Ever since the late '80s, Honda has dabbled in electrified vehicles, but the 2020 Honda e—their all new, fully electric offering—is a deep dive into increasingly crowded EV waters. And while the quaint shape and overall boxy feel give a nod to the first-generation, early '70s Civic, the new "e" is a far cry from the Civics early, oil-crisis relief days.
Big Things in Small Packages
By today's standards, the Honda e is in fact a "small car." It's a strange thing to type, as the majority of Honda's presence has, in fact, been based on smaller sized vehicles that often felt much roomier than they appeared and had an uncanny ability to serve a far more utilitarian role than most would expect. In recent years, however, they've taken some heat from longtime fans that have aggressively commented on the additional pounds and increased dimensions that are just a part of getting older it seems. For the sake of comparison, this new Honda e is about 8 inches shorter and not quite as tall as the now discontinued Honda Fit, though it's wider and carries a slightly longer wheelbase.
All Motor
The e's chassis is designed from scratch, and unlike the early model Civic is rear-wheel drive by way of a motor that's positioned next to the rear axle. A 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery sits mid-ship and boasts a much-needed temperature control. Charging is quicker than you might assume, with 80 percent of its charge knocked out in just a half an hour when a CCS2 DC rapid charger is at play (Type 2 AC connection delivers a complete charge in just 4.1 hours with a 7.4 kw supply).
Not the Head of the Class
It seems the main concern these days is distance afforded by the car in question's power supply. To that, the Honda e isn't a front-runner and there's more range to be found in other manufacturer options. Honda states that the 35.5-kWh battery grants about 137-miles for the base model and 124-miles for the Advance model. Not dismal, but it does fall below the base model Nissan Leaf that packs a more potent battery and almost 170-mile range. Also, the Honda e would get gapped by the Leaf in a 0-60 sprint. Still, we're pretty sure the Honda is going to attract a large U.K. crowd, especially when they get a glimpse at the futuristic cabin.
Feel the Vibes with this Turbocharged 1st Gen. Civic
When the e showed up at a few different events early on, we assumed the interior treatment and, most notably, its electronics and displays were only for show. As it turns out, Honda made it happen and it's nothing short of amazing. The dash itself, which again gives off a first-gen. Civic vibe, is set low to accommodate the e's five high-definition screens that sprawl across the top of the woodgrain finished platform.
