt.
Exterior
Sticking to its simplistic and minimalistic approach, the exterior of the 2021 Honda e has purposefully been styled in a neat and tidy manner. There are no over-the-top stylistic elements here and design flair that’s usually done just for the sake of it has been overruled, too. Of course, Honda has added some really cool bits to the e -- including its first-gen Civic-inspired front fascia, where you will find circular (full-LED) headlamps that are housed inside this big, glossy black trim piece. The smooth hood, meanwhile, houses the Honda e’s charging port under a hard-to-miss glossy black lid.
Viewed from the side, the Honda e’s clean design theme continues. There are the stylish pop-out door handles, retro-themed wheel design, small protrusions that sprout from the doors (digital wing mirrors), while the distinct fender flares look cool, too. The rear of the e gets a roof-mounted spoiler and the same glossy black trim with identical circular LED units for the tail lamps as the one found up front, but this one also integrates the opening mechanism for the tailgate. As far as dimensions go, the 2021 Honda e measures 3.985 meters X 1.750 meters X 1.495 meters in length, width and height, respectively. The 1.4-ton e’s wheelbase stretches 2.5 meters in length.
Interior
The interior of the 2021 Honda e would certainly arouse curiosity and could even pique your interest as there’s almost no car interior that currently looks like this. There are at least two shades of grey here plus some brown as well -- the latter adding contrast in the form of brown seatbelts, a single brown cup-holder hoop, and faux wood trim on the center console and dashboard. The dashboard also sports three large LCD displays, plus two smaller ones (6-inch units) in each corner that display the feed coming in from the digital door mirrors. Among the bigger screens, one is an 8.8-inch display for the instrument cluster, while the other two are 12.3-inch units that work as the Honda e’s infotainment displays. Then there’s the unique two-spoke steering wheel, digital rearview mirror (aka Honda Side Camera Mirror System), Honda Personal Assistant, LED roof-mounted lights and a large sunroof. Overall, the Honda e’s cabin feels thoroughly modern, pleasantly minimalistic and surprisingly spacious.
Engine and performance
The 2021 Honda e packs a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery which comes with fast-charging capability, gaining as much as 80% of charge in just 30 minutes. According to Honda, this battery allows the e to have a maximum range of about 220 kilometers. The Honda e is a rear-wheel-drive platform, where an electric motor generates between 100kW (132hp) to 113kW (152hp) -- depending on the variant -- delivering a total of 315Nm of torque. If required, the Honda e can sprint from naught to 100 km/h in 8 seconds.
Verdict
The 2021 Honda e is currently priced from EUR 29,470 (appx AED 119,000) to EUR 32,470 (roughly AED 131,000) in Germany. While deliveries in Europe are set to commence in the summer of next year, there has been no set-date for the Honda e in the Middle East as of now. But the Honda e seems like a well-packaged, well-built and good-looking EV for urban commutes.
